Simon is a filmmaker and environmental activist. He was born in Löffingen, a small town in southern Germany not far from the Swiss border, where he also grew up. As a 14-year-old schoolboy, Simon won a place on adventurer Mike Horn’s ‘Young Explorers Programme’ and was able to accompany him on an expedition to New Zealand.

Combined with his love of photography and filming, Simon had the desire to become a nature and documentary filmmaker. After leaving school, he founded several production companies and within a few years had established himself as one of the most successful young filmmakers in Germany.

The path to becoming a conservationist and activist seemed a necessary consequence of his experiences on film expeditions around the globe. Simon Straetker co-founded the Black Forest Collective and Pangaea Germany.

Awards and acknowledgements for his engagement as a filmmaker and environmentalist followed. In 2013, he was awarded the German Nature Conservation Prize, and in 2017, Forbes Magazine listed him in the artist category of ‘Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe’. In 2024, Simon Straetker received the Rotary Youth Leadership Award.

For this episode, our founder and host travelled to Switzerland to speak to Simon.

69 Inspiring People" was created by Vera Bohren, who also produces the series. Vera spearheads the project with her passion and optimism. She selects the featured individuals, captures their essence through photography, and conducts engaging interviews. The project is brought to life on screen by filmmaker and director lonut Trandafir.

Together, we've set out to find voices that matter - and perspectives that last.

You can find more info on https://69inspiringpeople.ch/en/.