Shape the System

Vincent Turner
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Find and tell the stories that inspire more people to rethink the way the world works. We interview people from all over the world who are changing our systems.. this might be food, energy, finance, education, health, environment, charitable.. anything really. They may be involved as founders or CEOs or providers to the specific vertical. The ventures they operate may be non-profit or for profit but they will have found a way to create success, sustainability and impact.

  1. Carly Hunt - Showerkap

    1 DAY AGO

    Carly Hunt - Showerkap

    About the Guest Carly Hunt is the Head of Strategic Partnerships of Showerkap, a UK-based water technology company tackling excessive water consumption in the hospitality sector. With over 20 years in hotel management — latterly focused on energy, waste, and water reduction programmes — Carly brings rare operational depth to the sustainability challenge she's now helping to solve. Her academic background in sustainable tourism (the subject of her university dissertation) makes her return to this space something of a full-circle moment. Episode Summary Water scarcity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you book a hotel room, but it probably should be. In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner sits down with Carly Hunt, Head of Strategic Partnerships of Showerkap, to explore how the hospitality industry is one of the heaviest — and least scrutinised — consumers of fresh water on the planet. Hotels can use up to eight times more water than local residents, with individual rooms consuming as much as 1,500 litres per day. Meanwhile, the UK's Environment Agency is forecasting a potential shortfall of 1.4 billion litres per day by 2030, rising to 5 billion by 2050. The numbers are stark, and Carly makes the case that demand reduction — not just supply management — has to be part of the answer. Carly's entry into this space came through two decades of hotel management, where she discovered that energy and waste were relatively easy to monitor and reduce, but water was almost impossible to measure at any meaningful resolution. That gap led her to Showerkap, the brainchild of inventor Steve Harding, which combines three elements that have never previously been integrated in the water sector: fixture-level IoT monitoring across an entire building, a cloud-based analytics platform, and a novel shower fade timer that delivers a real-time behavioural nudge — without restricting flow. The pilot results, run across one floor of the Sandman Hotel at Gatwick Airport, were striking. Prior to the intervention, guests were showering for 35 minutes or more — consuming around 245 litres per session. After the shower fade timer was introduced (set to seven minutes), average shower duration across the 20-room eco-floor dropped to just three minutes and 20 seconds. Overall water usage fell by 58%, energy use by 14%, and the projected saving across the full hotel is approximately 2.7 million litres per year. Of the guests who stayed across nearly a year of the pilot, only three declined to participate in the eco-floor — a participation rate that Carly and Vincent calculate at roughly 99%. The commercial case is deliberately straightforward: Showerkap is targeting a two-year payback period, meaning hotels can effectively finance the installation against the savings it generates. Beyond the headline water and energy savings, the technology surfaces hidden operational value — the Sandman pilot uncovered hot water circulation issues throughout the building and enabled early detection of Legionella risk. The go-to-market strategy currently leans on pilots and case studies to build trust in a space where water has historically been undervalued, with an eye toward expansion into the Mediterranean, MENA, and other water-scarce markets. An upcoming back-of-house research piece, potentially in partnership with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, is expected to extend Showerkap's evidence base well beyond the bathroom. Key Takeaways Hotels use up to eight times more water per person than local residents, with some rooms consuming up to 1,500 litres per day — making demand reduction in hospitality a high-leverage intervention. Showerkap's pilot at the Sandman Hotel, Gatwick, achieved a 58% reduction in shower water usage and cut energy consumption by 14%, with average shower times dropping from 35+ minutes to under three and a half minutes. The technology's payback period is approximately two years, making it financeable against projected savings — a critical threshold for hotel procurement teams weighing up an unfamiliar category. Behavioural nudges, not flow restrictions, drive the results: the shower fade timer gives guests a gentle cue and the option to continue, yet the vast majority choose to reduce — suggesting most water waste is habitual rather than intentional. Showers account for over 50% of hotel bathroom water use, but the IoT platform also surfaces back-of-house inefficiencies in kitchens, laundry, and plumbing systems — unlocking operational and maintenance savings beyond the guest experience. Notable Quotes "Water is one of the most vital resources on earth. And we all know that. And we rarely treat it that way because we automatically run a tap and it's there." — Carly Hunt "Reducing showers by just a couple of minutes can save 20 litres. And if those small actions become millions, then think of the impact that would have." — Carly Hunt "We always say that water intrinsically is linked to everything. We can't do anything without water." — Carly Hunt "We don't want to force anyone to change, because that doesn't work. You have to effectively give them the tools to actually do it themselves." — Carly Hunt Resources Showerkap Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (mentioned in episode) Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures   More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

    53 min
  2. Lewis Dunnigan - Bygen

    27 APR

    Lewis Dunnigan - Bygen

    About the Guest Lewis Dunnigan is the CEO and co-founder of Bygen, an Australian deep-tech company reimagining how activated carbon is produced. Lewis came to the problem through his PhD research at the University of Adelaide, where he and his team recognised the commercial potential of their work and spun out the company. He brings both the scientific depth of an academic researcher and the commercial pragmatism of a founder who has already shipped product to customers on multiple continents. Episode Summary Activated carbon is one of the most widely used industrial materials on the planet — and one of the least talked about. It filters your drinking water, treats industrial gas emissions, recovers gold from ore, remediates contaminated land, and even plays a role in pharmaceutical processing and energy storage. In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner sits down with Lewis Dunnigan, CEO of Bygen, to unpack what activated carbon actually is, why the way it's currently made is both costly and environmentally damaging, and how Bygen's production technology is changing the equation. At its core, activated carbon is a highly porous solid material — visually indistinguishable from barbecue charcoal — but with a surface area so vast that a single teaspoon contains the equivalent of a football field. That porosity is what makes it such a powerful filtration medium: contaminants in liquids and gases are physically attracted to and trapped by the densely bonded carbon atoms inside. The problem is that making it the conventional way requires heating raw materials to around 1,000 degrees Celsius using fossil fuels like LPG or diesel — a process that is both expensive and carbon-intensive. The two dominant global feedstocks, coal and coconut shell, each carry their own environmental and social baggage. Bygen's core innovation integrates the two-stage production process — charcoal production and activation — into a single system that generates excess heat rather than consuming it. By combining both steps and developing alternative activation chemistries that operate at lower temperatures, Bygen has effectively eliminated the largest operating cost in conventional activated carbon manufacturing: the external energy input. The result is a cleaner, cheaper production process that uses sustainable feedstocks — including almond, walnut, and hazelnut shells, as well as wood — sourced locally to wherever the plant is built. Bygen already has a plant running on walnut shells in Northern California, and a truck was loading activated carbon for a water treatment plant during the recording of this episode. The company operates a licensing model, partnering with feedstock owners — such as large nut-processing or cracking facilities — who gain a way to convert a low-value byproduct (selling for perhaps $30–40 per tonne as cattle feed) into a high-value product worth around $4,000 per tonne. For end users like water treatment plants, Bygen competes not on price against cheap Chinese coal-based imports, but on quality, reliability, and service. The North Star is 200,000 tonnes of activated carbon produced annually using Bygen's technology — roughly 5% of the current global market of around 4 million tonnes per year — requiring five new project deployments per year and approximately 1 million tonnes of feedstock. The next 12 months are focused on building the team and capital base to make that deployment rate a reality. Key Takeaways One teaspoon of activated carbon contains the surface area of a football field — that extraordinary porosity is what makes it effective at trapping contaminants in water, gases, and industrial processes across a huge range of industries. Conventional activated carbon production burns fossil fuels at 1,000°C, making it both expensive and carbon-intensive; Bygen's integrated process generates excess heat rather than requiring external fuel, cutting the major cost driver and eliminating associated emissions. Bygen's licensing model locates plants at the source of feedstock — nut-cracking facilities, forestry byproduct sites — turning a low-value waste stream worth ~$30–40/tonne into an activated carbon product worth ~$4,000/tonne. The global activated carbon market is approximately 4 million tonnes per year, with Bygen targeting 5% of that (200,000 tonnes) via five plant deployments annually across the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Australia currently sends almost all spent activated carbon to landfill — unlike the US and Europe where regeneration (restoring used carbon to a near-virgin state) is standard — a gap Bygen is actively working to close. Notable Quotes "Despite these great use cases, the way that it's been made for the last hundred plus years is very, very harmful to the environment. And it's also very expensive." — Lewis Dunnigan "The production method basically generates excess heat rather than requiring lots of additional energy input. And that basically means that we completely eliminate that major cost of conventional producers." — Lewis Dunnigan "We don't really want to get involved in a pricing war. We can focus really on quality, on reliability, on customer service — and that's basically how we break into the market." — Lewis Dunnigan "Australia has such an amazing research background that is so poorly translated into commercial outcomes. Being able to be one of the companies that can help show that is possible brings us all a lot of satisfaction." — Lewis Dunnigan "There's no point working 18-hour days if you're not applying it in the right way. If you can apply your time based on your experience and your knowledge more effectively, you don't need to do that." — Lewis Dunnigan Resources Bygen Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures   More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

    51 min
  3. Jason Rolland - Carbon Inc

    2 MAR

    Jason Rolland - Carbon Inc

    About the GuestJason Rolland is the CEO of Carbon Inc, a leading additive manufacturing company focused on production-grade 3D printing. Trained as a polymer chemist, Jason completed his PhD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Carbon co-founder Joe DeSimone, where he developed a deep interest in translating materials science into real-world impact. His career sits at the intersection of chemistry, entrepreneurship, and advanced manufacturing, with a particular focus on making 3D printing viable for end-use products at scale. At Carbon, he has helped shift the industry from “rapid prototyping” to true digital manufacturing. Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner sits down with Jason Rolland to unpack how additive manufacturing—specifically polymer-based 3D printing—is reshaping the way physical products are designed, made, and distributed. Rather than framing 3D printing as a novelty or prototyping tool, the conversation explores its emergence as a genuine manufacturing alternative to injection moulding and foams. Jason walks through the limitations of traditional manufacturing, particularly where cost efficiency comes at the expense of performance, customisation, and waste. Using examples from footwear, helmets, bike saddles, wheelchair cushions, and dental products, he explains how lattice geometries and advanced elastomers unlock new performance characteristics—such as targeted cushioning, breathability, and durability—that simply aren’t possible with conventional methods. The discussion also touches on broader system-level implications: on-demand production, reduced tooling, faster iteration cycles, and more localised manufacturing. From Adidas’ fully 3D-printed Climacool shoe to millions of custom dental parts produced each month, the episode highlights where the economics already work—and where they’re heading next. Key Takeaways3D printing is moving from prototyping into true manufacturing, producing end-use parts that match or outperform traditional materials. Lattice structures enable performance gains—variable stiffness, breathability, and impact protection—that foams and injection-moulded parts can’t achieve. Customisation at scale is already real in sectors like dentistry, with millions of unique parts produced every month. Digital manufacturing reduces reliance on tooling, enabling faster design iteration and lower inventory risk. The biggest barriers to adoption today are awareness and application development speed, not material performance. Notable Quotes“It’s no longer okay for something to be cool just because it’s 3D printed. It actually has to serve function and do something better.” — Jason Rolland “Nobody actually cares about all the cool tech that’s behind it. They care about the part that comes out of the printer.” — Jason Rolland “You can intrinsically have stiffer regions and softer regions within the same part just by changing the geometry.” — Jason Rolland “The success of the year isn’t how many shoes you sell—it’s how much inventory you have left over.” — Jason Rolland “There’s almost no industry that can’t benefit from what we’re doing.” — Jason Rolland ResourcesCarbon Inc — https://carbon3d.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures   More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

    1hr 3min
  4. Mike Haydon - Off the Grid Shop

    26 JAN

    Mike Haydon - Off the Grid Shop

    About the GuestMike Haydon is the CEO of Off The Grid Shop, a business focused on solar, batteries, and decentralised energy solutions. With more than 15 years in the renewable energy sector, Mike has built his career around the idea of energy sovereignty—helping households and businesses stay powered, resilient, and in control. His background spans off-grid systems, peer-to-peer energy trading, and software-driven energy orchestration. Today, he’s working to rebalance who benefits from Australia’s energy transition. Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner sits down with Mike Haydon to unpack a deceptively simple question: do we still need electricity grids? The answer, as Mike explains, isn’t about abandoning the grid—but rethinking how it’s used, who it serves, and who captures the value created by rooftop solar and batteries. Mike shares his journey from early solar installations to building a decentralised energy model that lets everyday households sell excess energy directly to businesses. The conversation explores why feed-in tariffs have failed consumers, how smart meters and software are reshaping energy markets, and why rooftop solar is already Australia’s largest generation source during the day. The discussion also looks ahead. From peer-to-peer trading and carbon credits to blockchain-ready meters and the rise of energy “orchestration,” Mike outlines where the next three to five years are heading. Throughout, a clear theme emerges: the future of energy isn’t just hardware—it’s software, transparency, and communication. Key TakeawaysRooftop solar is already the number one generation source in Australia during the middle of the day, but households see little financial upside. Energy retailers can resell household solar at 50–60× the price they pay consumers. Businesses that use most of their power before 5pm can save 20–30% by shifting to decentralised and wholesale energy models. Smart meters, with five-minute interval data, are a critical enabler of peer-to-peer energy trading. Long-term winners in energy will be those who master software, data, and customer communication, not just generation assets. Notable Quotes“For us, it was never about feed-in tariffs. It was always about energy sovereignty.” — Mike Haydon “Rooftop solar, in the middle of the day, is the number one generation source in Australia.” — Mike Haydon “Energy security and being connected to the grid aren’t opposites—they can coexist.” — Vincent Turner “The energy retailers are making all the profit from assets they didn’t pay for.” — Mike Haydon “The biggest opportunity is control and flow of energy—it’s orchestration.” — Mike Haydon ResourcesOff The Grid Shop — https://www.theoffgridshop.com.au/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures   More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

    54 min
  5. Johan Tijssen - Hempblock

    12 JAN

    Johan Tijssen - Hempblock

    About the GuestJohan Tijssen is the CEO of Hempblock International and a long-time builder and entrepreneur with more than 25 years’ experience working with hemp-lime (hempcrete) construction systems. Originally from the Netherlands, Johan moved to Australia and became deeply interested in why modern housing had become so complex, fragile, and uncomfortable. Through years of hands-on building, experimentation, and R&D, he developed an interlocking hemp block system designed to simplify construction while dramatically improving thermal comfort, fire resistance, and durability. Today, Johan works with owner-builders, architects, and developers globally to rethink how walls—and homes—are built. Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Johan Tijssen about what’s fundamentally broken in the way we build houses—and why walls are at the centre of the problem. Johan contrasts today’s lightweight, multi-trade wall systems with thicker, simpler, and more durable approaches used historically, arguing that modern construction has traded long-term performance for short-term speed and perceived cost savings. Johan shares his personal journey from traditional building into hemp-based construction, after discovering hempcrete’s unique properties: insulation, fire resistance, breathability, and longevity. From there, he explains how Hempblock International evolved the material into a modular, interlocking block system that removes on-site mixing, reduces trade complexity, and enables faster, more accessible builds—even for owner-builders. The conversation explores the practical realities of construction economics, labour shortages, bushfire risk, and health issues like mould and humidity. Johan also outlines a bigger vision: scaling hemp construction into social housing, large developments, and even Olympic-scale projects, while regenerating soil and sequestering carbon through industrial hemp farming. Key TakeawaysModern wall systems rely on multiple materials and trades, increasing cost, coordination risk, and long-term failure points. Hemp block walls deliver R-values up to 4.8, over 3 hours fire resistance, and natural humidity regulation in a single system. The interlocking hemp block approach allows walls to be built at roughly 10 minutes per square metre, with minimal specialised skills. Hemp-lime walls petrify over time, improving durability rather than degrading like many petrochemical-based materials. Scaling hemp construction could support carbon-negative housing, healthier indoor environments, and regeneration of polluted soils. Notable Quotes“Walls are really like a complex system… and they require lots of different trades and moving parts.” — Johan Tijssen “I was totally fascinated by the fact that this one wall thickness would do everything—insulate, fireproof, and perform over time.” — Johan Tijssen “You’d be with a sledgehammer for half an hour before you get a hole in a hempcrete wall.” — Johan Tijssen “Hemp and lime petrify over time. There are no petrochemicals that break down.” — Johan Tijssen “The success is when people love where they live and feel safe, healthy, and comfortable in their own homes.” — Johan Tijssen ResourcesHempblock International — https://hempblockinternational.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org     Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that. We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures   More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

    54 min
  6. Maude Manoukian - Forager Project

    22/12/2025

    Maude Manoukian - Forager Project

    About the Guest Maude Manoukian is the Chief Community Officer at Forager Project, a US-based company redefining dairy through plant-based innovation. With a background spanning Odwalla and Whole Foods Market, Maude brings deep experience in natural foods, supply chains, and conscious consumerism. Her long-standing collaboration with Forager Project founder Stephen Williamson has shaped a shared philosophy grounded in sustainability, community engagement, and continuous improvement. At Forager Project, she leads both community programs and the human-centric culture that drives the company’s mission. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner sits down with Maude Manoukian to explore how Forager Project is reimagining dairy through cashew-based alternatives. Maude outlines the fundamental resource problem in traditional animal-based dairy — an industry now 8–10 times more resource-intensive than plant-based options — and why scaling that model for a planet of eight billion people is no longer sustainable. Their conversation traces the historical reasons dairy became dominant, what’s changed, and why a rethink is overdue. The discussion then turns to cashews — Forager Project’s “star ingredient” — and why they are uniquely suited as a dairy alternative due to their creamy texture, neutral flavour and minimal ecological footprint. Maude explains how cashews grown in places like Côte d’Ivoire are naturally rain-fed, resilient to poorer soils, and part of reforestation efforts rather than deforestation risk. She walks through the surprisingly complex journey from cashew apple to packaged yoghurt, highlighting the critical roles of farming practice, processing, fermentation, and product consistency. Beyond the product itself, the episode delves into Forager Project’s broader philosophy: a commitment to community-centred supply chains, regenerative thinking, and multi-year programs training 10,000 cashew growers. Maude also reflects on packaging challenges, their shift to recycled plastics, and the belief that improving systems requires both experimentation and humility. Ultimately, the ambition is to “flip the script” — shifting dairy consumption from 80% animal-based to 80% plant-based — a move driven by taste, accessibility, and cultural change as much as sustainability. Key Takeaways Traditional animal-based dairy now requires 8–10 times the resources of plant-based alternatives, particularly land and water. Cashews offer a uniquely low-impact, creamy, neutral-flavoured base for dairy alternatives and can thrive with no irrigation in suitable climates. Forager Project is investing in a multi-year training program for 10,000 cashew growers in Côte d’Ivoire to improve yields, livelihoods and regenerative practices. Taste and price remain the two biggest levers for shifting consumers towards plant-based dairy; flavour consistency is critical to behaviour change. The company is transitioning its packaging to rPET and continues to explore next-generation sustainable formats as technology matures. Notable Quotes “Conventional animal-based dairy requires a lot more resources… between eight and ten times more demanding than plant-based options.” — Maude Manoukian “Our star ingredient is the cashew… we think they’re the best comparison to what people currently know as a dairy product.” — Maude Manoukian “You can’t just say, ‘Great, these can grow here — let’s cut down stuff and plant cashew trees.’ Nature doesn’t like that.” — Maude Manoukian “It’s all connected… the way you do stuff is as important, if not more important, than what you’re doing.” — Maude Manoukian “We’re trying to flip the script — from 80% animal-based dairy to 80% plant-based.” — Maude Manoukian Resources Forager Project — https://foragerproject.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures   More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that. We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

    1hr 1min
  7. Dr. Jennifer Berry, CEO of SmartLab

    08/12/2025

    Dr. Jennifer Berry, CEO of SmartLab

    About the Guest Dr Jennifer Berry is the CEO of Smartlab, an organisation dedicated to building STEM identity in K–12 learners through hands-on, project-based learning. With a background spanning professional dance, retail, customer experience, and education leadership, she brings a uniquely holistic perspective to how children learn. Her career has focused on non-traditional educational environments—from Montessori-inspired early learning to special education and supplemental tutoring—culminating in her leadership at Smartlab. Dr Berry’s work centres on empowering students with the confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in an increasingly AI-powered world. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner explores the future of learning, STEM identity, and how technology is reshaping education with Dr Jennifer Berry. The conversation dives into what K–12 education looks like today in the United States—and why many schools remain unprepared for the speed and scale of change driven by AI. Dr Berry argues that while students must still learn the basics, the real opportunity lies in helping them develop the confidence, curiosity, and connective thinking needed to solve real-world problems. Dr Berry shares her personal journey, from a kinesthetic learner who couldn’t sit still, to a professional dancer, to an education leader drawn to hands-on, project-based learning environments. These experiences shaped her passion for Smartlab’s integrated ecosystem: flexible, in-school STEM labs where students get access to real tools—robotics, circuitry, multimedia, design technology—and are encouraged to fail, iterate, and problem-solve in meaningful ways. She explains how STEM identity is not about careers in science and technology alone, but about a student’s self-belief that they belong, can master challenges, and that their ideas matter. The episode also explores the widening gap between what schools teach and what employers need. With 80% of hiring managers saying high-school graduates are less prepared than in previous decades, Dr Berry stresses the importance of teaching communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and systems thinking—skills that cannot be automated. She highlights how Smartlab works with philanthropies like the Compost Foundation to bring these opportunities to under-resourced communities, ensuring upward mobility and creating a more equitable future. Throughout the discussion, real stories bring the impact to life—from a 13-year-old in Oakland discovering future career paths through drone technology, to Dr Berry’s own daughter gaining confidence through assistive tools like speech-to-text. The episode closes with a powerful reminder: the hardest part of the work is the inequity, and the best part is watching doors open for students who otherwise would never have access to these learning experiences. Key Takeaways STEM identity is defined as a learner’s belief that they belong, can master rigorous challenges, and that their ideas have impact—skills essential across all industries. School systems are struggling to keep pace with AI; 80% of hiring managers say graduates are less prepared than in past decades, and 69% of HR leaders report widening gaps in tech and analytics readiness. Project-based STEM learning builds critical skills such as collaboration, communication, systems thinking, and comfort with failure. Community partnerships—particularly philanthropy and corporate giving—play a vital role in bringing STEM opportunities to under-resourced schools. Technology should support learning, not replace it; tools like speech-to-text can help students overcome challenges and build confidence. Notable Quotes “We define STEM identity as a learner’s self-belief that they belong, they can master rigorous challenges, and their ideas have an impact.” — Dr Jennifer Berry “I’m leaning less into teaching her the technology and more into teaching her to be a strong communicator, a strong collaborator… the soft skills.” — Dr Jennifer Berry “It isn’t the stuff. It’s the facilitator mentoring and guiding the student through the learning process.” — Dr Jennifer Berry “If only the few get the exposure to things, we continually just push down, push down, push down, and we all don’t rise together.” — Dr Jennifer Berry Resources Smartlab — https://www.smartlablearning.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures   More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that. We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

    57 min
  8. Tom Williams - Number8

    24/11/2025

    Tom Williams - Number8

    About the Guest Tom Williams is the Founder and CEO of Number8 Bio, an Australian deep-tech company developing a novel way to cut methane emissions from cattle and sheep while improving livestock productivity. With a background as a senior lecturer and academic microbiologist at Macquarie University, Tom previously led a 17-person research team specialising in synthetic biology, genome engineering and industrial yeast systems. Growing up in New Zealand’s Waikato dairy region shaped his early understanding of methane’s environmental challenge, and his scientific expertise positioned him uniquely to tackle it. Today, he’s applying biotechnology, high-throughput screening and animal-scale trials to build a scalable, commercially viable climate solution for global agriculture. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner dives into the surprisingly complex world of livestock emissions with Tom Williams from Number8 Bio. While methane from cows is often oversimplified as just “cow farts”, Tom breaks down the microbiology behind the problem — and how tackling methane is also a major opportunity to unlock animal productivity and farm profitability. The conversation unpacks how ruminants work as “walking fermentation tanks”, why methane represents wasted energy, and how Number8 Bio is designing solutions that improve both climate outcomes and farm economics. Tom traces the journey from his academic research in synthetic biology to founding Number8 Bio, including an early pivot away from engineered yeast solutions and into a broader screening approach. By testing more than 5,000 rumen-fluid micro-fermentations and 40 live-animal trials, the team identified an organic molecule that reduces methane emissions by 50–90% while improving feed efficiency and milk components. This dual benefit — climate and productivity — is core to Number8 Bio’s strategy and a key reason they believe their approach can scale. The episode also explores the economics of farming, the realities of grazing systems, and why a slow-release “bolus” — a large pill that dissolves in the animal’s stomach over months — is essential for pasture-fed cattle. Tom explains how carbon insetting (not offsetting) can reward producers directly for emissions reductions, strengthening supply chains from farmer to retailer. Looking ahead, 2026 will see Number8 Bio’s first commercial trials, rigorous carbon-accounting data, and preparation for a broader launch across grazing systems in Australia and beyond. Key Takeaways Livestock methane accounts for around 6% of global climate change, and most of it comes from burps, not farts. Number8 Bio’s leading molecule reduces methane by 50–90% in live-animal studies. Productivity gains come from redirecting “wasted” methane-related energy back into growth and milk production. The company must hit a delivery cost of 10–20 cents per head per day to enable uptake at scale. A slow-release bolus enables methane reduction in pasture-based systems where daily feed additives aren’t feasible. Notable Quotes “Cattle are basically walking fermentation tanks.” — Tom Williams “We knocked out a wasteful reaction and promoted a productive reaction in the rumen.” — Tom Williams “These emissions from cows are 6% of all climate change, and it’s wasted energy the animal could have used to grow faster.” — Tom Williams “People have had the option to stop eating meat for hundreds of years — they haven’t taken it up en masse.” — Tom Williams “Where hope lies is in innovations that fit into existing systems and make them better.” — Tom Williams Resources Number8 Bio — https://www.number8.bio/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures   More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that. We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

    47 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Find and tell the stories that inspire more people to rethink the way the world works. We interview people from all over the world who are changing our systems.. this might be food, energy, finance, education, health, environment, charitable.. anything really. They may be involved as founders or CEOs or providers to the specific vertical. The ventures they operate may be non-profit or for profit but they will have found a way to create success, sustainability and impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Vincent Turner
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ℗ & © 2025 Shape the System
  • Show Website
    Shape the System

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