Part of the AEGN’s mission is to deepen members’ understanding of the many ways their philanthropy can support the environment — ultimately to maximise their impact. To this end, we produce a regular podcast series where members share stories of effective leadership for our planet, climate and future.
Hayley Morris generously shared her story with AEGN CEO Amanda Martin in our inaugural episode in March 2023. Key take-aways from their conversation follow.
To listen to the episode and access a full transcript and show notes, head to our podcast page.
Taking a systems-change approach
The wicked problems of today’s escalating climate and biodiversity crises are so complex that systemic change is the only way to restore planetary health and enable people and nature to thrive.
Find the “acupuncture points”
“If you can almost poke them in a really strategic way, that can create exponential change within a system.”
Put your whole self into the problem you’re trying to solve
Recognise your own role with that system, do the inner work, “because quite often we’re also part of the problem”.
Address the root causes
Look at the root causes that have resulted in the broken system and the paradigm used to create it, so “that when we are designing a new system, it is one that we’ve designed consciously, underpinning all the values that are important to us”.
Understand what’s happening within a community
Step into their shoes, hear what they’re needing and share a vision for their future, which is going to be positive (see, for example, The Next Economy’s clean energy transition work in Queensland led by Dr Amanda Cahill).
Support the community organisations doing the work
Philanthropy can play a catalysing role by partnering with powerful, smart and strategic community organisations that have the capacity to show leadership.
Take a partnership approach
“Where we’re going with our foundation is … less projects, less partners, and just deep partnerships, where ideally we’re seen as a valued partner as opposed to just a source of funding.”
Trust is powerful, use it
Measuring systems change can be difficult; if you don’t have measurement and reporting structures in place, use your trust and your intuition. “Get to know the organisation, know what they’re doing … get a good sense of what’s driving them and their values.”
I feel hopeful in young people. In this conversation around … a newer paradigm, which underpins the values we need to create a stable, healthy environment and equality, I feel like those values are just there as a young person. The other thing that gives me hope is … the amazing people that you get to meet who are so inspiring and become part of my community, some of that rubs off on me … you get to go to bed happy.
Hayley Morris, Executive Director, Morris Group
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