When I was 15, I won a scholarship to sail down the east coast of Australia in a tall ship; a type of traditional sailing ship from hundreds of years ago, powered by the wind, the currents, human skill and a lot of luck. You need to be able to read the world around you in order to navigate safely and find some kind of direction. By no means do I consider myself a master sailor or nautical guru. However, the preparation and week of sailing taught me more than I could have imagined at such an impressionable age. Sailing, it turns out, is in vast parts a metaphor for life, for momentum, for being a part of systems. 

When you sail, you must work as a team or there is not even a hope of direction, you need to set a shared course and recognise that you’re going somewhere, but you also need to be attuned to when things require more, like sailing through a squall in the middle of the night in a boat careening almost sideways through the water with speed. You also need to have the patience of a monk when you experience the sensation of becoming ‘becalmed’, becoming completely immobile; there is no current, no wind, no… direction, just stillness. And you also need to recognise when you have to catch up and when you can slow down. Take a moment to sail into the bay, enjoy the sun and rest in order to move forward later without being drained or hurrying. In a way, this reflects so much of how systems are, how nature is and the journey of co-creation and innovation. You can not force the oceans, nor can you force change. It comes through trust. 

2025 was a year of momentum for Unearthodox and those we serve. Things started to move on their own energy, toward their own creation. Introductions and convening resulted in connections and partnerships, and started to move into action. Innovators surfaced and grew via incubation, offerings of knowledge and insights nurtured and shared, and re-shared. And, importantly, when we think of momentum, we think of this traditional definition of moving forward, an energy to go forward. This energy was definitely there. But, like sailing, momentum requires pause (unexpected or otherwise); a helpful paradox. In our Exploration Co-Lab, we saw the innovators who needed a moment to be becalmed in order to then move forward; those who needed the relief of a support crew to believe in them. In the creation of the Anthology and the futures work, we witnessed dialogue, research, sitting still, and connection that required collective navigation, tough moments, and times when the currents and wind seemed to have vanished… and yet, here we are, moving, with direction. 

2025 was also our third year of life as Unearthodox. We are moving much more confidently into a space of our own voice, learning, growth, direct action and contribution to impact. Really bringing the hybrid idea of a ‘thinkubator’ to life – being a catalyst between deep reframing of root problem spaces, reimagining with others the kinds of futures that might inspire us, connecting and nurturing innovation and ideas that move nature and society towards aliveness, unfolding regeneration. Importantly, we could not have done this alone. It is with my deepest thanks to the whole living support system that we continue to navigate via the skies and the currents of the oceans of systems change: the team, the Board, our partners, innovators, jurors, consultants, advisors, those platforms and spaces that invited  Unearthodox to provide visibility and connection to our shared missions and goals, to our funding partners, and to all other kinds of collaborators. I also wish to extend my greatest appreciation to Ryna Sherazi, who brought Unearthodox into 2025 as the Ad Interim CEO while I enjoyed my maternity leave. 

Moreover, I want to thank everyone with whom I have been in conversation. I get a sense that there are enough of us who want to build out this ecosystem of collective change for nature and life. Whether via innovation, funding, co-creation, insights or networks. We are all navigating these deep and challenging seas together, very much imperfectly. But, I’m proud of that and, to anyone reading this, I say: You are not alone. 

I am honoured to be part of this legacy that we are building together – a world that can take the opportunities, pain and potential of today and boldly commit to the fact that we want to see a living world, all things, human and not. Connect. Reimagine. Innovate. Together with ambition, direction, small steps, and self-reflection. With a profound sense of care for life. If something speaks to you in our annual report, if you want to find out more, or if you feel called to invest in and provide resources, partner with and be in dialogue with those who are already boldly creating change, then reach out.

See you soon.

Over  the past year the world has undergone a reckoning, dismantling and re-examining of the political, social, economic and cultural institutions which impact the lives of millions. As a new normal is called for more urgently, the purpose of Unearthodox and its work tackling the knottiest issues of nature and people has become ever more critical. 

Unearthodox exists to realise a world where equitable and diverse societies actively regenerate nature. We do this by supporting fresh solutions and meaningful ways of working, thinking and doing. In this moment of uncertainty and transition, that purpose has proved to be both relevant and urgent.  

In 2025, our third year, we focused on being more intentional and partner-led,  deepening our relationships with our partners, collaborators and innovators and responding more meaningfully to their realities. The inaugural Exploration Co-Lab cohort of innovators  proved a wonderful initiation of this active focus, a community convened to connect, learn and to advance their work. Through this action, we have seen a  growing movement  of innovators, practitioners and thinkers aligning around regeneration principles. 

We also strengthened our foundations through the work on anti-oppression, clearer communication of our purpose, and the development of monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches. These efforts help us better understand and articulate our impact, remain accountable, and continue learning alongside others. 

It was a pleasure to meet so many of you across the year; at the Regenerative Futures retreat, at InTent at the World Economic Forum, the World Systemic Forum and in other  online and in person forums and meetings. As these connections deepen into year four, they offer the possibility of a regenerative 'new normal' that helps disband the harmful polarities  that divide and shape so many of our current global systems.

It has been a privilege to serve as Ad-interim CEO during this period. Thank you to the team, our partners and our  community for your openness, collaboration and commitment to this shared journey.

In 2025, each day mattered. 

Our third year as Unearthodox. Year three is the horizon at which you can imagine a strategy. From the Luc Hoffmann Institute we could picture that horizon. We knew that we could be a space to Connect, Reimagine, and Innovate. A space where people build, at the intersection of nature and humanity.   

During these three years our ripples spread, and we’ve started to see Unearthodox evolve. We’ve grown, and in 2025 we have started to see our reflection in the mirror. 

And what we see is exciting: more than 1000 applications to our innovation programmes, multiple convening for the innovation team, incoming inspiration, challenges, demands. These tell us that we are hitting a chord, the work is rippling and echoing. These are systems starting to change. 

The transition from year three to year four seems highly symbolic. What lies ahead builds on our rich history and bold vision, taking the course that Unearthodox is charting for itself.

Year three felt a bit like a tune with a three-beat pulse: the typical waltz. You’ve got momentum, you’re finding dance partners, you’re getting feedback from the crowd. There’s something going on. The swinging, circular motion carries you forward.

And this is how in 2025 each day mattered. Our partners joined, grew more engaged, our team continued to dance. Newness came from connecting, rhythm brought sense. 

And in 2026 we’re building on this, bringing more people to the party and growing the movement. As more join, we learn new moves, we grow. 

In fact, modern music runs on a four-beat pulse: it’s rhythmic, directive, moving. Much like year four. The beat intensifies, but becomes more recognisable. The momentum becomes powerful; the energy multiplies. 

A big thank you to all our friends, partners, and team members who brought their full energy this year. The world is deeply divided, the future never harder to predict. Despite this, the Unearthodox community continues to show that there is hope in change, that better futures are emerging, and that the people carrying these are diverse, are strong, are inspiring. Now let’s help them succeed.

When you think about the future of our planet, what do you see? In 2025, Unearthodox worked to ensure that the answer to that question is shaped not by fear or fragmentation, but by imagination, courage, and collaboration.

This was the year we fully stepped into our role as a thinkubator, a space where bold ideas are not only explored, but turned and nurtured into action. We connected unexpected voices, reimagined what conservation and regeneration could look like, and supported innovators who are reshaping how we live and work with nature.

Our innovation portfolio focuses on bringing our theory of change to life and pushing our collective aspirations for change as deep, wide, and bold as we can reasonably imagine and deliver. Our work clearly focuses on three interconnected pathways to change: 

Connect: bringing together diverse people and perspectives in spaces built on trust
Reimagine: questioning assumptions and expanding how we understand regeneration
Innovate: helping courageous ideas find the support they need to grow

Through global dialogues, collaborative inquiry, and hands-on incubation, we saw early signs of change: stronger collaborations, new language for regeneration, innovators gaining confidence, and fresh energy and funds flowing into alternative pathways.

Systems change does not happen overnight. It begins with shifts in how we relate, how we imagine and how we act. 2025 was a year of building those shifts, relationally and with care.

What follows is the story of how connection, imagination, and innovation are coming together to help shape regenerative futures where people and nature can thrive as one.

At Unearthodox, we are building funding relationships and partnerships grounded in deep trust. Our vision requires bold thinking and transformative collaboration across geographies, sectors, and disciplines. In 2025, we strengthened both our work and our ecosystem.

Our funders played a critical role not only in enabling our work financially, but also in strengthening it through shared insights, expertise, and connection. We are deeply grateful to all our supporters for their continued trust and commitment.

We extend special thanks to the Fondation Hans Wilsdorf for its enduring confidence in Unearthodox and for accompanying us through a year of consolidation and impact. We also thank the Mercator Foundation Switzerland, whose support helped make the 2026 Exploration Co-Lab possible.

Together with our partners, we worked to nurture and reinforce a supportive innovation ecosystem. They were essential in helping us challenge our assumptions, bring in fresh perspectives, and expand the reach and relevance of our collective work.

We deepened existing collaborations and began new ones with peers such as Brainforest, Climate-KIC and TPC / NO.17 Foundation. We continued engaging with a wider range of value-aligned organisations including Club of Rome, LUSH, and JRF. These are just a few examples and we truly appreciate each and everyone across our expanding ecosystem for the many meaningful conversations and collaborations that continue to shape our work.

We are excited about the possibilities ahead and we warmly invite new partners to join us in co-creating a thriving planet.

If you are interested in supporting our work or simply curious to learn more, please get in touch with Sofia Papadakaki, our Partnerships & Philanthropy Manager, at sofia.papadakaki@unearthodox.org.

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At Unearthodox, we see our donors as integral members of our ecosystem. Beyond essential financial support, we deeply value the insights, technical expertise and vital networks that enhance and expand our work. Your generosity fuels our efforts to regenerate nature and drive truly transformative change.

We are especially grateful to the Fondation Hans Wilsdorf for its steadfast commitment and trust in our vision, leadership and organisation.

If you are inspired to help co-create a thriving planet, please get in touch with Sofia Papadakaki, our Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, at sofia.papadakaki@unearthodox.org. 

Our vision for a healthier planet calls for bold ideas and truly transformative collaboration. Over the past year, we deepened relationships across our ecosystem and built new strategic partnerships that brought fresh perspectives and broadened our collective impact.

Together with the TransCap Initiative, we co-led a session on systemic investing at the World Economic Forum in Davos (January 2024). 

As part of our ongoing efforts to nurture a supportive innovation ecosystem, we began new collaborations with Brainforest, Climate-KIC and BeVisioneers. We also engaged with a wider range of organisations that share our commitment to a future where all life on Earth thrives, including Alterna, Greaterthan, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), and the Moleskine Foundation, among others. These are just a few examples of the many rich and meaningful conversations and partnerships that continue to shape our work, and we are deeply grateful for the collaborative spirit shared across our growing ecosystem.

If you are interested in partnering with us or are curious to hear more, please get in touch with Sofia Papadakaki, our Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, at sofia.papadakaki@unearthodox.org, and Claire Dusonchet, our Innovation Portfolio Manager, at claire.dusonchet@unearthodox.org.