In the face of escalating environmental crises, transformational change is a phrase we hear often. But what does it actually mean? And more importantly, how do we move beyond talking about it to making it happen?
In our recent OceanEarth Foundation webinar, we explored these questions through the lens of systems thinking—a way of looking at conservation that goes beyond quick fixes and single-issue solutions. Our panelists—leaders in philanthropy, finance, governance, and conservation—shared insights on what it takes to create lasting change and why this conversation has never been more urgent.
As panelist Paul Chatterton from Landscape Finance Lab emphasized, we need to be thinking at the scale of a million hectares, over a timeframe of a generation, and with the financial backing of hundreds of millions of dollars. Yet, much of conservation is still caught in short-term funding cycles and small-scale projects that don’t match the scale or complexity of the crisis. Shifting our approach means breaking out of project-by-project thinking and designing long-term, landscape-scale solutions that integrate nature, people, and economy.
But scaling up isn’t just about geography or funding—it’s also about shifting mindsets. Panelist Fern Wickson from IPBES reminded us that nature isn’t just something “out there” in a forest or a marine reserve—it is woven into our daily lives. It’s the water we drink, the food we eat, the materials that build our homes and power our cities. Until we reconnect with this reality, conservation efforts will always struggle for relevance and support.
One of the biggest barriers to transformational change is the way we fund conservation. Blair Palese of Ethinvest shared a hopeful perspective—large-scale finance models are emerging that could finally move conservation beyond the constant scramble for short-term funding and into sustainable, long-term investment strategies. The divestment movement, which successfully shifted trillions away from fossil fuels, shows how redirecting financial flows can be one of the most powerful levers for systems change.
Yet, transformational change isn’t just about big financial shifts or top-down policies—it’s also about deeply listening to communities, adapting to local contexts, and co-designing solutions.
Anissa Lawrence, Director of OceanEarth Foundation, shared how this thinking has shaped our Ghost Nets Australia program. Rather than simply removing abandoned fishing gear from remote coastlines, the program has spent years mapping its origins, leading us to understanding the struggling poverty, food security, and illegal fishing pressures facing East Indonesian fishing communities. Instead of imposing conservation solutions, this program works alongside local fishers to co-design a program that supports livelihoods while reducing ghost nets at the source.
These examples reinforce a core truth: there is no single blueprint for change. Conservation cannot be approached as a one-size-fits-all solution. It must be adaptive, community-driven, and deeply embedded in the systems that shape human behaviour and decision-making.
So, where do we go from here? Fern Wickson urged us to balance urgency with patience. The crises we face demand immediate action, but deep transformation takes time. As Paul Chatterton pointed out, the true challenge is not just designing solutions, but making sure they last.
We need coalitions across sectors—government, business, philanthropy, and local communities—to come together and commit to long-term systems change. We must be willing to act without knowing all the answers, to take risks, to iterate, and to trust that the work we do today lays the foundations for something greater.
If you were there, let’s keep the conversation going because transformation doesn’t happen in isolation – we need to be sharing these ideas with our colleagues, networks and funders to transform our collective approach to these tasks. If you couldn’t join us, we hope this reflection gives you something to think about and inspires you to watch the recording below.
What does transformational change look like in your work? We’d love to hear your thoughts – why not drop us a line?
Webinar recording: Applying Systems Thinking for Transformational Change in Conservation