Marion Birnstill

System Change Facilitator and Coach @School of System Change

Just before COVID-19 swept the globe in early 2020, I had the opportunity to join Basecamp: the School of System Change’s core six-month learning journey to help leaders navigate complex challenges. Basecamp deeply transformed the way I approach my work, my role and the agency I have within the wider health system. I joined the programme feeling overwhelmed by the challenges at hand but I suddenly experienced an ‘unlocking’ — allowing me to pursue deeper transformation as part of my role. And while I felt I benefited greatly from the Basecamp program, I knew deep down that the depth of the teachings could accelerate change across many organisations and countries; spreading like a positive wave transforming ourselves and the systems we live in. This is why I choose to partner with the School to see how we might irrigate our health ecosystems with system change practitioners. What we mean by irrigation is the spreading of system change capabilities/system leadership across geographies, ecosystems and thematic areas to increase our collective transformation capacity.