Real action on reversing the decline, degradation and desecration of natural and wild places means doing real work in real places with real people for real outcomes. In an age increasingly dominated by disclosures, more disclosures, nature risk assessments and even more disclosures, that real work needs our help. HalfCut exists to do that.

HalfCut’s purpose is to inspire people to meet us halfway in protecting and restoring forests and biodiversity - by walking alongside Traditional Owners, who are best placed to lead this vital work. I’m proud to be a Board member for this terrific entity as they seek to make a real difference, and this year, to support their mission and to be part of the solution, I’m cutting off half of my beard on August 31.

Why cutting off half of my beard? Jimmy Stanton-Cooke, HalfCut’s founder describes the origins of HalfCut and half cutting below;

“Dismantling isn’t just about breaking something down. It’s about making space for something new. A new way of thinking, a new way of being, a new way forward. Sometimes, we choose to dismantle. Other times, it’s forced upon us. Either way, it’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. And it can be the best thing that ever happens to us.

For me, it all started with a beard.

When I learned from a National Geographic article in 2017 that half the world’s forests were gone, I couldn’t avoid the fact that we were in a climate catastrophe spiral and heading toward a minimum of 1.5 degrees of warming. And deep down, I knew governments and corporations didn’t care. That realisation hit hard. Furious, helpless, and desperate for change, I decided to make a peaceful yet disruptive protest—to start conversations about conservation. And what better way to do that than to cut my beard in half? Suddenly, instead of handing out flyers and petitions, people were coming directly to me to ask why. I was angry at the state of the world, but I was also curious—because people were actually listening.”

So I’m looking to raise $15,000 between today and August 31, and I need your help. All proceeds from this event go into the Finding Nature Go HalfCut 2025 campaign.

On the day you’ll hear from Jimmy, more about HalfCut’s origins, the work they are doing in the Daintree Rainforest, their aspirations to fund and support First Nations-led solutions to heal Country and Culture right around Australia, how you can help with this campaign and what else is coming up.

Plus, HalfCut partners Ben & Jerry’s are throwing in the chance to win a year’s worth of ice cream for home.

So, get your ticket, come along and learn about how you can help fun and support First Nations-led solutions to heal Country and Culture.