Sir Tim Smit and Sacha Dench win first Green Swan Awards

The Tomorrow's Capitalism Forum saw the launch of the prototype Green Swan Awards, ahead of the first full round, to be announced later in 2020.

The first two awards went to Sir Tim Smit, founder of The Eden Project, and to Sacha Dench (seen above with her paramotor), aka the "Human Swan," and founder of Conservation Without Borders.

Our idea with the Green Swan Award, to identify, celebrate and support ideas, individuals, initiatives and institutions that help promote positive exponentials in response to some of the world's greatest challenges.

Tim Smit: Founder & Executive Chair, Eden Project International

The Eden Project transformed a vast china clay pit in Cornwall into a world class attraction and hub that has introduced sustainability thinking and practices to over 20 million visitors – in the process injecting over ￡1.5 billion into the regional economy. Truly, a masterwork in regenerative capitalism. Eden features prominently in Green Swans because it powerfully illustrates the original intent of the triple bottom line – an integrated, systemic approach to economic, social and environmental value creation.

I visited the site back in 1977, to write a piece for New Scientist. There is no way I could have imagined the magic Tim and his team would work on that scene of utter dereliction. Eden features prominently in my forthcoming book, Green Swans (Fast Company Press, April 2020) because it powerfully illustrates the original intent of the triple bottom line - an integrated, systemic approach to economic, social and environmental value creation.

Tim is a past master in ‘reality distortion’, as Steve Jobs was - turning the seemingly impossible into the inevitable by sheer force of will.

We asked him whether he had any advice for those aspiring to follow in his wake? “My only tip would be to accept every third invitation you receive,” he said. “The sheer randomness of it means you will meet the people you didn’t know you needed to meet and that way magic lies. I promise it is life changing. You could come up with exhortations to work hard, be truthful, keep believing etc., but it’s bullshit. Magic comes from following your instincts and giving fate a helping hand. I don’t do links and/or social media. If people are worthy of help they’ll find you!”

Tim’s acceptance speech at the 2020 Tomorrow’s Capitalism Forum was filmed and will be posted on the Volans website shortly.

Sacha Dench: Founder of Conservation Without Borders

Known as the “Human Swan,” Sacha Dench is a pilot with a mission: “Connecting Science, People & Planet”. Her groundbreaking expedition, Flight of the Swans, involved flying 7,000 kilometres by paramotor, in all weathers, from Arctic Russia across 11 countries to the UK – to help draw attention to the plight of the Bewick’s swan.

Earlier awards that have come her way include the 2018 Britannia Trophy for the “most meritorious performance” in aviation (previously awarded to Sir Richard Branson and the Red Arrows - and not won by a woman since 1967), a Woman of the Year 2017 award, and “Campaign of the Year” as part of the 2017 ENDS Environmental Impact Awards in 2017, among others. She also holds the record for the first woman to cross the Channel by paramotor.

We asked Sacha whether she had any advice for those wanting to change the world? “The impossible becomes inevitable when taking no action appears as the riskier strategy, “she advised, “whether for growth, reputation or survival. So present your ‘impossible’ ideas in that light. More importantly, don’t sit on your impossible ideas. Release them and embrace the critics. Picture them as throwing sticks at your flame. Their comments will only help your idea grow stronger.”

Again, Sacha's acceptance speech at the 2020 Tomorrow’s Capitalism Forum was filmed and will be posted on the Volans website shortly.