The network is a curated group of people whose focus is on developing ways of practically including the more-than-human in decision-making processes. To note, this is not about including AI in decision-making, though some of the methodologies may use AI as part of the approach. Our aim is to create a space where we can support each other, share learnings and challenges, and act as critical friends to each other’s work. It may result in the development of future projects.
We want to be intentional about our aim being to support work that is testing by doing. So for instance, in our shared DemocracyNext x University of Sydney project, this means exploring ways in which the more-than-human can be included in a citizens’ assembly and other deliberative processes, and how this can be designed into the process from the start, with both partners bringing our respective expertise to the table to test this out.
We’ll meet for an initial 18 months, at which point we will then decide, together, how or whether to continue gathering, and if so, in what form.
There are already a number of amazing groups, networks and gatherings convened around the world to explore how human systems can better respect and include the more than human, and the rights of nature. Our remit is not to replace or duplicate any of these - we have many friends and valued colleagues who are part of these existing networks, and we recognise that some of you are also in those networks already.
Rather than adding another - potentially unwanted - network to that landscape, we wanted to understand what might be useful or missing, before deciding how to gather. Our research told us that what would be most useful is to focus specifically on the intersection of MTHI and democracy, and how these two fields could support each other’s practice.
We shared a survey with over 100 contacts to ask what groups people are part of, and what kind of community might be useful. The feedback was clear on a number of points.
— People wanted a smaller, invite-only group rather than an open network - something intimate enough to build trust and go deep, with a deliberately mixed range of disciplines, modalities, and geographies.
— There was also a strong sense that the community should not just be around sharing, but around building and working together on projects,
methods, and advocacy. The University of Sydney and DemNext teams are well connected into our respective fields of MTHI and deliberative democracy - as part of our work together, we’ll look to share updates and learnings, at agreed moments, beyond this MTHI Network.
— Online convenings. The group will gather every two months from autumn 2026.
— In-person convenings. We hope to have at least one opportunity to gather in person, ideally alongside one of the deliberative processes we’re supporting, or one of the network’s projects - or as an extension to an existing conference or gathering.
— Quarterly newsletter. The coordination team will produce a quarterly newsletter for the wider network, sharing community members' work and the top news in the field.
This work is funded by the V.K. Rasmussen Foundation. As part of the project, we have a budget to support an in-person convening. We’ll discuss with members of the MTHI Network how to use this budget to best effect.
1. Alys Fowler, PhD Researcher, Keele University (Wales)
2. Anna Kovasna, Global Ecovillage Network, Kincentric Leadership (France)
3. Brontie Ansell, Director, Lawyers for Nature (UK)
4. Calvin Po, Dark Matter Labs (UK)
5. Dr. Cebuan Bliss, Independent/Terra Canis Dog Sanctuary at Tamera Peace Research Centre (Portugal)
6. Dr. Chris Raymond, Professor, University of Helsinki
7. Christiane Bosman, Co-director, Embassy of the North Sea and the Confluence of Water Bodies (Netherlands)
8. Claudia Fernandez De Cordoba, Living Imaginaries (UK)
9. David Pellow, Professor, Environmental Studies Program, UC Santa Barbara (US)
10. Elahe Rajabiani, EU Policy Lab, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (Belgium)
11. Elspeth Jones, Nature Guardian, Advisor, Board Member and Coach, WildCounsel (Wales)
12. Elmo Vermijs, Artist, Studio Elmo Vermijs (Netherlands)
13. Erin O’Donnell, University of Melbourne Law School (Australia)
14. Eva Rovers, Director, Bureau Burgerberaad (Netherlands)
15. Graham Smith, Emeritus Professor, University of Westminster / Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA) (UK)
16. Jade de Cock, Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
17. Jane Lawton, Director of Strategic Impact, Earth Species Project (Canada)
18. Kyle Redman, Executive Director, The New Democracy Foundation (Australia)
19. Kyle Whyte, University of Michigan (US)
20. Dr. Lucy Parry, University of Edinburgh (Scotland)
21. Maili Raven Adams, Nuffield Council on Bioethics (UK)
22. Maria Lucia Cruz Correia, Natural Contract Lab (Belgium)
23. Matt Pritchard, Research Fellow, University of Reading (UK)
24. Melanie Challenger, Animals in the Room (UK)
25. Michelle Maloney, National Convenor, Australian Earth Laws Alliance (Australia)
26. Method Gundidza, EarthLore Foundation NPC (South Africa)
27. Prof. Nicole Curato, University of Birmingham (UK)
28. Phil Tovey, Association of Strategic Risk Analysis (UK)
29. Dr. Rajesh Kasturirangan, Socratus (US)
30. Scott Lappan-Newton, Gauge Consulting (Australia)
31. Shrishtee Bajpai, Global Tapestry of Alternatives (India)
32. Simon Mitambo, Society for Alternative Learning and Transformation (SALT) (Kenya)
33. Stanislav Roudavski, University of Melbourne & Deep Design Lab (Australia)
