About Be The Change
Guardianship Council
Guardianship Council Members
Queensland
Andrew (Wilf) Wilford
My journey has taken me from the rational machinery of the world of engineering,
to the earthbound connection of deep ecology, through the realm of cosmology
to the right here right now reality of what it means to be a human being on
a planet where almost every living system is in sharp decline. Along the
way I have come to see that many of the beliefs and ideas that we think individuate
us are really just the same patterns playing out in different stories…the story
we need to tell is one of union, respect and honour. I take a systems
approach to all that I do and engage with. Deep inside me I feel a huge
responsibility to help others to write and play out a story for themselves that
makes true sustainability a reality.
As an academic working in the area of sustainable development I revel in
the opportunity to help others see the world through a systems based and sustainability
focused perspective. I believe that learning to dance with change enlivens
the spirit and connects us deeply with the wonder and beauty of the universe.
“Be The Change” helps us choreograph our own dance to the tune of nature,
in harmony with each other and towards a future that is truly worthy of our
highest humanity. As we allow our innate beauty to radiate a new world emerges…a
world that is calling us forth.
I live in a wonderful old miner’s cottage amidst an urban rainforest in the
West End of Brisbane with my beautiful wife Rosey. Her art, love for nature
and thirst for knowledge inspires me.
Fiona O’Sullivan
 I
am 41 years of age with two boys 14 and 16. I am currently living in Brisbane
after a few years spent living in South America with my family where I studied
Spanish, taught English, and did some acting and directing and was lucky enough
to visit some incredibly ancient and beautiful parts of the planet. My roots
are in Perth. I grew up on the banks of the Swan River with my family and my
grand mother who taught me about the pleasures of sharing food, lighting fires,
having parties, and gardening. My mother and father were very involved
in the local church community and so from them I have very fond memories of
communities that offer support and friendship to one another. I spent
my summer holidays in the South West beside the beach and Easter holidays on
an Island. I attribute much of my connection to and love for the planet
to these early childhood experiences. In this I am blessed.
In my adult years I have not had a particular profession although I have
a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Languages I have never chosen one particular
role to play. I have worked with the Australian Conservation Foundation, as
a research assistant, as an actress, as school community liaison, as a publicist
to the ABC, and as an event co-ordinator.
For the past 12 months I have been leading Symposiums in Australia and I
love it. I am really excited to be a part of this community and I am looking
forward to watching the initiative blossom here in Australia and around the
world. In all of this my hope is to deepen my connection to my community,
my planet, and myself.
Graeme Taylor
My work focuses on how we can accelerate the transformation of our unsustainable
global system into a sustainable, just, peaceful and prosperous planetary civilization.
Since 2003 I have been the coordinator of BEST Futures (www.bestfutures.org),
a project using evolutionary systems theory to model societal change, analyse
global problems and develop viable solutions.
From this research I wrote Evolution's Edge: The Coming Collapse and Transformation
of Our World (which won the Independent Publisher's 2009 Gold Medal for the
book "most likely to save the planet"). I am now working with World
Transforming Initiatives to develop a positive holistic vision capable of unifying
diverse non-governmental organizations into a powerful movement for constructive
global transformation. I believe this project will help deepen and extend the
wonderful work being done by Be The Change.
Most of my working life I spent working as an emergency paramedic. After
I retired in 2001, I studied for a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and
Management. Last year I completed a doctoral dissertation in Environment. I
currently hold honorary positions with the School of Integrative Systems, University
of Queensland (Adjunct Reader) and the Australian Peace and Conflict Centre
(Research Adviser). I am married with two children and currently live in Brisbane.
New South Wales
Jacqueline Buckingham
I first heard about the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium in October 2006 and
it struck such a chord in me that I immediately signed up for the first Facilitator
Training in Australia in February 2007. I experienced my first Symposium
during the training, and it moved me to tears. The central message of
inter-connectedness resonated deeply with me.
I was born and raised on a farm in England and that gave me a strong sense
of connection to the land, the trees and the animals. Moving to Australia
and discovering the powerful land here, has deepened that connection with the
earth. Since moving to Australia I have also been fortunate to spend time
with the indigenous elders, who still retain that deep respect for and connection
to country, and have spent time in ceremony with them and creating art exhibitions
with them. I am also a Transpersonal Art Therapist and Reiki Teacher,
and have always wanted to make a positive difference with my life.
The experience of the Symposium was a profound one for me – it was like coming
home. I finally found where I wanted to put my focus, and to discover
that I can work on one area (in my case the environment) and still impact the
other areas (social justice and spiritual fulfilment) was an enormous relief!
I currently work for a non-profit environmental organisation.
That first training in Australia produce 6 facilitators in Sydney, and this
small but dedicated group has kept the dream alive in NSW, culminating in a
Symposium held in Sydney in February 2008 led by Lynne Twist, with over 200
people taking part! Out of that another 27 people trained to lead Symposiums,
and now we have a strong group of more than 30 leaders in NSW and the ACT.
Joining the Guardianship Council felt like the next logical step in expressing
my commitment to the Symposium initiative, and in playing my part in having
it spread as widely as possible.
Salomeh Dastyari
A fellow traveller like you, I dream of a world where we can live in harmony
with one another, our environment and our planet. I feel a high resonance and
connection to the purpose of this foundation and am very excited and grateful
to be part of a community that is heart bound towards a journey of inspiring
and bringing about sustainable change, one day at a time.
In terms of being and doing, I can tell you about two of many major passions
in my life: Inspiring authentic shift for sustainable outcomes through embodied
leadership development consulting/facilitating workshops/executive coaching
and Improvised movement/dancing. Both of which, share the common thread of harnessing
human potential through ‘unlocking body and somatic wisdom’; leading to our
highest authentic expression, compassion and flow.
I have a degree in commerce marketing, am a qualified coach and have accreditations
in leadership development tools. Prior to my consulting career, I was climbing
the ladder in the corporate world for a number of years in sales, business development
and marketing. I currently work predominantly with senior executives in embodied
leadership, conscious business, pitch consulting and high impact communication
skills. If I’m not facilitating a leadership or dance workshop, coaching, consulting,
meditating, working on a ‘be the change’ initiative, doing yoga, hiking, eating
raw food, reading, contemplating, transitioning and transforming, having a deep
and/or fun conversation with my family/ friends or dancing on the rocks at a
beach/cliff somewhere, i will most likely be pursuing any of the following interests:
indigenous rituals and ceremonies (in particular native american indian shamanic
traditions), shamanic wisdom/dance, chakra education/dance, intuitive healing,
mindfulness based psychotherapy, spiritual intelligence and authentic dialogue.
I am based in Sydney and travel internationally for work and personal transformation;
with an inner and outer smile, constantly on a path of growth and connection
to our one consciousness.
Victoria
Deane Belfield
 I have been inspired by the work that Pachamama has undertaken around the
world. I recently visited Ecuador as part of the facilitator rainforest
trips with the Achuar with the purpose of better understanding from and learning
about their world view in order to share this with others in Australia. Be the
Change has an important role to play in taking the message to the community.
I wish to continue the great work started by the Council.
Dot Green
'Be The Change' is an inspiring and necessary vision for our time. The
Symposium Initiative www.changingthedream.org.au provides a joyful opportunity
for people to see that: dire predictions notwithstanding, together we can create
a sustainable future. I believe this is the greatest adventure of our
time.
In 1994 I went to Bangladesh with The Hunger Project and for the next 11
years I worked as a fundraiser for The Hunger Project, travelling the world,
sometimes working in New York. By 1995 I saw that how we in the consuming
countries live is having a devastating impact on our environment and on the
people living in the majority world.
In October 2006 I led the team that brought the Symposium Initiative to Australia.
I am committed to have it thrive and grow in Australia and our region.
I am married with 3 adult children and I work as a Green Loans Assessor with
the Australian Government. I have also worked as fundraiser for Friends
of the Earth Climate Justice Campaign.
Lee Coller
For 3 years I have been a part of the Changing The Dream (CTD) team and in
the meantime have had two beautiful children! I live in country Victoria with
my husband and children, in a small town called Alexandra two hours NE of Melbourne.
I love the peace, nature and community of where I live and awakened to
feel the Universe’s call to make a difference when I attended the CTD Facilitator
Training. I felt like I had come home and awakened a deep knowing - joining
the Be the Change Guardianship Council feels like my way to serve the planet
and inspire others to find their purpose in the world.
I have a degree in Economics, with honours in Human Resources. I worked for
ANZ Bank for over 10 years in a variety of HR and project management roles,
with the last few years trained as a cultural transformation facilitator. I
have since started my own consulting and facilitation business but currently
taking time out as a full time mum.
Sarah Houseman
Educator and Facilitator for Sustainable Futures
B.A, Dip.Ed. Grad. Cert. Management, M.Ed., M.Sc
My goal as a member of the Guardianship Council is to actively participate
in the leadership and national/regional development of BTC and the Symposium
Initiative. I will bring energy and leadership to generate societal transformation
towards sustainability and justice. My personal goal is to inspire people to
have the courage and resilience to commit their hope in action.
I am active in BTC projects, in 2009/2010 this included:
• Host for Australian Training Leaders
Program Feb 2010
• Presenter with Drew Dellinger and Tahnee
Woolf at the Parliament of the World’s Religion’s Dec 09
• Part of the team creating 'An Evening
with Drew Dellinger' Dec 09
• Part of an active regional Symposium
group in Nillumbik
• Member of ATD World Initiative Team,
participating in review and development of V-2
My current work is as Executive Officer for the Victorian Association for
Environmental Education (VAEE) and as a facilitator and coach for sustainable
business development. I am an initiating member of the Nillumbik Transition
Towns Group.
My key skills are leadership, project management, strategic thinking, visioning,
working facilitation, building organizations and marketing.
Tasmania
Phil Everist
I feel a very strong attraction and connection to Be The Change and the wonderful
people who are involved. Since I attended a Changing The Dream symposium in
September 2008,
I have been inspired to take action both in my personal life and to commit my
time, skills and energy to helping raise awareness about what we can all do
to create an environmentally sustainable, socially just and fulfilling
human presense on this planet. In December 2008 I trained as a facilitator and supported a number of symposium
events in Perth. My intention
is to promote and facilitate Symposium events here in Tasmania as well as being
a member of the Guardianship Council.
After 16 years in the Information Technology industry working in Austraila
and the UK I co-founded a successful boutique
training and development company in Perth which specialises in communication skills and
leadership development. I now live in Hobart, Tasmania where I work as a Learning & Development Consultant
for the Tasmanian Southern Area Health Services and Royal Hobart Hospital. I
enjoy time with my wife and 18 year old son and getting out to enjoy this wonderful planet we live on whenever
I can. I play the piano for fun and relaxation and love
bush walking, traveling, learning new things and being physically active.
I bring to the Guardianship Council a broad range of skills and expertise
in technology, communication and education. I look forward to
learning from the members of the council and offer my own knowledge, time
and energy to be of service.
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