Bead and Proceed

Bead and Proceed Bead and Proceed exists to educate and inspire action towards the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals through creativity!

🌿 Today is World Environment Day🌿This year’s day connects closely to SDG 15: Life on Land, which focuses on protecting, ...
04/06/2026

🌿 Today is World Environment Day🌿

This year’s day connects closely to SDG 15: Life on Land, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing our ecosystems, forests, biodiversity, and the natural spaces that make Aotearoa so special.

Whether it’s planting a tree, picking up litter, supporting native biodiversity, reducing waste, or simply spending time in nature, every action is a way of caring for Papatūānuku.

The beautiful thing about sustainability is that it doesn’t require perfection. It starts with noticing, appreciating, and taking one small action.

💚 What is one thing you’ll do today to show some aroha for our planet?

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul through the 🇰🇷The conversations a...
28/05/2026

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul through the 🇰🇷

The conversations around leadership, creativity, AI, resilience, and future-ready skills were incredible but the real highlight was the kōrero between delegates and the shared reflections throughout the week.

A few standout moments included:

Some of the top highlights for me were:
🦶The importance of understanding your pivot foot, a session facilitated by Harvard University Professor, Dana Born
🎤 How taking in culture can help us slow down and notice depth, spice, ritual and essentially reduce panic, as shared by KPop Demond Hunter superstar
🎨 The difference between big C and little c Creativity by Songyee Yoon
🗣️ A powerful metaphor on the difference between paradise and hell, a keynote address by the Prime Minister of Albania
🧠 Meeting Dame Jenny Shipley and her thoughts on mindset and self awareness

Korea itself also left a huge impression on me… its resilience, creativity, humour, and culture felt deeply inspiring.

I came home feeling challenged, energised, and full of ideas. Huge gratitude to the Asia New Zealand Foundation, the amazing delegates, and Luke for holding down the fort while I was away.

I unpacked more reflections in this month’s newsletter. Would be so grateful if you gave it a read and don’t forget to subscribe!

💡SDG SPOTLIGHT💡The beautiful thing about the Sustainable Development Goals is that most of us can find at least one that...
25/05/2026

💡SDG SPOTLIGHT💡

The beautiful thing about the Sustainable Development Goals is that most of us can find at least one that deeply resonates. But once you begin exploring them, you quickly realise none of them exist in isolation. They are all interconnected.

My personal favourite, and the SDG at the heart of Bead & Proceed, is SDG 17: Mahi Tahi – Partnerships for the Goals.

Why? Because this goal reminds us that meaningful change is never achieved alone.

It celebrates that we each bring different strengths, perspectives, lived experiences, and “Impact Patches” to the table. That sustainable change happens when we weave those differences together rather than expecting one person or organisation to carry it all.

And perhaps what I find most powerful about SDG 17 is that it acknowledges there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability. Each country, culture, and community will honour and achieve these goals in ways unique to them.

For Aotearoa New Zealand, that means upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and weaving those principles through the framework in a way that reflects partnership, protection, participation, and shared responsibility.

Last week, I was in Aotearoa’s Capital for a client meeting. Specifically, I was facilitating a workshop and working on ...
20/05/2026

Last week, I was in Aotearoa’s Capital for a client meeting. Specifically, I was facilitating a workshop and working on a super exciting kaupapa that I am personally so excited, proud of, and feel very passionate about.

What greeted me in the door was this colourful beaded mural, which I had the honour of weaving back in 2023 - that’s how long this mahi has been in the process for because we’re taking the time to do this well, inclusive and bring everyone on the journey. And to embrace this, each of these beads were painted by staff, a creative way to gather THEIR insight on what sustainable development goal is most important for this organisation to action. Weaving these beads together, is a symbol of weaving together our diversity, and different approaches to make sustainable change.

Thank you for letting me be part of this mahi and can’t wait to share it!

Open up a box of happiness (that helps people and planet)! And we’re not exaggerating because did you know each Bead and...
14/05/2026

Open up a box of happiness (that helps people and planet)!

And we’re not exaggerating because did you know each Bead and Proceed Kit is sustainably and ethically sourced:

🖐 Each Kit is handmade by artisans from Silence, which is a organisation employing adults who have hearing, speaking and physical disabilities
💰 Silence is located in Kolkata India and gives these amazing artisans quality and safe employment
🪵 The woodcarvers from Silence, carve our beads from recycled wooden pallets
🗑️ Todate we’ve diverted over 7 tonnes of end-of-life wood from landfill thanks to this partnership (and thanks to you)!
📄 Each Kit is made from recycled paper too
🎨 We use which is eco friendly paint and free of nasties
🌳 And for every square metre of paint painted, the Natural Paint Co save a square metre of Amazon Rainforest
🌿Since launching Bead and Proceed, we’ve saved over 7,000 square metres of Amazon Rainforest!
❤️ Our model is one-for-one: for every Kit purchased, another is donated to either a low decile school or deserving community organisation!

Want to BEAD the change? Head to www.beadandproceed.com

Proof that I’ve always been an “expressive” talker but when you’re passionate about the subject, it’s hard not to be 😅Su...
04/05/2026

Proof that I’ve always been an “expressive” talker but when you’re passionate about the subject, it’s hard not to be 😅

Such a pleasure to be on the panel for the Advance Leadership Programme at Living Springs this weekend.

Huge thanks to Jocelyn and Rachel for bringing this kaupapa to life, and to be speaking alongside Vicky Southworth and Jolie Sarginson Macdonald reflecting on service leadership, who inspires us, and why it matters.

Exploring the intersection of sustainability, creativity, and leadership, how to unlock your empowered triangle and most importantly, how to define your unique Impact Patch.

A powerful reminder: leadership isn’t about being everything… it’s about knowing what’s yours to carry.

And yes… I could’ve kept talking for hours. Keep up the amazing mahi, leaders. You’re an inspiration!

So… there I am, in the final stages of my latest newsletter and I realise… I haven’t shared last month’s on here! You ca...
03/05/2026

So… there I am, in the final stages of my latest newsletter and I realise… I haven’t shared last month’s on here! You can give it a read now. It’s all about the lessons nature gives us and the power of metaphor. Hope you enjoy it!

To give it a read, follow the link in bio or the link below:
https://us11.campaign-archive.com/?u=075c7d5aeeda1bdd13e1c06b8&id=b3e6000b46&fbclid=PARlRTSARkjKJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafDovv-VhehnirNzU38Cv6OHVQij7i7oYENriCQU9E_ZdyjCyWTdKHbIgT_Sg_aem_ZkDvgcnv7dGtOAPiMyJbOA

Did you know today is International Jazz Day! In 2011, UNESCO marked this special day on 30 April, to promote peace, dia...
29/04/2026

Did you know today is International Jazz Day! In 2011, UNESCO marked this special day on 30 April, to promote peace, dialogue, and mutual respect through music. Jazz history is deeply tied to movements for civil rights and social change, with artists like Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone using their music to challenge injustice and give voice to lived experiences. So, be sure to listen to some jazz, take time to celebrate and recognise the history of jazz and the amazing artists and activists and remember that jazz is a powerful symbol of connection, expression, and cultural understanding 🎷🎺🎶

Posting some later-gram because what a time we had in and it was made extra special to have our friends join us for the...
23/04/2026

Posting some later-gram because what a time we had in and it was made extra special to have our friends join us for the workshop! I think one of the most powerful things about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals framework is how it speaks an international language… and that’s why is been amazing to present this mahi in different countries from Australia to Japan. But deeper than that, it forms a connection with people globally because we ALL care about one (or more) of these 17 SDGs and so in a way, Bead and Proceed is kinda like a friendship bead making workshop but with impact 😆

Wanna be friends?! Get in touch for a workshop or presentation today!

🐣 Easter can highlight something important: celebration is not experienced equally🐣For some, it means rest, food, family...
01/04/2026

🐣 Easter can highlight something important: celebration is not experienced equally🐣

For some, it means rest, food, family, and ease.
For others, it means work, pressure, loneliness, or being left out.

This Easter, maybe the invitation is simple: notice who might be missing out, and respond in a practical way.

That could look like supporting a foodbank, giving to a local City Mission, donating essentials, or making sure someone in your world feels included and seen.

Because reducing inequalities does not only live in policy. It also lives in the choices we make, the people we include, and the care we extend.

Shoutout to a few organisations who are doing this mahi:

free.aotearoa

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Christchurch

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 12pm
Tuesday 8am - 12pm
Wednesday 8am - 12pm
Thursday 8am - 12pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+64276986383

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