Overview
The Business of Biodiversity (BoB) program helps businesses integrate biodiversity conservation into their core strategies.
Each year, we onboard new businesses into the program, focusing on practical and impactful ways to work with nature. The program consists of two components - an initial six sessions held over six months, aiming to help businesses start and develop one tangible nature project. After the completion of these sessions, participants have the option to join our alumni community.
An annual fee for the alumni gives ongoing support and resources to deepen
their nature integration. BoB alumni (aka BoBbies), receive encouragement and support from Odonata to advance their nature-based ideas. They become part of a supportive community that meets quarterly to share progress, challenges, and celebrate successes.
Why BoB is different.
The Business of Biodiversity program integrates ecological stewardship with sustainable economic development. Unlike traditional programs that separate conservation and economic growth, BoB combines these goals. Our approach ensures businesses thrive while positively contributing to nature.
We use cutting-edge scientific research, innovative financing mechanisms, and collaboration with local communities and stakeholders. This helps businesses create projects that deliver measurable benefits to nature whilst also generating economic value. Our dual-impact strategy enhances ecosystem resilience and fosters nature-conscious businesses ready to adapt to climate change.
Odonata uses ‘The 7Cs’ in all their projects - an investment and organisational framework that encompasses commercial and impact outcomes. The framework ensures business still achieve maximum Cashflow and Capital, but these are managed amongst interrelated outcomes for Creatures, Climate, environmental Corridors, the Community and Indigenous Culture.
Who is this program for?
BoB is designed for businesses of all sizes, from sole traders to large corporations. The approach to incorporating nature projects is consistent, though the scale and impact will vary. Our pilot program showed that having a mix of small and large businesses in the cohort fosters valuable learning and connections.
This program is ideal for managers, owners, and directors, especially those who are key decision-makers. Direct participation by decision-makers speeds up the process by eliminating the need to pitch ideas to higher management.
Course components
BoB is fundamentally about the journey of integrating nature into business practices. Our main goal is to help you adopt a practical, nature-based project into your business. While we provide an overview of relevant legislation and the importance of measuring your business impact on nature, the program is largely outcome-focused.
The program has two components.
1. Biodiversity Bootcamp
The program begins with six sessions held over six months. These sessions will provide you with the tools to identify what your values are as a business, explore economic opportunities, and develop a blueprint for a tangible nature project. In session five, you’ll pitch your idea to a panel of biodiversity leaders and your cohort for feedback. Think of it like Shark Tank, but with a focus on nature.
You have three main options for developing your nature project:
- Join an existing project: contribute your expertise and skills to one of Odonata’s projects.
- Create your own project: control and determine all aspects of a project that suits your team and business.
- Collaborate on a collective project: join forces with other businesses on a project of common interest.
This framework supports you in selecting the optimal method to embed nature into your business strategy.
2. Alumni membership
After the initial sessions, you can join our Alumni membership.
This optional component helps you further develop your project,
maintain momentum, and connect with other business leaders.
It offers a supportive community and year-round access to
Odonata and Marnie.
What's included:
- Ongoing support with your nature project, with access to Sam, the Odonata team, and Marnie.
- Exclusive invitations to BOB sessions and events.
- Opportunities to demonstrate leadership in pioneering biodiversity solutions.
- Accountability to keep pursuing your idea.
- Helping Odonata inspire more businesses to build momentum for nature-focused initiatives.
- Opening doors for government grants and philanthropic donations through showing a demand and interest from the business sector.
- A logo to demonstrate your commitment and community membership.
- A WhatsApp community to ask questions and share resources.
- Quarterly catch-ups, including two in-person meetings with the current BOB cohort and two online sessions.
BoB is designed to guide you in making meaningful changes that integrate
nature into your business, fostering both environmental and economic benefits.
Course schedule
The program begins with six sessions held over six months, commencing in February of 2025
and finishing in June 2025. The alumni membership begins in November of 2024, with the
graduates of the pilot program.
Sessions consist of four in-person half-days held in Melbourne, one at Mt Rothwell (an hour
from Melbourne) and one online session.
Session 1
The starting line
Tuesday 4 February 2025
In-person, The Commons, Melbourne
Assess your organisation's current stance on nature conservation and understand the business benefits of enhancing biodiversity. Explore existing nature frameworks and understand why we need to start measuring our impact on nature with Global CEO of Edge Impact, Alison Rowe. Identify your business values, select the right biodiversity project, and integrate your environmental impact into your brand story, guided by inspirational entrepreneurs.
Session 2
Innovative approaches and case studies
Tuesday 4 March 2025
In-person, Mt Rothwell
Join us at Mount Rothwell Biodiversity Centre to learn from Odonata's impactful work, explore innovative nature strategies, and gain insights from Nigel Sharp on the importance of business collaboration with nature. This session will be followed by dinner and a night spotlight tour, where you may encounter an bandicoots, rock-wallabies, bettongs or maybe even a quoll. This is a great time to share experiences, explore collaborations, and discuss innovative ways to integrate nature into your business practices. Alumni are welcome to participate.
Session 3
Making it happen
Tuesday 1 April 2025
In-person, The Commons, Melbourne
A hands-on session focused on planning and executing your nature objectives, including identifying potential partners, building lasting relationships, and budgeting. Explore three main options: joining an existing project, creating your own, or collaborating on a collective initiative with other businesses. Hear from Ben Wilson of CJ Arms and CFO and Partnerships Director of Odonata, Steph Swann.
Session 4
Refining your idea
Tuesday 29 April 2025
Online session
This session focuses on fine-tuning your biodiversity strategy and preparing a compelling pitch. Engage in a workshop designed to help you refine your project’s goals, identify key value propositions, and articulate your impact clearly. Learn from experts how to effectively communicate the business and environmental benefits of your initiatives, ensuring your pitch resonates with stakeholders and potential partners. This session includes interactive feedback rounds and peer review to sharpen your presentation skills ahead of the pitch event.
Session 5
Pitch event
Tuesday 27 May 2025
In-person, location to be confirmed
The pitch event will provide an exciting opportunity to present your project to a panel of experts through a concise three-minute pre-recorded pitch. This format allows you to showcase your innovative ideas in a focused and impactful manner. Following the pitch session, attendees will have the chance to network and engage in discussions over dinner and drinks, fostering connections and collaborations. Alumni of the program are also invited to attend, offering valuable insights and experience.
Session 6
Where to from here?
Tuesday 24 June 2025
In-person, The Commons, Melbourne
Our last session of Biodiversity Bootcamp is all about action - transforming your biodiversity project from concept to reality. Dive into practical guidance on scaling your impact, securing necessary resources and how you could partner with Odonata. You'll learn strategies for measuring success, building ongoing partnerships, and integrating biodiversity into your business operations long-term. This session also introduces you to the alumni program, offering continued support, networking opportunities, and access to a community of like-minded businesses committed to biodiversity action. Gain insights into how to navigate challenges and make your project a lasting success.
BoB empowers you to create a legacy of sustainability
and innovation - it's your chance to be a trailblazer in
natures stewardship.
- Tim Flannery
Program outcomes
By the end of this program, you will:
- Have one tangible nature project mapped out to take back to your team.
- Gain the confidence and connections to make it a reality.
- Get set up with environmental partners and projects that match your goals.
- Contribute to the real-world impact on threatened species.
- Reposition your brand to align with key environmental causes.
- At the end of the course, choose to join our alumni program and network of business change-makers.
Meet your instructors
The course is delivered by the CEO of Odonata Foundation, Sam Marwood and Certified B Corp, Marnie Hawson.
Sam Marwood
Sam’s passion is to connect people to the land and the environment. He is the CEO at Odonata, a biodiversity-focused business incubator. He has also co-founded and run two social enterprises that support biodiversity and good land management, providing people with an opportunity to make a difference in a simple and tangible way.
Odonata Foundation
Odonata’s vision is that by 2050, Australia's once threatened species are thriving outside of sanctuaries in healthy, productive landscapes. They collaborate with entrepreneurs and business leaders to demonstrate how their skills, services and products can be used to help save threatened species. Their knowledge, their network, their experiences: by joining the program, you are joining a network of change-makers.
Marnie Hawson
Marnie Hawson, a Certified B Corp, is in business to bring back nature. While she is a photographer, her impact extends far beyond the camera. Photography is her medium for creating change, and she is dedicated to helping others run impactful businesses. With nearly a decade as an environmental scientist and an Honours degree in Zoology (fun fact - her topic was sexually transmitted diseases in birds), Marnie combines her diverse expertise to make a meaningful difference.
These two organisations met through Marnie’s personal quest to find land suitable for a threatened species sanctuary, and then came together through a mutual love of businesses creating impact. The outcome - Business of Biodiversity!
Student projects
Bringing impact into focus for their businesses.
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'Generation Timber' Regenerating our native hardwood timber supply for future generations
This industry-driven project aims to replace and exceed all hardwood trees harvested in Australia for building purposes with an equal amount of regenerative hardwood timber farming, ensuring a sustainable supply for future generations. Originating within the building industry, the initiative includes an educational component for designers and builders on reducing timber use and waste, and offers a certification program to verify that clients have replaced all timber used in their projects.
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Develop land into a housing and wildlife sanctuary
The Sociable Weaver
This project idea involves developing land into a housing estate and wildlife sanctuary, focusing on land rejuvenation to support specific endangered species. The estate will provide residents with a purpose to care for and save our planet, offering opportunities for education and community building, with each home being designed, built, and operated off-grid for power and water.
Some previous students
previous speakers
Nigel Sharp
Biodiversity impact investor, conservationist, environmental business innovator, and founder of Odonata.
Ben Wilson
Together, Odonata and CJ Arms have supported tangible investment in alignment of their work and values.
Simon Smallchua
The Business Pickle and Harvey, a strategic marketing team that helps conscious businesses grow.
Cost
$2,500 + GST for the program
$1,500 + GST annually for the alumni membership
Members also receive a 10% discount on NatureBoss experiences.
The course fees will be allocated towards running the course, with any remaining funds being contributed to Odonata’s projects.
Odonata is a member of 1% For the Planet, and course fees will contribute to your 1% For the Planet commitment.
FAQs
The sessions are led by Sam Marwood, CEO of Odonata Foundation, and Marnie Hawson, a Certified B Corp. Most sessions will also have guest speakers.
The course aims to help participants develop and implement one practical nature project within their business.
Successful completion means having a well-defined nature project ready for implementation and being connected with environmental partners and resources.
The course focuses on empowering decision-makers. However, the skills and knowledge gained will still be valuable for influencing future decisions and projects within your company.
Yes, the course is designed for businesses of all sizes, including sole traders and micro businesses.
Yes, the course is suitable for individuals in large corporations who want to drive nature-focused initiatives within their organisation.
The course is primarily designed for businesses, but if you are an individual that wants to implement a nature project in your personal life, you can join the course.
Pitching is part of the program, but it is pre-recorded and played on a screen to the panel. This means you can record your pitch on your own time, giving you the opportunity to perfect it. The experience is designed to be supportive, helping you gain confidence and refine your project.
No, the sessions are conducted live to facilitate interaction and personalised guidance.
While the course includes some online sessions, attending the in-person sessions in Melbourne is essential. These live sessions foster connection and community, which are key components of the program’s success.
No refunds, but give us a call if you’re desperate.
We have made a flat fee for the course, in order to make the course pricing accessible to all size businesses. This may change in future programs.
Yes, we offer flexible payment plans to accommodate different financial situations.
Successful completion means having a well-defined nature project ready for implementation and being connected with environmental partners and resources.