TC/ESG 2025 Conference

Thank you!

In August 2025, more than 400 participants from 70 countries came together in Johannesburg for TC/ESG 2025 — our seventh global gathering, dedicated to navigating sustainability transformations toward justice and equity. 

Over four days in Johannesburg, 330 speakers and more than 130 sessions wove together science, policy, art, and practice — drawing deeply on local energy, artistry, and leadership. Conversations tackled difficult questions of power, disconnection, and uneven futures, while opening space for creativity, care, and possibility. What gave the gathering its depth were the voices, perspectives, and commitments that participants carried into the room.

From plenaries to workshops, from sensemaking sessions to artistic activations, TC/ESG25 was more than a conference. It was a living experiment in how to connect and sustain transformation initiatives that often operate in isolation or under strain, and a reminder that our capacity grows when we work in community.

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#TCESG25 - What Attendees Say

"Thank you sincerely for the immense effort, dedication, and success poured into this past week. The organisation was exceptional, and I believe South Africa was showcased in powerful, beautiful, and memorable ways. It felt like the grounding force, the “superglue”, that held the imaginative and collaborative process between Earth System Governance and the Transformations Community together throughout the conference. I’m grateful for being included, and even more so for the thoughtful effort that made that inclusion possible. More strength to your bows, and I wish you rest for the coming days."
Janet Solomon
Janet SolomonFilmmaker, Ph.D. Candidate, Fine Arts, Emancipatory Futures Studies Fellow, co-founder Oceans Not Oil
"It was truly a pleasure to attend the recent conference. The event was an excellent opportunity to connect with peers and senior researchers in the field of transformative change, and I deeply appreciate the effort that went into its organization."
Ms. Anthonette Quayee
Ms. Anthonette QuayeeIndependent Researcher, Concerns for Nature / Research Fellow, Earth System Governance
"TCESG25 conference is over, as inspiring and energizing as I hoped when deciding on the journey to Johannesburg, SA. 4 days full of: Kindness and care, Curiosity and learning, Courage for change, Collaboration, Creativity and beauty! Huge congratulations on the organisation of the marvellous and highly successful event, and an honest word of thanks, as I benefited greatly from it."
Jerneja Penca
Jerneja PencaHead of department, Science and Research Center Koper
"Learning and having fun – that’s my motto! The past 2 weeks have been nothing short of inspiring. I joined the GCI & Wits University Winter School at Kruger National Park — an enriching pre-view to the TC/ESG25 Conference. From thought-provoking sessions to powerful conversations, I had the privilege to learn, share, and connect with brilliant minds from around the world. Grateful for the experiences, friendships, and ideas that will keep shaping our shared journey toward transformation."
Angela Opondoh
Angela OpondohPhD student at Wits University
"The TC/ESG25 Conference last week in Johannesburg wasn't your typical powerpoint and poster led conference. It was encouraging to hear from so many diverse voices in multiple formats - from theatre and film to interactive discussions. Visiting Alexandra and Soweto townships made the remaining disparities in the city very visual and emotional. Leaving Johannesburg, one thing stood out: we need to walk the talk, share power, and focus on the conditions that make real change possible. The big question is not only what we do but HOW we act."
Hanna Ewell
Hanna EwellResearch Specialist at Alliance Bioversity-CIAT
"I just returned from an amazing week at the TC/Earth System Governance Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. What a gathering of scientists, practitioners, artists, and activists! I love talking with people who care deeply about transformative change for a just and sustainable world, and who see potential and are taking actions that matter."
Karen O'Brien
Karen O'BrienProfessor at University of Oslo
"This week, I had the privilege of attending the 7th biennial Transformations Conference at the Wanderers Club—a space once marked by exclusion, now reimagined as a site of radical inclusion and possibility. The venue itself mirrored the heart of the gathering: transformation not as a destination, but as a continuous, courageous turning. The conference brought together voices from across the globe, with a powerful emphasis on the Global South. We listened deeply to stories, theories, and practices that challenge dominant paradigms and invite us to unlearn master narratives. We danced, we wept, we questioned. And while the road to full transformation is long and uneven, this conference pointed us toward the right turn—toward collective healing, toward equity, toward futures imagined by many. To everyone who held space, shared truth, and sparked change: thank you. Let’s keep turning."
Nobantu Shabangu
Nobantu ShabanguResearch Project Coordinator at University of the Witwatersrand
"Last week, I participated in the conference. It is a warm-hearted research community with activist-minded professionals working towards a more sustainable world. With Seona Candy and Lauren Lambert, Ph.D., we organised a session on reducing polarization in sustainability topics through better participation and deliberative processes. My main learning was that empathy is the key. The root causes of polarization are often deep in the different fundamental values, and those cannot be transformed within single workshops. However, creating spaces where people from different bubbles can listen and understand each other is so crucial. Many thanks to the organisers and participants for the inspiring days!"
Satu Lähteenoja
Satu LähteenojaLeading researcher at Demos Helsinki & Postdoctoral researcher at Aalto University

Looking Ahead

TC/ESG25 was not an ending, but part of a larger journey. From Johannesburg outward, the circle of transformation continues to widen — across regions, disciplines, and communities. In the months ahead we’ll share opportunities to join upcoming Transformations events and to host gatherings of your own.

In the meantime, here are ways to stay connected:
  • Stay updated: Follow the Transformations Community on LinkedIn, BlueSky, Twitter, and subscribe to our newsletter.
  • Revisit the gathering: Discover session recordings, photos, and artistic contributions from TC/ESG25.
  • Join what’s next: Connect with initiatives, networks, and calls that are emerging from the conference.
For questions or collaboration ideas, reach out to thomas@transformationscommunity.org

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