What is sociocracy, and more importantly, why is PA looking at implementing it as a governance model?

28 Sep, 2023 | PA News

“Sociocracy is like permaculture for people”- Erin Young

Article by Alex Aguilar – Board Member

I think back to my first corporate experience as an intern for a prestigious company in Mexico. Although the pay was great and the work was relatively easy, I quickly realised there was a lot of toxic politics at play – I would hear whispers in the corridors about management, complaints about meaningless processes and how no one’s opinions were valued or needed; a rather dreary feeling that nothing would ever change. Back then, I wished there was a different approach to this ‘traditional’ corporate world.

I’m happy to report things weren’t that bad after that experience, and I have had my share of excellent supervisors and coworkers. Even then, sometimes it seems intrinsically hard to work in a group. At worst, I have inevitably ended up feeling like my voice didn’t matter all the time. I’m sure some of you will agree with me: this feeling that our voice doesn’t matter is detrimental to us as individuals, and also to the group’s work.

Dreaming of something different is what first led me to find permaculture. I think we have an obligation to do better for every living being on the planet, and yes, that includes ourselves. I also feel a tremendous sense of urgency. We’re at a time when climatic instability is affecting the world’s energy systems, which are becoming overwhelmed more often and with more serious consequences.

I don’t know about you, but ’overwhelmed energy systems’ is not how I want to describe 2023. The bucket is already full. Our traditional models and ideas need changing with the times, and they need to adapt as fast as possible. And this my friends, is where sociocracy and permaculture intersect, as options to try something different right now.

Permaculture is based on simple, core ethics and principles I resonate with – the foundations of Earth care, People care and Fair share. It is a framework upon which everyday actions align with ethical values and vice versa. It can be practiced anywhere in a myriad of different forms. Jonathon Engels wrote it beautifully in an article for the Permaculture Research Institute on “Why permaculture?”.

Also based upon basic principles, sociocracy focuses on the social aspect, covering the delicate intricacies of communicating effectively with other human beings in a group that aims towards a common objective. Much like Permaculture Australia’s mission of supporting, promoting and advocating for permaculture ideas, solutions and strategies. This is why the PA Board decided to look at sociocracy more in depth.

Enter Erin Young, member of The Sociocracy Consulting Group (TSCG) and a fellow permie. Erin helps organisations to be adaptive, responsive and effective by consulting in collaborative decision-making and governance, based in sociocracy. In August, she facilitated 2 sessions to a small group of volunteers and paid staff as a taster to sociocracy (Thank you Erin!).

The beauty of working in circles

From the get go – this felt different. We kicked off with an opening round where each of the participants got a turn to share their name and location, a word that described how we were feeling coming into the meeting, and a sentence that enshrined what we hoped to achieve through sociocracy. I had a turn to speak and a turn to listen. This opening round allowed a space for our collective intelligence to be informed for the meeting.

Erin defined sociocracy as a living design systems approach for organising work and making decisions to guide that work so it is effective, transparent and equivalent. A simple definition that carries a lot of complexity – much like people whenever we gather in groups!

We humans are influenced and bound by our past experiences with organisational culture. We are naturally wired that way. Therefore, sociocracy’s realm exists within invisible structures of power which are inherent to any group. These sessions with Erin served to “point to the fish, the water they’re swimming in”. Sociocracy allows us to envision a possibility where we can distribute leadership and design that organisational power effectively, transparently and equivalently.

We were encouraged to think about a system that changes and adapts. Since creating adaptive and effective culture requires long-term application & steady discipline (not always so attractive!), keeping it simple and working in small steps are key. Much like slowly building back up a parcel of degraded soil.

Communication sets the bar to how well we can work with each other –imagine how much we could achieve collectively with a very clear sense of purpose and existential equivalence.

1. Existential equivalence can be felt in our human bodies. Each of us operate as a living system riddled with feedback loops, made up of self-organising parts doing their job in order to stay alive (achieve its purpose).

Credit: Laia Martinez, Wikimedia Commons.

The principles and elements of sociocracy

As we continued, we were introduced to the 3 principles of sociocracy:

1.  Circle organisation: any defined team or department with a specific aim and domain

2. Circular feedback or double-linking: keeping the whole system informed, adaptive and responsive to changes

3. Consent-based decision making: make decisions together that are “good enough for now, safe enough to try”, with clear measurements and timeframes, and no paramount objections

Contrary to a regular top-down system, Erin mentioned the importance of reasoned objections. She drew the example of someone going on a hike with a sore knee or ignoring the oil light in a car – without feedback, the system blows up. Specifically for the Sociocracy Circle-organisation Model (SCM), objections are welcome. However, objections are not an argument or a feeling, they are a reflection of how well the aims of the circle are being met. I personally loved that the process of giving/listening to feedback is built at every stage of every policy and decision being made.

Elements are the fundamental qualities of the sociocratic infrastructure, with a contribution that’s clearly observable. The most basic and implementable pieces of this governance model. Without going too much into details, Erin shared 9 elements with us:

1.  Circle: A container for members to adapt & respond to their area of responsibility. “When members are defined, colleagues are aligned”.

2. Aim: Gives each circle a clear & visible purpose – aligned with organisational vision, mission and aims. It orients policy meetings and is essential to reach consent. “Clear with purpose we decide what to produce/provide”.

3. Double-link: Consists of an elected member & operations leader.  “Connecting people & information for cohesive perspectives”.

4. Policy: Enshrines collective intelligence. We trial, track & measure each of them for improvement. “Co-designing guardrails for working together”.

5. Operations: Activity that gets it done. Effective, clearly defined & aligned with circle aims. Designed by circle members, feeding back to policy on effectiveness. “Getting stuff done with oversight and action”.

6. Round: Speaking turn-by-turn without interruption, it is the pattern of the sociocratic process. Creates opportunities for honest, transparent and safe feedback & for relevant info to be heard in a tempered & useful way. “Turn by turn to focus, share & discern”.

7. Consent: Lubricant that allows an organisation to be greater than the sum of its parts. Brings collective ownership & clears the way for group intelligence to respond to areas that each circle is responsible for. Objections are for realising collective aims and to be separate from personal opinion. “Safe enough to try – on track with the Why”.

8. Aim Realisation/Workflow: Order of actions/operations. Allows circles to coordinate & self-organise.

9. Domain: Sets clear territory & describes terrain of circles. Establishes autonomy to achieve aims. Avoids overlaps with other circles to prevent conflict & duplication of effort. “Distributing work & responsibility in the terrain”.

For the 2^nd session, using the information provided, Erin had us practice a policy proposal as an example. Even here, I noticed the differences with the traditional approach – she gave us the option to opt out as no one was obliged to participate. Stay tuned, as we’ll make sure to share around the outcomes of that proposal.

At the end of each of these sessions, we closed up with another round. This was a fantastic way to gauge how everyone was feeling after the meeting and the key takeaways from the group – something I had never experienced in a corporate setting before!

In conclusion

In a nutshell, the sociocratic governance model is based on circles/teams with well defined goals and membership, that are interlinked together, and that have several feedback loops built into all decision-making processes; all circles cooperating together towards the aim of the organisation as a whole.

Much like permaculture, sociocracy is a living, learning journey. Erin has simply opened the door to a new way of thinking about group work for me. I can wholeheartedly see the sociocratic governance model as something worth studying more and pursuing in my personal life.

During my time as a Board member, I have seen the passion and determination from each and every single one of our members to improve the status quo. It is what binds us together, our common objective.

There is still much to know about how this process will look like for PA, and the Board knows there’s many questions on the implementation of sociocracy. However, it is clear to me, that the PA Board believes that embodying and embracing the principles and elements of sociocracy in the organisation will allow us to reach our potential towards better policy and decision-making processes, interconnecting existing teams with the whole, bringing in different ideas and helping us achieve our goal, to further permaculture everywhere!

A review of Permaculture Australia – the AGM that wasn’t…

13 May, 2023 | PA News

When the last minute cancellation of the Permaculture Australia AGM was announced by the board, a quick decision was made to not lose the opportunity for a gathering of great minds in creating a vision of the future.

Graciously facilitated by Meg McGowan, the 40 plus in the room and 10 online were given the following framing

Human organisations in the dominant culture have traditionally been dendritic (top down). Permaculture Australia also adopted this model but by default it is not the only pattern. If we are to redesign the organisation we need good questions.

What do indigenous patterns teach us?

What would nature do?

If Permaculture was a forest, what role would Permaculture Australia play in that ecosystem, perhaps it would be the soil, sun and rain creating the environment that supports the healthy growth of permaculture?

Perhaps it would be the mycelium,connecting the various life forms that rely upon it for connection. But what about animals, birds and insects?

No clear answers emerge because organisational design is a wicked problem. 

We know the current pattern no longer serves us and we do not yet know what the new pattern will look like, so we need to establish a clear collective vision and join together in heading in that direction. 

Fortunately we have joint stewardship of a powerful model for redesign – permaculture.

Set alongside client interviews, visioning planning, implementing, learning and then proceeding around and around the design spiral – learn – dream – plan – do – repeat 

We will not find answers today but we might evolve great questions 

What does the Earth need?

How might we contribute to that?

How might we design in a capacity to evolve and adapt?

And how do we incorporate the ethics and principles of permaculture not as a design overlay but as a base map.

Activation Question

It’s 5 years from now and Permaculture Australia is the world’s best example of permaculture ethics and principles? What does this look like?

In the interest of keeping as true to the discussion as possible, the dot points below are grouped in their working groups. They may not read clearly and smoothly as they are a bit of a visioning, mind dump process.  Points have just been cleared up for content and clarity.

The zoom recording is available if you would like to view it please contact hello@permacultureaustralia.org.au

These are the responses from the group work

• Million dollar charitable organisation
• All Permaculture organisations in Australia being members of PA
• Public liability insurance for members of PA to run tours etc at their site
• Register of sites around Australia – similar to what the UK has done
• Peak body of research that is communicated to the World
• PA is recognised as a leader of land restoration and climate action and recovery and emergency response
• Permaculture units are core in a variety of diverse qualifications
• Permaculture is taught in 90% of schools
• PA funds international permaculture projects being a philanthropic organisation

• PA has a strong marketing and PR campaign group to get the message out to the rest of the World,  Australia and into the Mainstream
• Active permaculture media that documents all the wonderful things we are doing around Australia
• It has a position as the peak body within Australia and other industries and is consulted and our voice is included in national matters and decisions that affect all of us
• It is known as a functional organisation that attracted the best and broad talents within the Permaculture community
• It’s a driver in offering formative permaculture education and that the educators are accredited using peer review model to help set standards within permaculture teaching and training and helps maintain those standards
• Recognise and interact with indigenous communities and learn from them and work together

• Sociocracy
• PA building connections – collaboration  with state permaculture organisations in a meaningful way
• Lobbying for planet and for people 
• Professional partnerships with other sustainable organisations and also great relationships with international bodies
• A PA that is inclusive – so actively and meaningfully supporting inclusivity projects 
• Having a first nations advisory team 
• Actively promoting diversity
• Permaculture translation support for people applying for grants and funding but also for educational materials
• And standing against white supremacy actively
• Education  – helping people to get the certificate 4 training and assessment by running it as a national body a couple of times of year
• Being a hub for information so that is Youtube – ebooks, educational resources
• Helping with professional development
• PA is very well organised so that it doesn’t burn through people. It adds to people’s livelihoods and adds to the fun in their daily lives
• It uses sociocracy  and that leads to an inclusivity and empowerment of people and transparency
• Scrum mentioned as another way to organise ourselves in groups

• Strong marketing PR group -paid, which ensures PA is relevant
• An active Permaculture media
• PA has a position as a peak body, is consulted and has a voice in important matters.
• It is known as a functional organisation that attracts effective and best talent 
• PA has a strong presence 
• PA is a driver and offers formative permaculture education.
• PDC educators accreditation using a peer review model
• Recognize and integrate with indigenous community

• PA delivers effective communication 
• Giving out $500,000 of micro grants annually
• Fund projects around the globe and in Australia 
• Implement school gardens across the country
• Upside down pyramid  – at the top local permaculture groups – connected to the regional – PA at the bottom
• Being a voice on global and national issues and handing out solutions from our wealth of knowledge within the movement
• Write the solutions and slip them on the desk in Canberra and let them grab it and take it forward 
• Stand with other groups and voices
• Coordinate permaculture education – teaching permaculture training that doesn’t have to go through a separate university – university of permaculture

• Effective communication between the smaller groups and the larger groups 
• Connecting the smaller groups up via membership 
• Free membership if you are member of your local organisation you are automatically a member of PA
• A heart group doing the nurturing the well being of the whole

• Enabling not controlling 
• Inclusive
• Filled with opportunities and really well funded
• Place specific and connected with first nations cultures
• First nations advisory team
• Connected through the biosphere regions and connected with state and national organisations
• Permies want to join
• Representative
• Regenerative and supportive
• People are proud to belong to it 
• Everyone has a voice
• Resources rich in information that is widely shared with everyone and highly accessible
• Cost not being a barrier as well
• How to be well funded though – have to work that through
• Organisational structure made up of circles and links interconnected and decentralised
• But also well connected outside the permie community
• Being able to engage in lobbying role in local state and national government as well as the education sector and business sector but that nodes are still relatively autonomous
• Structures in place that help build and are represented by past present and emerging leaders through meetings like we have right now – but maybe other structures similar as well
• And that we have diverse representation that is really inclusive

• Elder recognition and allowing space for exhalation for our elders and
• Succession planning 
• Terms of PA board 2 years or 3 and 3 that swap so that there is not a full change over
• Fair representation for youth 
• Structures where there are interlinked in groups
• Sociocracy
• Talk about things like the taurus where pressure in the change is welcomed as a pathway toward flourishing 
• figure of 8 infinity symbol to do with the ecological succession modelling because theories of change we need to welcome as well  as well as theories of solidity
• Fairness – farmers market funding young farmers as a model that PA could use to fund
• Resource to new people to run courses and make scholarship through Permafund to help get those things up and running
• Needs based – organisation supports each of the directors of PA  checks in on where it meets their needs to be there and how it can so they don’t burn out so easy
• And what are the needs of PA directors and board so that they get care as well

• Peak body 
• Political influence and an advisory role
• Representation of not only the states but also by Bio regions 
• Overlays and connecting in many different ways
• Education from School through to university and research beyond that
• Peer reviewed journal / magazines
• Not top down
• Indigenous voices connections and leadership 
• Have moved past the white fragility stage
• At our core we are a safe place and our ethics of care are paramount in everything we do
• Not aligned with narrow philosophical beliefs 
• We have an international presence
• Website is an amazing online resource that is like our organisation, it is inviting and inspirational and respected 
• Not like a one stop permaculture warehouse but more of a social forest ecosystem where you can go for a walk in the forest and come out with something that you need and you might not know that you needed

• The body for Permaculture Australia, being involved in Politics
• Representing all of Australia at a governmental level 
• Advocacy role to represent our views to decision makers, from refugees to agriculture implementation would require ramping up communication, 
• Increased visibility of PA
• Permaculture is a grassroots effort from the soil to the top of the atmosphere, a peak body would have to keep this in mind to be sure to be heard
• PA could collects points of communication from the whole country, from grassroots people
• PA could have a larger role as a hub in regards to all states
• Connection between states, has been some discussion over the years to look at joint memberships as an example
• Committee associations to connect with PA board
• Growth, reason to be a member. Accreditation, how to make people aware of events in their area
• Discounted books and online workshops and in person lectures
• Education at a tertiary level could be our approach to keep younger generations engaged
• Permaculture Australia is the peak body that represents all Permaculture groups at a federal and state level, integrated in education at all levels including tertiary education. PA connects with all state and territory community organisations to build deeper connections for our aims. Our biggest opportunity will remain in the future generations that we leave this earth to by assisting them to use our knowledge through the challenges we face through climate change.

• PA is a peak body that embodies the space, operating as a beacon and is very aware of what it does do and what it doesn’t do
• It has a lot more members and the reason it has a lot more members is because it offers great value to its members – in the form of insurance, resources, particularly for new people entering the permie world. Pathways so that goes to training, mentorship
• research – international as well, looking at what other organisations around the world offer
• Courses
• Advocacy
• Global ecological design – basemap of australia working with indigenous people to do a base map of australia 
• Trusted form of leadership
• With a stronger focus on fair share the sense is that we need more assistance from PA in that area and a non competitive model of economics
• Diversity – one person in the group wanted centralisation others want decentralisation
• Offering multiple levels of access
• PA also provides fantastic support to local groups to begin and lots of resources to begin local permaculture groups if they don’t have one locally

Introducing the nominees for the 2023/2024 board

20 Apr, 2023 | PA News

To read more about our fantasic nominees, simply click on the arrows under their names.

The Permaculture Australia Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on Sunday 28th May 2023, 4pm AEST via Zoom.

Online voting will OPEN at 7am Friday 26th May and will close when the 2022 board roles are declared vacant by the Returning Officer – Item 8 on the Agenda

ONLINE VOTING FORM

For more detailed information about the AGM – CLICK HERE

Toad Dell – Renominating

Permaculture background

Co-founder of PermaQueer and Permaculture educator

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

A focus on uplifting the diverse forms permaculture is practiced and also the diverse people practicing it. I’m deeply passionate about social permaculture and designing social systems and processes that move in equitable ways towards a just, regenerative future. Currently I’m sitting on the board and hoping to continue the work I’ve started.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

PDC

Linda Woodrow

Permaculture background

Linda is an Permaculture icon in Australia and internationally. Her 1996 book “The Permaculture Home Garden” introduced Permaculture to innumerable homes, and her recent novel “470” has offered an extraordinarily prescient analysis of the impacts of climate change. Her blog, the Witches Kitchen, reflects her decades of experience as a fully engaged, practicing permie: https://witcheskitchen.com.au/

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

Linda’s decades of experience in the Permaculture movement in Australia means she brings a deep historical perspective to the board. Her 40 years of living ethically and sustainably, her experience of teaching Permaculture in the VET system, her wise and gentle approach to the world all enhance her capacity to provide guidance and direction to Permaculture Australia. Her engagement, ,through her writing, with recent and current crises (climate change; pandemic) demonstrate Linda’s capacity to offer clarity and vision to PA’s mission for the future.

Linda has had forty years experience as a company director in an intentional community, including several terms as secretary and as treasurer. She is well experienced in the legal, accountability, and ethical aspects of governance, and has developed and run a course on “Good Meetings” for community organisations.

Linda also has experience in overseas aid, as part of the Green Team in Cuba during the Special Period.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

PDC

Diploma TAE, and  Master of Arts (Humanities & Media)

Naomi Amber

Permaculture background

Raised on a self-sustainable farm and continue to live according to permaculture principles. Taught permaculture in secondary schools. Currently on the Permaculture Australia Education Team.

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

In addition to above answer, I have been on committees in the past, including holding the role of secretary. I have excellent organisational, communication and IT skills.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

PDC – Limestone Permaculture (2021)
Permaculture Teacher Training – Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute (2022)
Also have an Honours Degree in Forestry and a Diploma of Education.

Greta Carroll

Permaculture background

I have lived and worked on Permaculture farms since 2017, started running courses with Permaculture for Refugees and Permaculture College Australia in 2019. Board member for PA in 2020. Currently still teaching PDCs and TOTs in Australia and Internationally.

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

I bring prior knowledge of PA, having previously sat on the board as Board Member and Permafund Liason. I believe I have good communication skills and a desire to see PA develop into a responsive, inclusive, leadership body for the Permaculture Community.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

PDC, Ian Trew 2017

John McKenzie

Permaculture background

* Supported many Permaculture initiatives and events in and around Melbourne including the start up of the Down’s community project in Frankston, an environment project, community garden and market garden.
* Member of Permaculture Victoria since 1990’s including terms on the committee
* Member of the Permafund Team. A founding member of the current Permafund team and proud of it’s 11 years of project grants and team solidarity. One of the three people on the team who are registered with the Federal Dept of the Environment as the ‘Responsible Persons“ for PA’s Deductible Gift Recipient Fund,
* Member of Permaculture Australia (PIL) since 2010 including terms on the Board.
* Many years working with NGO’s in the overseas aid sector. Supported many projects using Permacultural approaches.

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

I have experience of PA on the Board and with the Permafund team and I see substantial capacity for both PA and Permafund to grow..
I am nominated for the Board by Permaculture Victoria. They are keen to support PA to take the next steps in formation to adopt a governance structure that is representative of the many permaculture groups around Australia. They are keen to see PA grow in it’s capacity to be a voice promoting Permacultural responses to social and environmental issues.
I am seconded in the nomination by the Permafund Team. Permafund is a major productive team in PA and this year is seeking two seats out of the seven available. The Permafund team seeks two seats on the Board to complete the REO compliance repairs and to support the work of moving PA to stronger representative governance as a Peak Body. The Permafund nominees are myself as the hand seeking a final term and Felix Liebelt the new member seeking to step up to the role.

More specifically the work I hope to do if elected:
* Maintain PA’s DGR compliance
Last year I wrote a 10 page report on gaps in PA’s DGR compliance and how they could be fixed. These were issues that had emerged from PA’s constitution, accounts and annual reporting. We are 80% through the fixing and the remaining 20% is still to be done.

* Increased collaboration between PA teams, staff, volunteers and Board
More connection within PA’s operations and more open decision-making will improve risk management and better connection with the experience and knowledge of the volunteers, staff and teams.

* A governance structure for PA that provides representational connection with the many Permaculture groups around Australia.
I understand this is the final step needed in the formation of PA. It is a big idea and needs a working group to consider options on how it gets done. A working group open to delegates and submissions from the various groups around Australia.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

PDC with Vries Gravestein & Terry White, Latrobe Uni, Vic 1992
Advanced Permaculture Course with David Holmgren Hepburn 2010
BSc, Monash U 1976, Dip Ed Melbourne U 1989

Felix Leibelt

Permaculture Background

PDC with John Champagne of Brogo Permaculture Gardens 2017 and second PDC with Aaron Sorenson and Dan Deighton of Elemental Permaculture Port Kembla. 2022 Permaculture Teacher Training with Rosemary Morrow and Brenna Q. Supported living classroom projects in the illawarra and Shoalhaven. Supported Permaculture intro with John Champagne and Aaron Sorenson. Started a Permaculture design and landscaping business in 2017- to present(Geco Gardens ) .Member of the Permafund Team.  

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

I have experience in working with the Permafund team for nearly 2 years now and I see immense potential for both PA and Permafund to grow.
I am nominated for the Board by John Champagne. John is keen to encourage me to support PA to be representative of Permafund’s work and the next generation of Permaculture professionals and teachers stepping up in shaping the future for Permaculture Australia. My nomination is also seconded by the Permafund Team.   Permafund as a major productive team in PA and is seeking two seats on the 2022-3 Board out of the seven available.  I am the other nomination that Permafund makes, I am Felix Leibelt seeking to step up as Permafund Liaison Officer and learning the role on the board alongside very experienced John Mc Kenzie.
My aims for the year are : 

– Assisting Meg in the renewal of Permafund’s Online presence and sharing of the stories of the grant recipients and lessons learnt.
– Network with other Environmental Charities to help PA work towards being recognised as a valid voice in environmental and social issues in Australia and abroad.
– Limiting my workload on the board to being the Liaison person for the Permafund team, reporting back to the Permafund Committee and vice versa.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

2017 PDC Brogo Permaculture Gardens Brogo , 2017 PDC Elemental Permaculture Wollongong , 2022 Permaculture Teacher training Rowe morrow Wollongong

Charlie Mgee

Permaculture Background

Grew up in the 90’s flipping through the illustrations of Permaculture One and the Designer’s Manual on the kitchen table at our off-grid home in South-West WA, whilst surrounded by chickens, worm farms and a composting dunny.

After completing my Cert III & Teacher Training with Robyn Francis in 2012, dove into co-teaching a couple of Intro to PC courses and a PDC in Fremantle, WA before embarking on a different kind of permaculture educational/advocacy journey with the inception of the ‘Permaculture Ukulele Project’ (which became the band, Formidable Vegetable).

Toured for 7 years, promoting permaculture ethics/principles and connecting people who had never heard the word before with local projects & courses in over 20 countries.

Moved to Melliodora Hepburn Permaculture in 2020 and assisted David & Su with marketing & promotion of the publishing business.

In 2021, moved to Peace St Permaculture Community in WA, where we trained in & implemented Sociocracy as a governance framework and currently working with community members on co-designing a permaculture hub for the Great Southern region.

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

Passionate about connecting people and ideas. Excited to work with younger permies on innovative, new pathways, while honouring the 40+ years of knowledge in the movement. Keen to do outreach and advocacy to increase the diversity & range of skills, backgrounds and experience in the permaculture movement.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

Cert III in Permaculture + Advanced Design & Teacher Training with Robyn Francis at Permaculture College Australia, Djanbung Gardens, NSW (2011), Teacher Training with Rosemary Morrow, Brenna Quinlan & Greta Carroll at Fair Harvest, WA (2022)

Jesus (Alex) AGUILAR HERNANDEZ

Permaculture background

PDC and 1/3 owner of a permaculture farm in Djab Wurrung / Woi Wurrung country

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

I could bore you by saying I’m a queer immigrant, a professional marketer, an IT engineer or something along those lines.
I didn’t know I would be nominating before coming to convergence.
This event has reminded me that when I think of permaculture, I think of energetic, colourful and empowered people changing the world, changing the conversations we’re having.
I think it’s paramount that PA mirrors that same passion and energy, looking at where to go next. I want to be part of that.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

PDC – Fall in love with the world while fixing it – Delldint Fleming – 2021

Graham King

Permaculture background

I have for decades followed an environmental ethical path. I had heard of permaculture decades ago, but only in the last 6 or 7 years have I actively engaged in practicing and acquiring permaculture detailed knowledge specifically.
I quickly came to realise “I have known this all along”.
I now teach permaculture PDC with my wife Meg McGowan, we are known as Permacoach.
I am currently the Treasurer and Public Officer for Permaculture Central Coast.

What would you/they bring to PA and the board? Skills, knowledge, experience etc

from conversations at the Convergence, it was my understanding that a new Treasurer is sought within the board. I have since come to know that there is currently a treasurer in Donna Morawiak, we have communicated and she seems keen to transfer that role.

In the case that Donna is indeed comfortable to hand over the role of treasurer, I have decided I will nominate to become a board member, specifically to execute that position.

Brief History.

Employment.
I have had a 4 decade career in the Information Technology industry. Now retired.
My roles were broadly in the area of enterprise level computer operating systems management and security, particularly mainframe systems programming and midrange unix systems, and consequent data centre management.
for most of that time I was typically the team leader/manager for a small group of highly skilled systems specialists.
The latter part of my career comprised a decade in the Cybersecurity division of a global IT services provider. Amongst other roles, I managed a large operations team of security specialists for some years, providing cyber security services for a broad range of clients, including federal government departments and major corporations of the finance and primary resources industries.
For much of those 4 decades, I have been primarily responsible for the ongoing operation, security and reliability of large scale enterprise computer systems.

Appropriate Treasurer skills.
From 2010-2021 I was a volunteer bush fire fighter with my local NSW Rural Fire Service brigade.
I achieved the qualification of Crew Leader and consequently Deputy Captain within the brigade.
I took on many roles (secretary, president, IT guru) and for the 5 years to April 2021, I was treasurer for the brigade.
This required high level of scrutiny, reporting and Audit, and I am very familiar with the requirements of DGR.
The brigade operated with a consistent balance of $35K-40K, with an annual turnover of $8-10K.
I medically retired form the RFS in 2021.

Since Nov 2020, I have been the treasurer for Permaculture Central Coast. PCC operates with a balance of around $8K, and annual turnover of around $4-5K.

Other things.
I enjoy teaching Ethics to my local primary school.
I am an excellent bass guitarist, and compose.

I understand I need to seek nominations from other members.
My wife Meg McGowan is also a member, and I have included her details in this form for now. However I will ask publicly in any PA members will also nominate me, and forward their details to hello@PA.

If my nomination is acceptable, please advise and I will seek the nod from others.

Qualifications (Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher)

PDC (Holmgren 2019) and Advanced PDC (Permacoach/McGowan 2020)