Ciara Byrne grew up in Dublin where her happiest moments were spent working in her family’s garden, walking along the Irish coast and picking blackberries behind her home. That early connection to nature influenced much of her life and later inspired her to combine storytelling with action.
After working as a documentary filmmaker, Byrne realized she wanted to do more than tell stories about the planet—she wanted to help protect it. In 2013, she co-founded Green Our Planet, a nonprofit that brings garden and hydroponics programs into schools to teach science, sustainability and entrepreneurship. What began with five Las Vegas schools has since grown into the largest program of its kind in the country. Today, it reaches more than 1,100 schools in 44 states and impacts more than 500,000 students.
Byrne also helped launch the Giant Student Farmers Market, where students sell what they grow and learn real-world business skills. Byrne believes that when children connect with nature, they gain confidence, curiosity and the ability to envision a brighter future.