Eco-Systems
Innovation Lab
The Eco-Systems Innovation (ESI) Lab is a systems-transformation journey for holistic landscape restoration and healing Country in Western Australia. Over the course of more than a year, we will convene and connect together through a regenerative process where we can collectively amplify and accelerate the change we want to see.
Eco-Systems Connectors (2026 & 2027)
Co-Innovators Group (2027)
Apply Now as a Co-Innovator
What is it?
The lab is designed to support and strengthen the movements and networks working towards holistic landscape restoration, regenerative futures and the healing country in Western Australia. The first part of the journey (October to November 2026) brings Eco-Systems Connectors together to ‘prepare the ground’ for 2027. Then in 2027 we will move through a carefully-designed, global-leading and tailor-made systems-change process to enable a microcosm of system stakeholders from Western Australia (the Co-Innovators Group) to amplify and grow the change we want to see.
Who is the lab for?
The lab journey is for ecosystem innovators, network connectors and convenors, and movement builders from from all sectors—government, not-for-profit, business—and all relevant areas of work: Indigenous land management, farming, conservation, environmentalism, government (local and state), mining, small and large business, investment, finance, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, community, academia, science, the arts, media, social change and impact, and any other related areas.
What does the lab journey look like?
Towards the end of 2026 we will bring key Eco-Systems Connectors together to see and sense our collective efforts across the many networks and movements working towards holistic landscape restoration, regenerative futures and caring for Country in WA. These Conectors will have a key role in identifying and nominating a core group of around 45 Co-Innovators who will journey together in 2027, when they will be hosted by individuals and organisations in places across WA where holistic landscape restoration and caring for Country are already taking place. These include hosts in the Swan Coastal Plain, Margaret River area, the Great Southern, the Wheatbelt, the Kimberley, and the Pilbara (optional TBC). In all these places we will not only collectively observe, listen and learn from our hosts, but will also strive to listen to and learn from landscapes themselves, thereby encouraging healthy spirit, land, people and economies, and the restor(y)ing of nature and human beings through implementing further changes, at different levels, in our various areas of work. The lab journey will therefore be a kind of moving experiment and exhibition—Western Australia as laboratory and studio—where we will explore existing restorative activities, and also implement future work that is waiting for us to do it.
Key elements include:
Year-long ecosystem co-innovation journey
Immersive sessions held in different parts of the state, online and in-person sessions in-between, with optional learning journeys and field trips, and a culminating event
Opportunities for applied action learning and practice between sessions
Transformative learning practices and experiences
Cutting-edge systems innovation and regenerative design practices.
This will be a hands-on journey of observing, reflecting, learning and doing over the course of around a year, embedded in different parts of the state.
The ESI Lab is part of a global network of labs catalysed and hosted by Commonland, an international holistic landscape restoration organisation, together with input from many stakeholders working towards regenerative futures in WA. These include WA Commonland partners:
As well as other key ESI Lab partners:
The team hosting the lab have a long history of creating and designing systems change processes and programs in WA, Asia Pacific and globally. With their extensive knowledge and experience in designing transformative learning experiences, they have co-created a unique and context-driven regenerative-design process that has brought together global best practice and the depth of local knowledge systems. Guest faculty include renowned thought leaders and world-class practitioners such as Oral McGuire, Keith Bradby OAM, June Oscar AO, Stuart McAlpine and many others.
Who is involved?
When will it happen?
*The intensive and gathering dates at the base of this image are the main face-to-face commitments throughout the ESI Lab. However, please note that there are other commitments in-between these dates, including online sessions, applied practice, learning journeys, field trips etc. More information about this will follow.
More about the lab
Generating Impact. This lab is focussed on growing skills and capacities for regeneration and ecosystems transformation while putting them into practice. Our time together will be spent generating impact, not just talking or learning about what should be done.
Beyond problem solving. The lab builds capacity in co-creating the future that really matters, allowing us to move beyond reactive problem solving.
Multi-sector and multi-discipline participants. The lab offers the rare opportunity for those creating regenerative change to build authentic relationships with those beyond their own organisational and sectoral boundaries.
Transformative learning experiences through a combination of interactive sessions, immersive experiences and real-world action learning across personal, professional and societal levels.
Join the immersive lab journey by becoming one of the core group of 45 Co-Innovators. This option requires a larger commitment of time and energy. Apply for the lab.
If you are someone who connects or convenes a movement for regenerative futures, healing Country or the transformation of ecosystems, we would love to be able to showcase the great work that you are doing in our mapping and co-sensing. Contact us about this.
Stay connected by joining our mail list.
Layers of lab involvement
A global movement
Our WA lab will be one of several labs happening around the world, including ones in the Netherlands, Africa, Spain, India, and the UK and Ireland. By participating, you will be joining a place-based global movement of holistic landscape restoration and healing Country.
Bring your favourite camping chair and mug. There will be plenty of tea.
Co-investment
For those selected to be one of the Co-Innovators in the lab journey in 2027 your costs have been subsidised by Commonland, with the generous support of their funding partners. In order for the lab to be sustainable and regenerative we ask for an organisational or personal co-investment.
We recognise that for those who will be participating there is already an investment of time, passion and expertise. In order to make the program sustainable for the system as a whole, we recommend a financial co-investment. Please choose the amount that you as an organisation or individual can contribute in order to make the program sustainable for the system as a whole,
$7,500 per person (full rate)
$5000 per person (partial rate)
$2500 per person (low rate)
Scholarships are available—see below.
This covers:
Food and some accommodation costs during program days
On-Country experiences
All lab program costs
All in-person workshop materials
Online components
It does not cover:
Travel to sessions
Some accommodation cost
We do not want finances to be the reason you cannot participate. Please apply for scholarship support if you need it, or feel free to reach out to us to discuss this further. If you are considering applying for a scholarship, please also keep in mind the needs of other individuals from other organisations and sectors where financial support may be more necessary.
Click here to apply for a scholarship.