The B Corp Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Assembly 2024 was a gathering that united over 300 certified B Corp businesses, emphasising the critical balance of social, environmental, and economic impacts. Sarah O'Terra and Becky Smallchua share their reflections from the event: vibrant connections formed, diverse perspectives shared, and the collective journey towards a more sustainable and purpose-driven future.
Sarah O'Terra's Reflection
With my coffee in hand, I’ve been reflecting on my last few days at B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Assembly 2024 - over 300 certified B Corp businesses from ANZ coming together to connect and explore what it means for business to balance social, environmental and economical impact.
It was my first time at Assembly, and as a B Local for Melbourne, was keen to connect, learn and reflect. Here’s a small slice of takeaways I shared with my team after arriving back in the office.
👂 Connection to others
Vibes were high and it felt easy to meet and connect. On day two Ann-Marie Pistikakis and Kate Sherburn from Who Gives A Crap session Creating Belonging shared a core tenant to the WGAC culture is ‘assume good intent from others’. This opens up space for collaboration, empathy and connection. I love this. Whilst I didn’t touch the sides of hanging out with all 300 people, each new person I met radiated good intent. They were welcoming, warm and interested. Meeting in person with clients we’d worked with over the last few years, new faces becoming friends and deepening connections with pals I get to enjoy often! Lisa Booth, Claire Bowles MSc , FRSA, Natalie Dean-Weymark, Luke Dean-Weymark, Keryn Nossal, Sarah Sheridan, Ryan Ong, Malcolm Lazenby, Sasha Titchkosky, Lee Bright and many more.
🗣️ Point of view
It can easily become an echo chamber of patting ourselves on the back in our networks, business groups and movements. Throughout the keynotes, workshops and coffee breaks there were differing points of view, questioning and debate amongst us on approaches to collective action, systems thinking and advocacy without diluting the impact for real change. Michele Wilson, CEO of AWWA Period care on the approach to 100 year business plans showing consideration and foresight how current decision-making will impact life for generations to come. I’m keen to learn more, dig deeper and learn from first nations leaders on sustainable business that balances people, planet and profits.
🌏 Questions not answers
As Kira Day shared in the commencement it was the intent that we would leave with more questions than answers. Yep. They nailed that, I am confident I know less today than I did a week ago. A spite of the existential thoughts looping between my ears, I’m sure I’m in the right place, surrounded by the kind of people I can learn from and grow with to finding meaning in my work and contribution to people and planet.
Looking forward to seeing all the B’s throughout March for B Corp Month.
If you’re based in Victoria and into business and impact. Check out the new page 👇 where we’ll be sharing a calendar of activities and events to connect with local B Corps throughout the year.
Thanks to B Lab for such an epic opportunity to connect
Your hard work and planning to make the whole week seamless was definitely felt, thank you! B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, Kira, Lauren Diggle, Angie, Katie Whittaker, Lucinda W.
Victoria B Local
Local catch up for Victorian B Corps with the Melbourne B Local group.
Come join us here > https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406672/
Through engaging dialogues, introspective questions, and shared experiences, the Assembly not only fostered a sense of community but also ignited a deeper motivation and reflection on the path towards impactful change.
Rebecca Smallchua's reflections
Time out to question everything, be inspired, be challenged, reminded about the urgency of the climate crisis, acknowledge progress but also total brokenness in our system and connecting with other humans striving for progress.
Did I leave with more questions than answers? More motivated and more cynical? Uncomfortable in the contradictions? Yea. But the greatest takeaways lingering with me came from the Indigenous members in the community, who helped to simplify but bring focus to what really matters..
👶 Generational planning
Michele Wilson (AWWA Period care) shared the Māori practice of crafting 100-year business plans, emphasising the value of thinking beyond short-term strategies.
🌳 Nature's Wisdom
Bunurong Elder, Lionel from (Living Culture) shared a beautiful yarn about bush tucker, deep listening and importance of bring still in nature and guided us through a grounding Yidaki meditation.
❤️ Come with Purpose
Laura Thompson (Clothing The Gaps) reminded us of the meaning of ‘Wominjeka’ - starting with purpose, underlining the significance of intention in our actions.
🤝 Relationships at the core
Eileen Bowden (Miraka Limited) closed with highlighting the importance of relationships in Māori culture prompting reflection on the meaningful connections I made these two days with old partners - Chris Fraser, Oliver Pelling, Alicia Kennedy, Fotini Kypraios FGIA FCG (CS CGP), Keryn Nossal, clients we've spent days on Zoom building whole websites/ brand strategies but never met in person (loved the HUGS!) - Cheyne McKee, Kirsty Dare, Luke Dean-Weymark, Natalie Dean-Weymark and new friends doing cool things Ryan Ong, Alana Owen, Alexander Dirksen, Andrea Spencer-Cooke, Malcolm Lazenby, Gayle Hardie.
So really, perhaps it’s just about simplifying complex matters and bringing it back to your purpose. For Harvey. we're building for the next generation, driven by our legacy and purpose to leave the world a better place and trying to do it with kindness at the core while embracing imperfection. 🌏
Big ❤️ to B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand team
Always a special place in my heart as you partnered with us at the very start of Harvey and I just love seeing how you’ve nurtured and grown the team and movement to what it is today Mindy Leow, Lauren Diggle, Andrew Davies, Kira Day
