photo by Mark Lobo
I’d pretty much given up on expecting events would live up to what I knew must be possible. With relentless predictability, people’s egos and agendas end up getting in the way. Then in September 2011 I travelled to Wales to attend what I expected would be ‘just another’ conference, albeit a good one. I left Wales both stunned by how good it had been, and with restored hope that people could come together and experience something genuinely life affirming and yes, even life-changing.
It turns out I was not the only one. The Guardian has since heralded the Do Lectures as one of the top 10 ideas festivals on the planet (even though it’s not really a festival) and elsewhere I’ve heard people describe it as Burning Man meets TED. I prefer co-founder David Hieatt’s imagery of a “four day dinner party” in the outdoors. Amazing food, terrific people, in extended conversation about things that matter.
photo by Mark Lobo
Anyway, one thing leads to another and I find myself part of the small team committed to building a sustainable Do Lectures Australia. These days I take on projects slowly, but this one chose me! Our first event in April 2014 drew extraordinary acclaim. I’ve included some links below if you’d like to understand more and read what people have been saying.
Bottom line, for at least the next few years we will be dependent on sponsorship.
We design the event to cultivate a global audience for Australian and Asian Pacific Doers. It’s no secret that this part of the world has a growing reputation for helping to shape a better future through social innovation. The Do Lectures celebrates people who inspire others to DO by telling the stories of their own DO-ing. Sponsors will be associated with a progressive and life affirming movement with a burgeoning set of followers in Australia and around the world.
But we don’t want just any sponsorship. We are not as interested in dollars as we are in people. We are looking for companies who share our hope. We are looking for organisations who know that today’s DO-ers are inventing the future. We are searching for leaders who understand that vision and ideas are not enough and that it is the DO-ers who bush-bashing a path through inertia into new territory, in all parts of life. Others of us are then inspired to follow.
Some incredible momentum has already been generated by DO-ers connecting with each other at the inaugural event. But there is more, so much more we can do.
So, if you know of a leader or/and a company that might enthusiastically support and be associated with the Do Lectures, I’d love to buy you a coffee and talk more. There are a few ways people can get involved which I look forward to explaining.
Col Duthie 