From Curiosity to Advocacy: How Anna Woodley Transforms Passion into Sustainable Change
Anna Woodley has always been curious.
From her earliest memories, Anna describes herself as the "inquisitive child," a title that underscored her natural predisposition to explore the world around her with an unrelenting sense of wonder. "You would find me in the garden stalking crickets or playing with dropped lizard tails, puzzling together why they behaved in the way they did. I would beg to stay up past my bedtime to watch David Attenborough to gain an insight into how the natural world cooperated to sustain species behaviors, and in turn how these behaviors were developed based on the surrounding ecosystem,” she recalls. “I was never without a book in my hand, seeking comprehension on character motivations and how this shaped their responses to their external environment.”
Her foundational curiosity propelled her into a lifelong quest to understand the complexities of the natural world and humanity's impact on it. Her innate curiosity laid the foundation for Anna’s academic and professional journey, leading her to pursue a dual degree in Chemical Engineering and Science at the University of Adelaide in Australia, which she says equipped her with the theory and tools to question what she does not understand, thereby giving her access to an endless pool of questions.
Human-centered solutions to human problems
Anna’s curiosity, however, is not just an academic endeavor; it is deeply personal and driven by a commitment to environmental consciousness and social justice. In navigating the transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application, Anna attended the 2020 Engineers Without Borders Summit in Cambodia, which she says marked a critical juncture in her evolving understanding of sustainability and its challenges. This experience was not merely an opportunity to apply her academic learnings in a real-world setting; it was a confrontation with the nuanced realities of implementing sustainable solutions across cultural divides.
In the island community of Koh Preah, Anna encountered firsthand the intricate dance of adapting Western technological solutions to fit the unique environmental, economic, and cultural fabric of a Southeast Asian community. At the Summit, mentors encouraged her to engage with the local culture and gain an understanding of how environmental and economic constraints of the local area were considered when developing solutions. In doing this, Anna noted the failures of previous initiatives in Koh Preah, from unsustainable recycling programs to a pregnancy ward with just “three walls and a roof”, were stark illustrations of a broader issue in international development efforts: the imposition of solutions without sufficient consideration for local contexts.
These well-intentioned but ultimately flawed projects underscored for Anna the critical need for a shift in approach—a move towards empathetic, inclusive, and contextually aware problem-solving. It was then that Anna realized her own narrow worldview when addressing situations. “The previous failed attempts [in Koh Preah] by outreach groups to introduce Westernized solutions to a non-Western problem impressed the importance of human-centered design and innovation.”
Anna’s reflections on these experiences illuminate a complex web of barriers to effective environmental advocacy. It became apparent that the challenge was not solely the logistical hurdles of implementing technology in resource-constrained settings but also the cultural and communicative barriers that can render even the most scientifically sound solutions ineffective. The lesson was clear: sustainability is not just an engineering challenge; it is a deeply human one, requiring solutions that are as socially and culturally nuanced as they are environmentally sound.
For Anna, it was less about her learnings and takeaways from the Summit, and more about the real-world application. Her return from the Summit marked not an end but the beginning of a deeper exploration into the intricacies of sustainability within various industries, from agriculture to water treatment and mineral processing. Her epiphany underscored the importance of human-centered design, a principle that emphasizes the inclusion of the community at every step of the solution development process.
By valuing local knowledge and perspectives, Anna recognized the potential for more sustainable, effective, and embraced solutions; Solutions that necessitate a level of empathy and inclusivity that transcends the traditional boundaries of scientific disciplines, advocating for a collaborative process where the solution evolves through partnership rather than imposition. “This line of questioning and deeper analysis led me to determine that the processes that provide a greater benefit to a Western-centered ideal are not designed to be sustainable over the long-term or support other populations and cultural identities.”
Reconciling technical with ethical
This broader perspective on sustainability posed a new set of barriers for Anna, challenging her to reconcile the technical aspects of her work with the ethical implications of industrial practices. The task was daunting: advocating for change in industries where sustainability was often sidelined in favor of economic efficiency. Yet, it was within these challenges that Anna’s commitment to inclusiveness and empathy as pillars of her approach to sustainability became most evident. She recognized that meaningful change required not only technical solutions but also a shift in corporate and industry mindsets towards valuing people and the planet equally.
“The voices of the communities that are displaced by drilling for oil that I utilize to get me to these locations are never heard. And the children that are exploited to retrieve metals for the mobile phone that I use to take images of these places are never considered.”
“Currently, the importance of holding companies accountable for ensuring that I am still able to enjoy wake-boarding on the Murray River, snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, or hiking in the Flinders Ranges is being emphasized, but the human, and more likely slave labor, that goes into creating the garments I wear while doing so is barely considered. The voices of the communities that are displaced by drilling for oil that I utilize to get me to these locations are never heard. And the children that are exploited to retrieve metals for the mobile phone that I use to take images of these places are never considered.”
Everyone has a role to play
As a curious mind, Anna knows firsthand, that asking questions about the “how” and “why” rarely leads to clear-cut answers. Instead, she finds herself asking more questions, and doing what she can within that scope. She shops secondhand to reduce the demand for fast fashion, but also acknowledges that the movement in itself can lead to gentrification, increased prices, and reliance on the ever-changing trend cycle to replenish the clothing racks at charity shops. She realizes that people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds rely on the accessibility of charity shops, and the accessibility of fast fashion items. She also understands that, although adopting a vegan lifestyle, this lifestyle choice isn’t accessible for everyone due to high costs.
Instead of allowing the intricacies of sustainability to make her apathetic toward her efforts, Anna understands the importance of taking one step at a time, and encourages others to do the same. “Each individual step I take towards aligning my lifestyle towards the Sustainable Development Goals is a step towards living in a world where I do not have to consider whether slave labor was involved in the coloring of the thread I use to embroider pillows or hats in my spare time. It’s a step towards not having to investigate whether the spices I use when baking are picked in a safe and supportive environment. It’s a step towards ensuring that any of my existing or future hobbies do not harm individuals, cultures, or the environment to provide me with entertainment.”
Even still, while Anna uses her understanding of the nuances of living a sustainable lifestyle to advocate for all to do the same, she knows that without a cross-sector effort to make change happen, it may never be possible. “My individual steps are inconsequential if there is no legislation, frameworks, accountability or innovation implemented to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by businesses, industries, cities and countries.”
Empowering Change: The Camp 2030 Experience
For Anna, Camp 2030 was a perfect blend of her experiences, passions, and worldview. Camp not only resonated with her deep-seated curiosity about the natural world and humanity's place within it but also mirrored her commitment to fostering environmental consciousness and social justice. Looking back on her time at Camp, Anna reflected, "The enthusiasm and inclusiveness exhibited by the Camp Counselors in 2023 left a profound impact on me, and I admired their unwavering dedication to assisting others and fostering participation." For Anna, this is the essence of what made Camp 2030 so transformative for her—a shared ethos of empathy, inclusivity, and the collective pursuit of sustainable solutions.
Her evolution from a curious observer of nature to a passionate advocate for sustainable practices has been marked by a series of transformative experiences, each contributing layers of complexity to her understanding of what it means to enact real change. As she anticipates her upcoming role as a counselor at Camp 2030 in September 2024, the threads of her journey—intertwining cultural empathy, inclusivity, and the conviction that every individual has a role to play in sustainability—begin to weave a compelling narrative for the future leaders she will mentor.
Her time in Koh Preah taught her the critical importance of integrating local cultural insights into sustainable practices, a lesson that found new expression in Camp's diverse, global setting. Anna’s ability to connect her experiences at the Engineers Without Borders Summit with the objectives of Camp 2030 underscores Camp’s role as a convergence point for her evolving understanding of sustainability. And just like in Koh Preah, “it is important to create opportunities to share our backgrounds and cultures so that instead of highlighting the differences between us, we are able to unite over shared experiences.” At Camp, says Anna, this ethos remained a common theme. “At Culture Night, explaining why you went to the effort of importing the food that you are sharing, or the significance of the dances you are teaching to a receptive community that are ready to engage creates a sense of pride where it might have felt taboo a day earlier. Entering the dining hall for breakfast after Cultural Night, there was a sense that we were a united community that was strengthened by our diverse outlooks, instead of individuals with different views that you would only share if asked.”
Camp 2030 served as an arena for Anna to further explore the nuances of human-centered design and innovation, principles she had come to recognize as fundamental to addressing environmental challenges. Through her participation, Anna not only contributed her insights but also absorbed new perspectives, enriching her worldview. This reciprocal learning environment epitomizes the dynamic nature of Camp 2030, where every participant, regardless of their role, is both a teacher and a learner.
As Anna prepares to step into her role as a Counselor in September 2024, she carries with her the lessons learned from her previous experiences and the inspiration drawn from her time as a participant at Camp. She sees this new role not just as an opportunity to mentor but as a continuation of her journey in environmental advocacy—a chance to inspire and be inspired by a new generation of changemakers. "The thing I loved most about Camp 2030, and won’t stop talking everyone’s ear off about, is the sense of community that I felt at Camp," Anna says, reflecting on the profound sense of belonging and mutual support that defined her Camp experience.
Anna is keenly aware of the responsibility that comes with shaping young minds and spirits passionate about making a difference. She plans to share her journey, not as a blueprint for action, but as a testament to the power of curiosity, empathy, and resilience in navigating the complexities of sustainability. By drawing on her own experiences of overcoming barriers and embracing inclusivity, Anna aims to cultivate a space where Camp participants feel empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and skills to the collective pursuit of sustainability goals. As Camp 2030 approaches, using her experiences, Anna feels armed with the knowledge that empathy and inclusiveness are critical to fostering meaningful change, and understands that to inspire the next generation of Changemakers, she must encourage them to embrace the diversity of perspectives and solutions that characterize effective environmental advocacy.
Anna's anticipation of her counselorship at Camp 2030 is marked by her belief and demonstration in the importance of small, individual actions as stepping stones towards larger systemic changes. She recognizes that while the journey towards achieving sustainability is fraught with challenges, it is the cumulative impact of individual efforts, informed by a deep understanding of and respect for cultural contexts, that can drive significant progress.
Through Camp 2030 and beyond, Anna continues to view her own contributions through a lens of global citizenship, where every action, conversation, and collaboration contributes to a more sustainable and equitable world, and encourages others to do the same.
