What is Anthropy?
Imagine the scene; a botanical utopia sprung from the most barren of landscapes. In amongst the palm trees, olive groves and giant ferns roam curious creatures known as Anthropists, a sub group of Homo Sapiens who have committed to building a positive, sustainable, equitable, and successful future for the land mass known as Britain. Authentic optimists and advocates who use their influence and leadership positions for good. In the outside world, they are business leaders, creatives, policy makers, and they are here – not just to talk – but to actually drive positive change. This is Anthropy.
Anthropy is the UK’s largest gathering of future makers, bringing together responsible leaders and organisations to look at how to make the UK a better place – for everyone.
600+ speakers and over 200 sessions will take over the entire Eden Project site for a three day event built on the idea that the future is a shared responsibility, with the 2025 theme of Rebooting Britain. Having been dubbed the equivalent of Davos for the UK, Anthropy isn’t just about big ideas, it’s about what happens next. About conversations that spill out of the room to influence policy, partnerships and future-shaping practices.
Why Leap is attending (and keep coming back)
Leap, and Matt in particular have been involved in Anthropy right from the start, from post lockdown conversations with founder John O’Brien, to taking the role as Cornwall co-chair and now sitting on the Southwest alliance. Matt saw the potential of a gathering like Anthropy to convene the people that have the power to make the change that is needed for people and planet happen (in a place where he played as a child no less!).
The role of the regional alliances is to help shape the conversations happening at Anthropy to reflect the challenges of the UK as a whole. For the southwest that involves putting forward conversations around the housing crisis, and investing in clean energy for long-term place-based regeneration. Matt has also been deeply invested in ensuring representation of emerging young leaders as part of the programme.
Several of the Leap crew will be in attendance this year as part of our belief that creativity is a necessary ingredient in solving societal challenges. We’re all looking forward to learning, reconnecting with lots of our lovely clients, and sparking new collaborations and connections.
The conversations we’re leading
Matt will be chairing two panels during the event as well as supporting broader discussions throughout:
- Creativity & Causes (March 26, 11:30–12.30 AM) – How creativity can drive solutions for real-world challenges, bringing together business, arts, and nonprofits.
- Small, Beautiful, and Powerful (March 27, 9:30–10:30 AM) – How mid-sized businesses are leading the way on purpose-driven impact.
Find the full agenda here.
Why impact-driven businesses need to be part of these conversations
It’s easy to be cynical and think that (as our friend John Brown would say) events like this is just a chance to take your Patagonia gilet for an outing, chat and eat some chickpea salad, but if we leave purposeful action on society and the environment to governments and individuals, we’ll be waiting too long. Businesses need to step up and lead, alongside other sectors. We need more courage, more cross-sector collaboration, and more action. That’s why gatherings like Anthropy are social change dynamite.
And you know what, big ideas need great storytelling. Without it, they stay in the room. That’s what we mean by ‘impact communication’ (give us a shout if you need some help with that). That’s what we do.
Follow along and get involved
If you’re curious about what goes on but can’t make it this year, we will be sharing our insights, learnings and observations before, during and after the event. Follow along on LinkedIn and Instagram for soundbites, reflections and ambience.
If you’re attending, come and find us or reach out – we’d love to connect.
It’s true – the world doesn’t change through panels and networking. It changes when people take what they’ve learned and put it into action. Anthropy is one of the places where those actions begin.