Gabriela Nuri Baron
on Design for Conservation
Bio-Inspiration
It’s everywhere, it’s generous, waiting for us to open our eyes and hearts to notice it!
Gabriela Nuri Baron has her eyes wide open, absorbing and kindly sharing bio-inspiration with the world. Life took her to work in different countries: “I believe in co-creation and collaboration for resilient innovation, in learning while doing and finding inspiration in diversity.” She is a passionate, versatile and creative Design Strategist and Associate Dean of Sustainability at The University of Auckland, and the creator of Design 4 Conservation (D4C), a methodology that enables collaborative problem-solving for environmental conservation and sustainability challenges.
Gabriela feels humanity is facing complex, wicked problems. Yet, even the most challenging issues have an approachable angle under a positive mindset: “The natural realm is a self-healing organism. I believe that any project that restores balance will have nature's power as an ally. We need to see possibilities through a new set of mental models that are coherent with the natural realm that we ourselves are part of.” Humans are just one species of a complex ecosystem that needs equilibrium to thrive. For that, one should combine “Passion+Purpose”: what you most love (passion) with what the world needs most (purpose). This is the Gabriela’s recipe and the path to action.
When explaining what regeneration is, Gabriela blends simplicity with profoundness: “A renewal of our bond with the planet, where humanity and nature flourish side by side.” It’s what marks the end of “the exploitative paradigm and the dawn of a new era in the eternal cycle of evolution”, a deep transformation of cultural systems, igniting the rebirth of how we live, act, and create relationships. It’s how we rise together and thrive in harmony with the planet, “allowing her to heal as she nurtures and sustains us in return.” Sustainability is not ever “solved”, as it’s an endless commitment.
The pillar of Design 4 Conservation is self-honesty. To be a regenerative leader, you need a consistent amount of it: “When people are honest with themselves, they are committed to their core beliefs. The bonds based on self-honesty are genuine, respectful, and strong. It’s how the world will benefit more from your uniqueness, your passions and your spontaneity. Embrace error-friendliness, step into different shoes, listen to different voices, be curious, embrace ambiguity!”
Gabriela invites us to trust the Earth's “old, wise, perfected ways of doing things”, learn from them, and try to mimic as much as possible. Read her answers for Inspirators and let yourself be bio-inspired and in awe, daily!
Thank you, Gabriela, for being a Bio-Inspirator!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Gabriela Nuri Baron
Company / Institution: The University of Auckland
Title: Lecturer; Associate Dean, Sustainability
Website: www.design4conservation.com
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielabaron/
Country of origin: Argentina
Country you currently live in: New Zealand
Your definition of Regeneration: Regeneration marks the end of the exploitative paradigm and the dawn of a new era in the eternal cycle of evolution. It’s a profound transformation of cultural systems, igniting the rebirth of how we live, act, and connect with one another and the Earth.
In regeneration, we rise together, thriving in harmony with the environment, allowing her to heal as she nurtures and sustains us in return. It is the renewal of our bond with the planet, where humanity and nature flourish side by side.
Main business challenge you face: To bypass timid “green” initiatives and commit to the deep radical shift this planet needs in the ways we do business.
Main driver that keeps you going: Passion+Purpose! I combine what I most love (passion) with what needs me the most (purpose). This is my path to action.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: Authenticity and honesty. What you see is what you get. I take responsibility for my mistakes, am willing to apologize, and always strive to grow from them.
The trait you most value in others: Transparency and positivity.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: I have a deep love for marine wildlife, especially the thrill of discovering small creatures along rocky shores. Snorkeling and scuba diving are my passions, letting me explore the hidden wonders of the ocean up close.
The Inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path:
I was a student of Prof. Carlo Vezzoli and Prof. Ezio Manzini in Italy, and this is what completely shaped the future of my career towards sustainability.
A starting point for companies or professionals that are beginning the regeneration journey: Always cultivate a mindset shift from extraction to reciprocity, assign time and funding for working at the relational and mindsets level. This involves embracing long-term thinking, understanding the interconnectedness of people and ecosystems, and aim for purpose (then everything will follow).
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: All kinds of greenwashing and technocratic approaches that promise to “solve” anything. Sustainability is not ever “solved”, it’s an endless commitment, it’s an ongoing social and cultural process. I am quite triggered especially when superficial sustainability is tokenized by big corporations, and they receive awards and recognitions, while people doing the real work are underfunded and under recognized.
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: Regeneration needs to come from a place of love and compassion (not of anger and despair). Cultivating self-love, and compassion will provide the roadmap to show love and compassion to our earth. The good news is that the most abundant resource on earth right now is human capital. There are SO MANY of us doing incredible things. Stay positive and believe that we can do it, we absolutely need you in the team!
Books that had a great impact on you / Must-Reads for any regenerative professional:
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Design, When Everybody Designs: An Introduction to Design for Social Innovation by Enzio Manzini
Designs for the Pluriverse: Radical Interdependence, Autonomy, and the Making of Worlds by Arturo Escobar
Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher
Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again: Kiss the ground, Fantastic Fungi, 2040, The Serengeti rules (but there are so many).
Websites / Podcasts you visit frequently: Diseno y Diaspora podcast - in Spanish.
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: ALL music heals profoundly. I love Savannah and Yaima for connection to our own bodies and nature. I love Lana del Rey for connecting to my feminine.
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: Turkey and Egypt were some of the most amazing trips I’ve ever taken.
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow:
Daniel Christian Wahl
Vandana Shiva
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: All that are small, local, and connected!
Events we should attend / Best places for networking (online or offline): All that are local!
Impactful and relevant Sustainable Development or Regeneration courses or certifications: Design at the University of Auckland – or any small, local permaculture course you have access to.
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: We are not taking any more sh*t from corporations!
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: The polarization of our society.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Positivity, radical honesty, self-work, compassion, community spirit, resilience, spirituality.
The Inspirator you are endorsing for a future edition is:
Charmaine Bailie
The quote that inspires you:
"All jobs now are, and should be, green jobs. Regeneration is about our every action, especially in our workplace."
Your quote that will inspire us:
