With an established career in the fashion industry, Sam Elsom didn’t expect a conference call with climate scientist Tim Flannery to result in a move to aquaculture. Sam is now cultivate ing a native Tasmanian seaweed to sequester carbon and help reduce methane emissions from Australia’s meat, wool and dairy industries.

After a rough childhood that included periods of homelessness, Darran Petty turned his life around through the power of bodybuilding. He now owns and operates his own martial arts studio in Hobart, as well as running a podcast and starting a filmmaking company.

Tasmanian surfer, Sam Lennox may be on the brink of winning $30,000 after a video of him riding a gargantuan wave at Shipstern Bluff has progressed to the finals of an online competition.

As a passionate advocate for sexual assault, Grace is a leader of positive change committed to breaking the cycle of abuse. She’s also a self-described adventurer and a lover of life – who can’t leave home without her Akubra.

Having graced Australian stages and screens for thirty years, Marta Dusseldorp is set to star in The Bleeding Tree by Angus Cerini at Hobart’s historic Theatre Royal.

Artist Zoe Fitzherbert made the transition from architecture to art in her late 20’s and hasn’t looked back.

Joel Bevilacqua is as comfortable with words as he is with the waves. Having grown up on the beaches in Tassie, he now saves lives at busy Bondi Beach.

When Saroo Brierley was only five years old, he got lost on a train in India and separated from his family. From the streets of Calcutta he was adopted by a Tasmanian family.

Hamlet Cafe has been part of the Hobart hospo landscape since February 2016 and delivers targeted training and work readiness skills in order to tackle the barriers which prevent disadvantaged Tasmanians from participating in work and community life. Since then, founder Emily Briffa has helped to provide over 22,000 hours of work experience to over 260 Tasmanians.

Singer Stellar Perry battled it out in the grand final of The Voice as a contestant on Team Delta. We had a quick chat with Stellar ahead of her big night. 

I’m Tasmanian by birth but left the state just before my 18th birthday to pursue a career in circus. I was coming home every couple of years to see my family, then around 2013 I put up some aerial equipment in the local gymnastics centre, did an intensive teacher training with a couple of people who held the fort until I came back in 2015 to run the program.

Jess Wuetschner is one of two Tasmanians playing for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Women’s League, playing a leading role in taking her team to the Grand Final in March this year against the Bulldogs. Jess fought hard to keep her team in the game – with two goals in the final term to get the margin back to five points. She finished the season with the most goals for the year (including in the GF) and even nabbed a spot in the AFLW All Australian team. Here’s Jess’ story.

Born and bred in Hobart, Joey Edwards runs Un-Racked, a group training gym in Moonah with a passionate following.

Cambridge’s Sophie Scarlett is bringing stye to Hobart homes via her business Scarlett & Co.

Young photographer Daisy McMullen loves nothing more than Tassie through her lens between coffee with friends.

Property representative Conor Canning is Hobart born and bred and is kicking goals in local real estate.

Hobart born and bred, 18 year old Alex Peroni is making waves in the world of motorsport in Europe. He recently won the Grand Prix of Monaco, marking the pinnacle of his fast-moving career to date.

When I joined the band they were about to embark on a six month tour of Europe. I packed my bag and climbed aboard and before I knew it, six months had turned into 11 years. Somehow we just scraped by financially, but in terms of wealth of experience, I am a multi millionaire. From being pashed by Patti Smith on stage at the Sydney Opera House, to touring stadiums with Neil Young, to playing numerous festivals across the world and every horrible, run-down-toilet-of-a-venue in between.

Full of grit, vivid imagery and his unmistakable voice, Weak Month is the latest EP from Tasmanian musician, Christopher Coleman.

Hobart punk-rock band A. Swayze And The Ghosts played alongside Jet and The Vines this year and provided home-grown talent at Falls and Panama festivals here at home. Frontman Andrew Swayze lives in South Hobart with his wife Olivia.

Social researcher and homelessness expert Catherine Robinson co-presents SBS TV’s Filthy Rich and Homeless and when she’s home she grows a native garden and drinks coffee on a sunny step.

Working with some top brands and publications, food stylist, recipe writer and photographer Michelle Crawford proudly calls the Huon Valley home. This year she’s curating The Taste of Tasmania Culinary Program, featuring Tassie’s top gastronomy talent.

Josh Peach has been a police officer since 1995 and part of the Westpac Rescue Chopper team since 2009. We went behind the scenes at their air base in Cambridge to learn more about this important service.

Dr Kirsten Connan is an obstetrician and gynaecologist and has recently extended her practice to focus on overall women’s healthcare. She’s also a Telstra Business Women’s Award recipient and passionate about helping women in all aspects of their lives.

As a senior property rep with Ray White, Bec Owens knows Hobart. She’s also a past winner of the Tasmanian Telstra Young Business Women Award, started baby wear label Mizzle and is mum to two rowdy boys.

Self-confessed Hobart ‘newbie’, Guy Stayner recently replaced Peter Gee as the ABC TV news presenter last year. When he’s not exploring the city’s cafés in search of the best coffee, he’s revelling in the view from his home in Lindisfarne.

Rebecca White is a Member for Lyons and the leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party. She recently took time out to chat with The Hobart Magazine about her busy life.

Having a defence background helps Mates4Mates Liaison Officer Matthew Jenkins in his work with ex and current serving defence force personnel.

Hobart healthy food advocate Chloe Proud takes a patch-to-plate approach to business. When she’s not pressing juice and sourcing the best Tasmanian produce for Vita, Alceme Kitchen and Tasmanian Juice Press, she’s bushwalking, drinking coffee and spending time with her family.

Trisha Squires is in the hot seat as the first female CEO of AFL Tasmania. Facing adversity earlier in her life, Trisha has enjoyed a high profile career in the community and sporting sectors. She now lives in Hobart with her husband and two gorgeous girls.

A childhood spent diving into our cold Tassie ocean has created a national ironman champion in Matt Bevilacqua.

Children’s book illustrator Ben Clifford loves the simple things in life – a roast chook and time spent outdoors, or wandering through the bookshops of Hobart.

Actress, director, and playwright, Emma Skalicky recently had her work staged in Sydney, published an anthology, and is currently directing Picnic at Hanging Rock for Bad Company Theatre.

Rodney Dunn and his wife Severine Demanet have created The Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School in Lachlan and more recently their two hatted Eatery at Willow Court in New Norfolk. They’re now set to embark on their next project, creating the most amazing kitchen garden in Australia…at least.

As a surfer and adventurer, Nick Hall’s love of nature and the great outdoors has become part of his work.

When she’s not nursing in theatre at the Royal, Bonnie is running, completing marathons all over the world.

Annia Baron wears many hats – singer, musician, yoga teacher, psychologist, walker. Ahead of her Festival of Voices performance she shares what drives her to perform in every part of her life.

As the city ramps up efforts to help the less fortunate, politician Sue Hickey has placed herself firmly in the centre of the debate. Not one to shy away from controversy or hard work, we discovered what has shaped Sue’s drive and determination to help.

Award-winning Tasmanian cartoonist Jon Kudelka is passionate about conservation, caricature and NOT falling off his bike before a deadline. Every now and then he cracks himself up.

A man of many sporting talents, Joe Chivers loves a chat as much as he loves chocolate mud cake.

Meet the foodie behind every delicious bite you enjoyed at the Dark Mofo Winter Feast. Jo Cook is a Hobart food curator who makes it her business to try every delicious aspect of living in Tasmania.

In the upcoming short film Sidelines, best mates Shaun and Zac fulfil a lifelong dream to form their own cricket team.

When you get along to The Taste of Tasmania this year you’ll be enjoying the fun and sweet sounds Sam Cole has curated in the entertainment program.

Having just spent a year in Antarctica, Dr Meg is ready to get back to her patients and passion projects in Hobart.

Depending on what stage of life you’re at, Zindzi Okenyo will be familiar for different reasons. Having spent formative years in Hobart, Zindzi is now an accomplished actor, RnB/hip hop musician and PlaySchool presenter.

Alistair Douglas, OAM, plays an integral role in guiding salty sea dogs into port each year as part of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. He recently let us into the control room to get the lowdown on the action.

Heather Rose is an award winning author of eight novels, including her latest, Bruny.

Richard Sprent has turned his life-long obsession with books into a career at his Hobart bookshop Cracked & Spineless. He’s a man so busy, he fantasises about one day being bored.

Hobart local George Bailey calls time on his international and domestic cricket playing career this month, moving into the role of national selector for the Australian men’s team.

Sweet tooth Freya Downie is the creative young entrepreneur behind Freya’s Delights. When she’s not making her signature caramel sauce the 15 year-old is playing soccer or riding a jet ski.

Southerners can’t have all the fun. Our Local Lad is Launnie’s Peter Gutwein, Tassie’s Premier.

The privacy of our property, the beautiful old gums and the lovely views of the river. I can stand at my kitchen bench, look to the right and watch sun rise, then later in the day, stand in the same spot and watch the sun set to my left.

Professor Alex Hewitt is an ophthalmologist and has had a variety of his medical research studies funded by the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation over the years. He’s currently part of a research team that have gained New Project Grant funding for 2020.

Kate Morris had an idea to sell cosmetics online at a time when it wasn’t done. She borrowed $12,000 from her boyfriend’s parents and set up an online store, Adore Beauty in the garage. Twenty years later, the business is thriving, enjoying annual revenue around $100m. Kate recently sold a chunk of the business to private equity investors, Quadrant.