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

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

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

About the Guest Neal Rickner is the CEO of Airloom , a US-based clean energy company reimagining how we harness wind power. Neal began his career as an F-18 pilot in the US Marines before transitioning through Columbia Business School into a decade at Google and Google X. There, he worked on breakthrough energy and technology initiatives, including airborne wind systems. His unique mix of military discipline, commercial insight, and innovation leadership positions him perfectly to lead Airloom’s mission to deliver low-cost, scalable wind energy. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner talks with Airloom CEO Neal Rickner about a radical rethink of wind power. While most people picture towering three-bladed turbines dominating windy landscapes, Neal explains why that long-standing model—though effective—is reaching its practical limits. Wind’s “first generation” has been a success, but further scaling it is hitting physical, logistical, and economic barriers. Airloom’s solution represents what Neal calls “Wind 2.0.” Instead of building ever-larger vertical turbines, Airloom uses a ground-level, track-based system resembling an oval stadium or roller coaster. Attached wings capture the wind, pulling a continuous belt that drives generators at the corners. Built from standard steel and aluminium components, the system is modular, easy to transport in shipping containers, and can be installed without cranes—dramatically reducing costs and opening up new sites for generation. Neal shares how Airloom’s design achieves roughly half the cost per swept area compared to traditional turbines, enabling deployment in regions that lack the infrastructure for massive towers. The conversation dives into the physics, economics, and engineering trade-offs that underpin this breakthrough approach, including insights from Neal’s past at Google X and how Airloom integrates lessons learned from decades of conventional wind development. As Airloom builds its first megawatt-scale pilot in Wyoming, Neal reflects on both the challenges and excitement of scaling a technology that could make wind power cheaper and more widely accessible than ever before. Key Takeaways Traditional three-blade turbines dominate wind energy but face limits due to cost, size, and infrastructure constraints. Airloom’s design uses a horizontal, track-based architecture—cutting swept-area costs by around 50%. The system is made from 95% steel and aluminium, using only 58 unique parts versus about 1,500 in a standard turbine. Airloom’s modular sections fit in standard shipping containers, eliminating cranes and simplifying global deployment. The company is building a megawatt-scale pilot in Wyoming, aiming for a commercial demonstration by mid-2026. Notable Quotes “Energy is our prosperity and our security—it’s where I’ll spend the rest of my career.” — Neal Rickner “We’ve sort of painted ourselves into a corner with wind. The machines keep getting bigger and bigger, and that creates absurd challenges.” — Neal Rickner “Airloom is like a roller coaster for wind—it’s lower, modular, and simple to build with common materials.” — Neal Rickner “We’re building swept area—the thing that makes money—for half the cost.” — Neal Rickner “I’m an impact junkie. I want to do something that matters—and gigawatts of low-cost wind energy can change the world.” — Neal Rickner Resources Airloom Energy 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

About the Guest Aymeric Maudous is the Co-founder of Lord of the Trees , an Australian-based environmental technology company pioneering drone-assisted reforestation. With over two decades in the environmental sector and a Master’s in Environmental Management from UNSW, Aymeric combines cutting-edge robotics and AI with Indigenous ecological knowledge to regenerate degraded landscapes. His work has taken him from the Daintree Rainforest to Borneo and beyond, where he collaborates with local communities to restore ecosystems and biodiversity at scale. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner talks with Aymeric Maudous, founder of Lord of the Trees, about reimagining reforestation through technology and traditional wisdom. Inspired by a David Attenborough documentary and the natural cycle of birds dispersing seeds, Aymeric’s “lightbulb moment” led to a model where drones replace birds, dropping nutrient-rich seed pods to restore damaged ecosystems faster and more efficiently. Aymeric explains how Lord of the Trees blends high-tech solutions—AI, robotics, and drones—with low-tech, traditional ecological knowledge from Indigenous communities. This unique hybrid approach not only accelerates land restoration but also ensures cultural and environmental authenticity. Their process spans from detailed soil and species analysis to creating digital twins of landscapes and performing precision planting with military-grade drones. The discussion explores the enormous global opportunity—1.7 trillion hectares in need of reforestation—and the challenges that come with scale, regulation, and trust in the carbon credit market. Aymeric also delves into their upcoming plans to use blockchain to verify and bring transparency to reforestation projects. Beyond the tech, he shares the human side of the work: his joy in being on the ground, learning from local communities, and leaving behind a living legacy for future generations. Key Takeaways 1.7 trillion hectares of land globally could be reforested—an area roughly equal to the USA and China combined. Lord of the Trees combines high-tech drones and AI with local ecological knowledge to regenerate land sustainably. Each project begins with ecosystem mapping and creating a digital twin, allowing precision planting tailored to the environment. Transparency is key: blockchain and distributed ledger technology will enable public verification of reforestation progress and carbon credits. True regeneration requires maintenance and balance, not just planting—nature thrives through care, sequencing, and community collaboration. Notable Quotes “I was watching a David Attenborough documentary when I thought — why don’t we replace birds with drones and make our own seed pods?” — Aymeric Maudous “Not all land needs to be reforested. Plains and savannas are just as important as rainforests in maintaining balance.” — Aymeric Maudous “We use drones, AI, and robotics — but we also rely on thousands of years of local ecological knowledge. It’s a symbiosis of high-tech and low-tech.” — Aymeric Maudous “With technology today, including blockchain, we can trace every tree planted — creating a new source of truth for environmental restoration.” — Aymeric Maudous “I love being barefoot with Aboriginal people, walking through the forest, learning about trees and birds. That’s where the magic happens.” — Aymeric Maudous Resources Lord of the Trees 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

Grant Gunnison - Zero Homes

Chris Hull - Otus

About the Guest(s) Nis Benn is the co-founder of Hyme Energy, a Copenhagen-based company pioneering solutions to decarbonise industrial heat at scale. With a background spanning sociology, consulting, political organising, and deep-tech startups, Nis has consistently chased high-leverage, system-level climate solutions — from nuclear innovation to Hyme’s molten-salt heat storage. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Nis Benn of Hyme Energy about one of the world’s biggest yet overlooked climate challenges: industrial heat. While most clean-energy discussions focus on electricity, heat accounts for roughly a third of global emissions — largely produced by directly burning coal, oil, or gas for steam and high-temperature processes. Nis traces his path from climate-centred politics and nuclear R&D to Hyme, where the team is commercialising molten-salt thermal storage. Hyme uses renewable electricity to heat a specialised hydroxide salt to ~520°C, storing energy as heat and dispatching it as steam — the medium many factories already use. That retrofit-friendly approach lets manufacturers decarbonise without ripping out existing systems. Beyond emissions, the economics matter: industry spends trillions annually on fossil energy for heat. Hyme’s model pairs lower, more predictable energy costs with reliability and innovative commercial structures (e.g., heat offtake agreements in partnership with asset managers), allowing customers to “buy heat” as a service. On the engineering front, Hyme’s corrosion breakthroughs enable long lifetimes using standard stainless steels in most of the system — a key step to bankability and scale. Hyme is targeting first commercial plants from 2026 and meaningful scale by 2030. Key Takeaways Industrial heat is massive: About one-third of global emissions come from process heat, much of it from direct fossil combustion. Store power as heat: Hyme heats molten hydroxide salts with renewables, then delivers on-demand steam for existing processes. Minimal retrofit: Because many factories already run on steam, Hyme can slot in with limited disruption. Compelling economics: Rising energy and CO₂ costs + access to cheap renewables = strong business cases and multi-market optimisation. Path to scale: First FID-ready projects in 2026, scaling via partnerships/licensing toward hundreds of plants through the 2030s. Notable Quotes “Around 30% of global emissions come from industrial heat — it’s the single biggest emissions sector.” — Nis Benn “If you already use steam, Hyme can just produce it another way.” — Nis Benn “Reliability is what industrial players care about most — our job is to deliver that with renewables.” — Nis Benn “You can ‘buy heat’ as an outcome — not worry about the kit behind it.” — Vincent Turner Resources Hyme Energy: https://hyme.energy Background reading on industrial heat, thermal storage, and energy markets

Nate Spiteri - Shopfront

Nick Hodges - Halcium

Heidi and Kristine - Diestel Family Ranch

Paul Bevan - Magic Valley

Rich (Raz) Razgaitis - FloWater

Josh Bloomfield - Givecloud

Don Weatherbee - regenx

Hugo Spowers - Riversimple

Wayne McIntyre - Relocalize

Peter Vranes - Nutromics

Paul Frasca - Sustainable Salons

Christa Stelzmuller - Charity Water