Olympic gold medallist, Australian rugby sevens star and Adopt Change Ambassador Ellia Green talks about his personal journey to finding his identity. He shares intimate details from his upbring and how he stayed connected to his Fijian cultural heritage while growing up in Australia. 

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Credits: 

Host: Michelle Stacpoole 

Guests: Ellia Green  

Audio Producer: Fernanda Dedic 

Executive producer: Lily Allsep  

Adopt Change acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay out respect to Elders past and present and end that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. 

Ellia Green is a proud Fijian, retired professional rugby sevens player who was a part of the Olympic gold winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Ellia also competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Rugby Sevens world cup in San Francisco and the International HSBC World Rugby Sevens circuit from 2012 through to 2021. 

Prior to rugby, Ellia was a track and field sprinter, specialising in the 100M and 200M and made his first international meet in Doha Qatar in the World Juniors for the 100M and the 200M relay. 

Ellia retired from rugby in August 2021 and is currently studying International Security Studies at Macquarie University. Ellia is a national Champion for Change ambassador for the United Nations Australia, a Raise Ambassador and an Adopt Change ambassador. 

Since retiring from professional sport, Ellia has found liberation in his identity and sense of self along with the greatest achievement yet, becoming a Dad to daughter Waitui and fiancé to Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts. Whilst being an internationally successful athlete Ellia continues a strong commitment off the field for the rights of racial gender diversity and the wellbeing of marginalised individuals and groups.