TC23 - Global Keynote by Otto Scharmer
Otto Scharmer's keynote session served as a prime example of a transformations "pracademic" in action, blending action research and reflective practice. In his presentation, "Co-Sensing and Co-Creating the Future," he guided attendees through deep listening, empathetic understanding, and systemic thinking, offering a practical roadmap for nurturing transformative partnerships.
TC23 State of the Field Network: Leadership Development
Co-sponsored by the Fito Network, this session delves into core themes of network leadership, collective impact, and capacity building for systems change. A group of the world’s most highly respected systems change advisors and consultants tackled questions: How does network leadership drive effective transformations? What are the critical components of successful collective impact design? How can we develop the field and transformative capacity in networks and systems-change initiatives? Liz Weaver from the Tamarack Institute participated in the panel, Russ Gaskin from Co-creative, Nono Sekhoto from the African Leadership Academy, and Kerstin Tebbe from Collective Mind.
TC23 Online Panel - Just Transformation
How can we ensure that processes of transformation deliver just outcomes? This panel explores a range of examples, research, and lived experience practices. Florence Reed shares community-based equitable sustainable farming practices and Hedda Reich introduces the role of deliberative mini-publics in justice. Discover the impact of academic centres with Rita Golstein-Galperin and Maayan Agmon, and delve into cultural development and community partnership insights with Issabella Orlando.
Global Sessions
TC23 - Closing Ceremony with Susanne Moser
Tracking the arc of our six conferences over the last decade, Susi Moser highlighted the emergence of TC23’s core themes of partnerships and relationships, underscoring the urgency of community-building as “we are in it now”, in a world of climate-driven heat, floods, and fires. She celebrated how TC23 shared global examples of courageous, transformative projects while emphasizing the externally visible and internally invisible dimensions of “transformative labor”.
TC23 State of the Field: Transformations Evaluation and Assessment
Six global leaders in 'assessment and evaluation' engaged in an insightful dialogue on the current state of assessment and evaluation in the context of large-scale transformation. Moderated by Glenn Page (who led our Maine workshop) and global thought leader Michael Quinn Patton, panellists from Africa, Australia, and the Americas explored the need to be able to evaluate transformative initiatives as well as how to transform evaluation itself to better serve this purpose.
TC23 Online Panel - Inner Transformation and Wellbeing
This session featured dynamic presentations and discussions with three transformation leaders: Derk Loorbach, Carolina Carvalho, and Mamphela Ramphele. Watch the recording as transformational leaders explore the essence of transformation initiatives. Gain insights into designing and structuring these initiatives, and uncover strategies to address the principal challenges in building and sustaining transformations initiatives.
Sydney
TC23 Sydney: Government-led transformations towards a wellbeing economy
We were very fortunate to be able to gather several of the leading lights in the movement for governments to embrace the goals of a wellbeing economy. Sophie Howe was the first Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Gary Gillespie is Chief Economist in Scotland and Katherine Trebeck was a co-founder of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance and the instigator of the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership. Ably moderated by Alison Atherton, this session is packed full of ideas and the only sad thing is that we didn’t have more time!
The co-chairs of Sydney, Chris Riedy (ISF, UTS) and Susanne Pratt (TD School, UTS), briefly introduce the conference and their perspective on the global theme of “Transformative Partnerships for a Better World.” Provocative insights and reflections are then shared by some of the Conference Catalysers—Claire Marshall, Giedre Kligyte, Meg Parsons, Bem Le Hunte and one of the CSIRO partners Yiheyis Maru. Video created by Scarlett Potter.
Highlights from Transformations 23, Sydney:
TC23 - State of the Transformations Community
Five former TC conference organizers discussed a decade of nurturing the transformations community and insights on emerging opportunities. Karen O’Brien delved into transformation intricacies, while Per Olsson noted the shift from local to global concerns. Ioan Fazey stressed transition design's importance, and Paulina Aldunce tackled global south challenges, cautioning against violent transformations. David Tabara linked the pandemic's impact to arts-science intersection, advocating collaboration. Bruce Goldstein concluded with the call for transformative actions in our evolving world and insights into the Transformations Community's future.
State of the Field Sessions
In this panel on Systems Education, leading educators Jayne Bryant (Bleknge Institute of Technology, Sweden), Marilyn Mehlmann (Legacy17), and Debbi Brock (Catalyst 2030) discussed their experience teaching systems leaders. In addition to describing their own work, they explored how to design meaningful learning experiences, and considered both the history of the field and where we are headed.
Online Panels
How can we cultivate individual well-being to support inner transformations and embody new systems? In this beautiful session, discover personal sustainability transformations with Pål Dobrin & Therese Asplund, emphasizing wisdom traditions. Kira Jade Cooper’s research on inner transformation through mindfulness events uncovers synergies - and some surprises! Anne Taufen examines the role of play in collective sensemaking and community health.
TC23 Online Panel - Transformative Learning and Paradigms
How can we support knowledge production and decision-making that values multiple ways of knowing, and builds capabilities of future change-makers? Federico Robledo discusses My Climate Risk Hub, highlighting the challenge of generating local climate data while focusing on integrating regional climate risk. Thieu Besselink explores bioregional regeneration, using Amsterdam's RegioLab to highlight collaborative student engagement in solutions. Lindsay Campbell introduces Stewardship Salons as a means of inclusive urban resource management, underlining the role of diverse gatherings. Stefan Partelow addresses the ethical toolbox for sustainability science, equipping scholars with principles to enhance decision-making across research stages.
Prague
TC23 Prague: Transformative Partnerships: What is Missing for Systems Change?
Exploring Transformation in Research and Education: Discover gender-transformative methodologies within CGIAR's communities, led by Diana Erika Lopez from KIT - Royal Tropical Institute and Arwen Bailey from Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. Fern Wickson, Professor of Ocean Leadership at UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, examines the shift in higher education towards sustainability competences.
TC23 State of the Field: Systems Education
TC23 Prague - Transformations Organizations
TC23 State of the Field: Financing Systemic Transformation - An emerging field
Steve Waddell (Bounce Beyond) led a panel that included Magdalena Schneider (TransCap Initiative) and Johan Schot (Utrecht University’s Centre for Global Challenges). This dialogue explored how to redesign the field of finance to address the polycrisis, while addressing how to identify, obtain, and sustain funding for transformation initiatives. Steve also introduced his new initiative, Financial Ecosystems for System Transformation (FEST).
TC23 Prague: How do we mobilize knowledge and create agency/capacity for transformative partnerships?
Katy Roelich from the University of Leeds and Zuzana Harmackova from CzechGlobe and the Stockholm Resilience Centre delve into the complexities of decision making for sustainability transformations, addressing challenges related to the intricate nature of systems, cultural impacts on public sector organizations, and the inherent value-laden and political dimensions of system transformation.
TC23: Restoring Country and Revitalising Economies - Indigenous perspectives in just transitions
This inspiring session was the one most commonly mentioned when I ask people ‘what was your favourite session at the conference’. Three inspiring speakers from the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research offered a masterclass in the practice of Indigenous recognition. For those not identifying as Indigenous, Craig Longman’s contribution offered particularly valuable advice.
Access all TC23 recordings
If you attended the Transformations Conference 2023, please log-in to Whova, where you can access all session recordings until October 15, 2023.