ABOUT US

THE CHALLENGE

Humans have become ‘the new force of nature’, where we are now the dominant force affecting our planet.

Since the beginning of the 20th century there has been significant economic growth due to the tenacity of the human endeavour. This has been translated into vast improvements in human health and well-being. The central role which natural capital assets and ecosystems services have played in ensuring this growth has largely gone unnoticed and disregarded, with the true value of nature discounted by the externalisation of internal costs. We have decoupled ourselves and our activities from the physical world which supports us.

We have come to realise that humans and nature are interdependent and hyperconnected with the ability to significantly shape the planet. Restrained by the 'quadruple squeeze' of population and development pressure conflict, with the climate and biodiversity (ecosystem) crisis, we dangerously run the risk of crossing the Earth's systems tipping points. There is a global realisation that we are busy exceeding the safe operating space for human wellbeing on many fronts, and that the impact of our activities are busy manifesting at home.

The current natural capital trajectory is as disconcerting as the plight to combat run-away climate change, with the current loss of 83% of wild animals, and 50% of plant diversity, and this trend is accelerating (WEF, 2020). Ecosystems have been significantly reduced in size, and ecosystem health has declined by 47% compared to global background rates (IPBES, 2019). The ecological and natural capital foundations which underpin our economies and well-being are at risk. Furthermore, recent developments in earth system science is illustrating the inextricable linkage between climate change and loss of nature. The scale and urgency of the dual crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss is clear. This, unsurprisingly has led to the WEF ranking global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse under the top 5 global risks for 2021 (WEF, 2021).

The emergence of the Covid pandemic has intensified future uncertainty. Covid exposed the weaknesses and vulnerability in the global system; and humanities inability to respond to global shocks and ‘surprise’. This has led to a toxic cocktail of events and eventualities of which the outcomes for the human race do not bear a resemblance to, and for, our aspirations for a “better world for all”.

The multiplicity and interconnectedness of current day and emergent future events is causing sever angst in individuals, society and organisations alike. The risk is not linear, we need a step change. This is the decade for change.

OUR MISSION & VALUES

It’s quite simple really … it’s all about passion. A passion for people, and a passion for the planet which sustains us.

As an organisation we are driven by our individual and collective belief in ensuring that the earth systems which supports human life are not compromised; that we co-create thriving social and economic systems which function within planetary boundaries.

It’s this passion which keeps us relentlessly focused in our singular quest of catalysing systems change solutions. Solutions driven by innovation and ideation; of novel ways of being and thinking.

Uncompromising in our quest, we drive excellence and authenticity in all we do, believing that impact must be significant and measurable, and transitions just and fair.

OUR STORY

For over 3 decades we have been working in various capacities with business, governments, donors, academia and civil society to accelerate the shift toward a sustainable future. We’ve developed out of a diversified transdisciplinary background of applied environmental, social and governance services; spanning policy development, impact management, sustainability and governance advisory ; in multiple industry sectors across Africa, the Middle-East and Small Island Development States (SIDS).

In response to the detachment between society, business and nature, we have strategically realigned our purpose to respond to this emergent global polycrisis. The world today is facing complex challenges because our fundamental organisational systems are no longer fit for purpose. In support of this response we are of the firm belief that it is time to change the narrative by driving an understanding that climate change and biodiversity decline are acknowledged as hyperconnected.

Our differentiation lies in our ability to identify, make connections, connect dots, and see around corners, where others necessarily can’t; bringing clarity to organisations and society in navigating and managing sustainability complexity.

We bring together a complimentary and interdisciplinary skills base of brilliant minds to co-create audacious and novel ideas, solutions and approaches to opportunities created out of systemic change and risk. Building resilience and organisational change necessary to absorb future shocks and surprise.

Through our work and using our experience, we make those vital intersectoral connections, creating opportunities to contribute meaningfully to our society’s gravest challenges. This involves addressing critical global challenges by catalysing change in key economic systems; from capital and financing, to mining and the agricultural value chain – high impact and high value industries; which are both dependent on, and drivers of socio-environmental change.

Together we can reimagine the way the world works.

OUR PEOPLE

Our people and the way they think are the key to unlocking change.

We bring together a complimentary and interdisciplinary skills base of brilliant minds to co-create audacious and novel ideas, solutions and approaches to opportunities created out of systemic change and risk. We are a dynamic force for systems change with unrivalled expertise drawn from across diverse industries and disciplines. Our team are known for their deep thinking, academic and intellectual rigour, complimented by creativity and relentless tenacity.

Our Experience: Our collective experience is in excess of 100 years. This spans multiple industry sectors from financial services, conservation and eco-tourism, telecommunications, energy and water, mining to agriculture.
We have a particularly broad and deep footprint in environmental impact management in various capacities (regulatory policy development, frameworks, risk and impact assessments), which has significantly contributed to our equally deep knowledge of environmental and social issues.
Our experience similarly includes key management positions in the public sector and private sector respectively.

Our Expertise: Our broad range of disciplines include botany and ecology, landscape and environmental planning, policy and legislation development, governance, management facilitation, business, stakeholder engagement, environmental and social impact management, risk management, resilience and sustainability science. Together we form a multidisciplinary team and bring our diverse skillset and experience to take on complex challenges facing business and society.

Our Skills: Our skills stem from our respective transdisciplinary work and academic background. Our strength lies in our complementarity ranging from complex systems and resilience thinking to the finite understanding of specific environmental, social and governance key performance indicators.