PROJECT HISTORY

This page lists the projects I have been involved in over the years, as founder, co-founder, embedded contributor, advisor, and support. Some are still running. Some closed. Some never got off the ground.

I believe that a record like this, ‘warts and all’, is more useful than a curated set of highlights. The range in itself, and the fact that many of those projects did not survive or succeed, both reflect My Principles.

WHAT I FOUNDED

Co-founded, still running

SHAPESHIFTERS GROUP Co-founded in 2025. A Melbourne-based non-profit giving voice and visibility to the people who do liminal work in organisations and ecosystems. Visit shapeshifters.group

Founded, ran well, then closed

MARCO POLO PROJECT Founded in Melbourne in 2011. A charity fostering intercultural understanding through collaborative translation and peer learning. At its peak, we ran a digital magazine, a bilateral festival of digital literature, a Translation Club running in Melbourne and Tokyo, and intercultural programs in schools and universities. The organisation closed in 2023 after twelve years. Translation Club, following a format we designed and seeded, is still running as an open-source event in Australia and Japan.

What worked: the magazine, the Translation Club, the community, the partnerships, and a cross-cultural facilitation handbook. What didn't: the COVID pandemic was not part of our contingency plan. When it hit, our ecosystem was heavily disrupted, and we were no longer able to operate as we had.

Visit our archive at marcopoloproject.org

WHAT I JOINED AND SUPPORTED FROM WITHIN

Embedded, still running

WORLD ETHIC FORUM Formally joined in late 2025 as in-house writer and editor. A Switzerland-based regenerative think tank exploring radically shared aliveness and ecocentric leadership. I work with co-leads Anaïs Sägesser and Luea Ritter on internal clarity, blog posts, podcast, strategy and communication. Visit worldethicforum.com

COLLECTIVE TRANSITIONS Working closely with co-founder Luea Ritter over several years, I co-edited an Introduction to Systems Sensing, and co-authored Soundtracking (forthcoming), a book demystifying the inner work of process stewardship. Now contributing to curriculum for practitioners and impact investors. Visit collectivetransitions.com

Embedded, major milestone, clean exit

FUTURE OF GOVERNANCE AGENCY Co-founded with Corin Ism in 2019. An organisation based in Brussels that develops and shares tools for world-builders, making governance wisdom accessible and attractive. Corin leads the organisation. I contributed deep editorial, personal, and strategic support during a long incubation phase, and am stepping out as the project prepares to become pubic. Visit foga.org

GLOBAL CHALLENGES FOUNDATION Invited by Corin Ism, I was editor in chief from 2016 to 2018, through the lead-up to the largest prize in the social sciences. Produced the GCF Risk Handbook, the first concise introduction to global catastrophic risk, and seven quarterly reports shaping the conversation on global governance innovation. I left after the prize was awarded, when the work I was there to do was done. The Foundation continues, supporting a range of organisations involved in global governance and global risk reduction. Visit globalchallenges.org

Embedded, exploratory, then closed

PHILOSOPHER IN RESIDENCE — ETERNUS From 2023 to 2024, I worked as Philosopher in Residence with a business group called Eternus, which has since folded. I supported executive leaders through a period of structural transition. The role was exploratory: in-house philosopher as a generalist agent, holding the space between parts, improving information integrity, and connecting what otherwise wouldn't connect. I wrote a white paper on what such a role could look like. Read the white paper.

Embedded, worked well, then closed

CHINA AUSTRALIA MILLENNIAL PROJECT I joined the founding team of Australia's largest bilateral innovation incubator in 2015. I curated the selection of 130 young leaders from Australia and China, and coordinated a six-day summit in Sydney. The project didn't survive its first years, but the network it created continues.

Embedded, never really took off

REVOLT / ISGOOD.AI Two ventures I worked closely with in their very early stages: a greentech startup and an impact evaluation platform. I helped both articulate what they were aiming to build, and what culture would support it. Neither found the traction they needed, or developed a viable version of their product.

WHAT I SUPPORT(ED) AND ADVISE(D)

SUPPORTING & ADVISING, significant engagement — ongoing

GLOBAL CARBON REWARD Since 2020, I have been editorial and governance advisor on a new policy proposal to fund climate mitigation through a new central-bank-backed transnational asset class. I edited multiple versions of the website and policy paper. Presented at COP28, Bank of England, and Yale. Visit globalcarbonreward.org

FUTURE VALUE I am a board advisory and risk committee member of a regenerative development organisation – with an associated foundation – working on community, carbon and renewable projects in PNG. I also provide personal ad hoc support to the CEO and CFO. Visit futurevalue.global

ENSPIRAL. After joining in 2024, I became part of the Kumara node working group, and represent our node on the global ‘Minimal Viable Board’. I was part of the hosting team for the 2025 Winter Retreat, and Plan B lead for the 2026 Winter retreat. Visit enspiral.com.

SUPPORTING & ADVISING, new ventures — ongoing

SCORTON (cybersecurity) · SELF ACADEMY (spiritual and personal development) · INSIGHT ACADEMY (business school) · LIFECRACK ASIA (organisational design) · ELECTRON WORKSHOP (open-source tech) · ECORITY TRUST (regenerative think tank) · THE ADAPTATION GAME (climate adaptation – trained facilitator)

SUPPORTED & ADVISED, new ventures — no longer engaged

ITALKI (digital language learning) · WEAVER (psychology and loneliness) · AYLA (AI payments) · SPRITECLOUD (cybersecurity) · WENDIGO (documentary film production) · HACKING CHINESE (language learning) · LEVEL UP ENGLISH (language school) · CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE (intercultural consulting) · MIRACLEMINT (financial services)

SUPPORTING & Advising, existing organisations — ongoing

PER CAPITA (progressive think tank) · JESUIT SOCIAL SERVICES (social services) · AUSIT (translation/interpretation peak body)

SUPPORTED & Advised, existing organisations — no longer ENGAGED

AUSTRALIAN BALLET (cultural institution) · MISSION AUSTRALIA (social services) · IVANHOE GIRLS GRAMMAR (high school) · McROBERTSON GIRLS SCHOOL (selective entry high school – occasional facilitation) · ASIA EDUCATION FOUNDATION (Asia-focused think tank – school presentations)

SUPPORTED & Advised, never really took off

COUNTA · TUTO · NEVEUS · CHARITY BAY

Four ventures I supported in their concept articulation phases: sharing economy (x2), education, financial analysis. Good ideas, good founders, limited momentum.

SUPPORTED & Advised, worked well, then closed

DANWEI MEDIA (now supChina) I contributed coverage of the Chinese blogosphere to this digital magazine through the Marco Polo Project before the founder relocated to the US and Danwei folded into supChina.

SCHOOL OF FUTURE Advisory to an India-based Edtech startup teaching entrepreneurship to high-schoolers.

FAB9 MAKER SPACE Supported the founder in the early phase. The space ran for several years before closing.

LANGUAGE CONNECTION I sat on the board of this Melbourne-based language peer learning non-profit.

BITNATION I briefly worked with this blockchain-based venture exploring identity records and virtual citizenship.

COMMUNITIES AND NETWORKS

Not everything is a client relationship. I'm also part of various communities and networks in an informal capacity. I’m currently involved in Enspiral, a distributed organisation and a community of practice for people working on ‘stuff that matters’. I’m also involved in the Melbourne Stoa, the DSIL, THNK and School of Slow Media alumni cohort, as well as informal writing, global and intercultural communities.

THAT’S IT

That should be the full record, at least as best I can account for it.

If you'd like to understand more about how I work, check out My Writing, My Practice and My Services