Laura Sullivan is a firestarter in the best possible way – sparking conversations, igniting change, and refusing to settle for the way things have always been. A seasoned leader in the NGO world, she’s cut her teeth at organisations pioneering change like ActionAid and We Move Europe, bringing courage and clarity to every space she enters.

Laura doesn’t just talk about change – she lives it. Whether she’s moderating climate justice panels in Brazil, facilitating dialogue in Brussels, or weaving together Indigenous wisdom and European policy, Laura’s mission is clear: dismantle the tired old systems that keep power locked in the hands of the few, and build something bolder, fairer, and more human.

She shows how coming together, connecting with our neighbors, and standing in fierce solidarity are the rocket fuel we need to launch ourselves into a future where we all rise together

So, what's the big takeaway? Resilience is about passively waiting it out and dealing with things the best we can. Beyond resilience is about actively reshaping our entire world. We've got the incredible power to dream up and then build completely new systems, not just tweak the old ones

References

• Plum Village: A sanctuary of Buddhist activism, for cultivating resilience through meditation and community. https://plumvillage.org/
• J Game: Laura's daily resilience ritual: Journaling, Gratitude, Act of Kindness, Meditation, Exercise.
• Fearless Cities: A global movement where cities are daring to confront fear and build radically inclusive urban spaces.
• Emergence Strategy: A mind-blowing book that provides a blueprint for adaptive vision and turning dreams into reality.
• ActionAid: The NGO where Sullivan honed her skills in community-led development and became a champion for grassroots power.
• Reflective circles: A transformative approach inspired by Paulo Freire, designed to ignite community empowerment and political consciousness

Laura can be reached on LinkedIn

Angela Philp and Carolyn Gibson totally get us excited about shifting from just assuming things to being genuinely curious. They dive into how we humans naturally pick up biases, which inevitably shrink our world, keep us stuck and definitely keep us from truly seeing others (and ourselves!)

But guess what? By getting curious enough to challenge those old mindsets – from what you're capable of or good at to the big global challenges like poverty – we open up a whole universe of fresh possibilities and find way better solutions.

We passionately advocate for curiosity. Developing the habit of asking new questions and embracing that "magical" feeling of discovering totally new perspectives, to open up everything - starting from the inside out

Get out there and practice curiosity! Seriously, it's a game-changer. When you start asking different questions, it's like a secret key that unlocks new actions and creates brand new realities for you, your relationships, and even your organisations.

Curiosity will change your life!

Keetie Roelen is a globally recognized expert on poverty, particularly focusing on the lived experience of those in poverty. As the founder and host of the "Poverty Unpacked" platform, Keetie offers crucial perspectives on resilience, empowerment, and the systemic factors that influence poverty.

Keetie challenges the common definition of resilience, especially when applied to poverty, arguing that it's more than just "bouncing back" and must include a sense of security beyond just income.

She highlights how focusing solely on individual resilience can overshadow critical systemic issues like lack of employment and insufficient welfare. Her insights shed light on the substantial cognitive load faced by people in poverty – a frequently overlooked form of resilience – and she advocates for empowerment as a pathway for individuals to actively choose their own destinies and enhance their well-being, moving beyond restrictive scarcity narratives.

The key takeaways from her work emphasize that true resilience is not an isolated individual effort but is deeply rooted in community and social support.

Moving beyond merely surviving adversity requires empowerment coupled with the freedom to choose.

Keetie emphasises that addressing poverty necessitates a shift from individual blame to actively tackling systemic inequalities. Ultimately, cultivating empathy, moving past judgmental attitudes, and dismantling harmful narratives such as "no pain, no gain" are crucial steps toward building a more supportive, equitable, and humane society.