Meet the crew
Becoming Crew — Learning Marathon 2021
A 6 month peer supported learning journey, 12 crew collectively exploring how we might regenerate life on spaceship earth via 12 individual projects and missions.
Last month over a weekend in my home city of Bath, the inaugural ‘Becoming Crew ‘ Learning Marathon kicked off.
You can read/watch all about the why, what and how here — this post is essentially the WHO.
The Learning Marathon peer learning methodology from Enrol YourSelf proposes 12 people to be the optimum size for a peer group 6 month journey, including the host and guide — in this case me.
I ended up with double the amount of applications than places available by the application deadline, which I was enormously humbled and grateful for and so spent 2 weeks going through the interviews and applications to try and curate a group that felt most optimised for this moment in time.
What that meant for me was trying to curate a balance of experiences, life stage, gender, blend of skillsets, readiness to commit to the process, curiosity with the ‘becoming crew’ theme, tangibility of learning question, willingness to support others as well as the focus on the individual challenge.
Not an easy task as all the applications were awesome and it’s heartening to know that many people are asking deep questions of themselves in these times.
I would capture the overall themes of what I mean by ‘asking deep questions of themselves’ as…
What and who am I serving and for whose benefit in these unraveling times?
and
How do I best cultivate and use my energies, experiences and gifts to serve life now and in the future?
The kick-off weekend was a chance to meet IRL, the group consists of crew from all over the UK. Day 1 was to immerse in the process, tools and practices. And begin to understand everyone’s learning questions and what sits beneath them…
Day two we spent mostly outside and in the woods, exploring practices like coaching each other as well as mini-solos and sit spots to help us notice and connect more deeply with life itself, to encourage regular practice in the 6 month journey and beyond.
This is not only as it’s an awesome thing to do but because one of the questions the Becoming Crew theme is convening around is….
‘How can we learn to think more like nature works?
or
How can we learn to think more than human ?
We are nearly 4 weeks into the journey and I shall be posting regular updates on the journey, over at https://becomingcrew.substack.com/ — subscribe to get them via email.
But for now meet the 2021 crew and their learning questions (as they begin the journey)….
Sarah Maclaren
Learning Question
If people will serve and nurture what they know and love, how can I bring them closer to nature and engender their lifelong love of our world?
I am a gardener and have formerly run my own garden design business. I have three children, one almost an adult now, and they have inspired in me a deep love of young people and a passion to protect and love the future planet they will be living on for the rest of their lives. In the past I have taught in schools, and also run gardening clubs and other clubs for children. My professional background of long-ago is in marketing. I want to bring all these things together to work out my next step in bringing nature and people closer together.
Julian Ellerby
Learning Question
How might we imagine and design more-than-human centered futures?
Julian is a generalist, strategist, design thinker and futures practitioner, with a decade or so experience helping brands make sense of the changing world and take action — from forming long-term visions to creating new propositions and prototypes for tomorrow. Driven by a deep curiosity about nature, including people, he is interested to explore how we might imagine and create futures where businesses are reconnected with earth’s beautiful life giving systems.
Illma Stankeviciute
Learning Question:
What is the role of nature and feminine to change the current linear extractive system?
Ilma designs learning content and experiences for professionals to help the world transition to a circular economy. In her professional life, she has also worked in various project management and business development roles in several organisations, that included a social entrepreneurship NGO in Malaysia, import business in Egypt, Lithuanian Embassy in London, and a sustainability leadership. She holds an action research based MSc degree in Sustainability and Responsibility from Ashridge Executive Education. Outside of work, Ilma facilitates nature connection activities, tells stories around the fire, practices white crane kung fu and enjoys her time in the wild.
Heather Knight
Learning Question:
How can I create the conditions for creativity, wellness and nature to thrive?
Heather is a freelance graphic designer who’s spent the last decade working with purpose-led organisations, B Corps and NGOs to create positive impact through impactful creative communications. From crafting brands from scratch, to designing and implementing digital campaigns that inspire millions, Heather loves projects that need a creative approach to inspire an audience into thinking differently or taking action. She believes we need nature connection to fuel our imaginations and resilience in responding to the climate and ecological emergency, and to connect deeply with the things we are trying to protect and restore. When she’s not at her desk, you can find her swimming in rivers, getting her hands dirty in the garden or walking in the woods.
Mark Cridge
Learning Question:
How to turn being overwhelmed by climate grief into a daily practice of action ?
Mark is Chief Executive of mySociety, a UK based social enterprise, who help people be active citizens. mySociety’s popular services FixMyStreet.com, TheyWorkForYou.com and WhatDoTheyKnow.com are used by over 11 million people each year; and our open source technology and research is used by individuals, journalists, and civil society in over 40 countries worldwide. Prior to mySociety, Mark enjoyed a diverse 20-year digital career including stints as COO at design consultancy BERG, as a senior advisor at political campaigners Blue State Digital in London, and served on the national executive of the Green Party of England & Wales for five years. Originally studying Architecture at Strathclyde University, he got his commercial start in 1996 working for a small web design agency in Birmingham before setting up glue London, the UK’s first digital advertising agency in 1999, going on to become global managing director of Isobar, following glue’s acquisition in 2005.
Evva Semenowicz
Learning Question:
How do we compost consumerism?
Workshop facilitator, creative strategist, yoga teacher, vegetarian cook and community gardener. I am interested in practices of cultivating creativity and mending broken connections with our bodies, the land and communities. I value curiosity, kindness and courage. In my work as a strategist, I explore ways to redefine the role of brands in society, move away from seeing people as ‘consumers’ and striving for growth at the expense of people and the planet.
Ben Davies
Learning Question:
How might we create the physical, digital and psychological conditions that galvanise individuals, teams and companies to create their most meaningful and deepest work? (….so that wider positive and regenerative change is accelerated).
Ben studied architecture, and has worked in creative businesses for over 20 years, as a Managing Director, Creative Director and a hands-on Designer and Artist. This included 12 years as Co-Founder and MD at The Neighbourhood — an award winning Manchester creative studio — where he worked with clients across visualisation, motion, interactive, immersive, brand and design, before closing in 2018. Long story. Ben currently works as a consultant and mentor to leaders and teams, and tries to bring empathy and energy to help people get clear, get aligned, and get on with the work that truly matters. He lives near Manchester, with his partner and their 7 year old daughter.
Maria Hayden
Learning Question:
How can I bring the village together — connect, empower and inspire them, through ancient communal chores ?
I’ve spent the past 25 years advocating the arts, facilitating artists in their careers and building disruptive technology in the live booking space. Starting out as an actor, I’ve always understood the power and importance of story telling. Over the years I’ve applied this magic to the art of audience building. I’ve built a number of artist fanbases and used my own personal story and technology to build a platform that helped thousands of musicians book live performances. I have experienced over the years how community (both digital or physical) facilitates positive discourse and how we make sense of the world around us. I believe in the power of human connection and the key role it plays in building a healthier future for ourselves and our planet.
John Ridpath
Learning Question:
How can I help people adopt the mindsets of a regenerative economy?
John is a technologist and learning product designer. In the past year, he has created and delivered learning experiences covering topics such as data ethics, critical thinking and business model innovation. John was previously Head of Product at Decoded, where he was responsible for designing technology education programmes — covering topics such as code, data science, blockchain, cybersecurity, AI, storytelling and innovation. Before Decoded, he worked as a journalist, lecturer and software developer.
Sophie Tait
Learning Question:
How can I help people experience the joy of co-creating a better world?
Sophie is a creative strategist who spent 17 years working in top London advertising agencies before waking up to the climate crisis and pivoting to environmental campaigning. She is the author of Trash Plastic, an award-winning platform she created to help people easily live well with less plastic. Sophie recently stepped back from a central role at Extinction Rebellion, developing messaging strategy, and is confident that the Learning Marathon will help her figure out the Next Big Thing.
Stan Townsend
Learning Question
How can my authentic-self, best play a role in creating regenerative cultures?
Stan is currently working up to COP26 as a climate finance negotiator, whilst also acting head of ‘sustainability’ at Bristol bike centre Pedal Progression and upcoming Bath bike park. He joined the learning marathon to seek out a deeper service to life. Interested in reconnecting our relationship to nature and our own nature. Empowered by moving mind and body outside, alongside nature’s infinite wisdom. Hoping to bring his work to communities close to him and then perhaps the institutions of power.
Dan Burgess/Host & Guide
Learning Question:
How/where do I choose to use my voice and energy in the most regenerative way as this civilisational story breaks down?
I’m a bricoleur — earthling, dad, creative strategist, activist, co-designer, podcaster and guide with deep experience of harnessing creativity and collaboration for action on complex social, ecological and climate challenges. I work across multiple spaces from the grassroots, place-based communities, arts, activism, conservation, NGO’s to global brands. I’m Co-founder of Good for Nothing, Co-Pilot at Wild Labs, long term steward of The Wild Network and We Are Ocean collective and host The SpaceShip Earth podcast. I write, talk, design and serve as a learning guide, exploring participative and regenerative cultures, deepening our relationship with the more than human world, brand activism and creative experimentation in unravelling times. Love woods, waves, running, DJing, baking bread and growing veg.
Follow the journey at https://becomingcrew.substack.com/
Photos: Dan/ Alana Bloom
