‘Passion over power’: Top 5 takeaways from the NEXUS Australia Summit

More than 200 members of the next gen philanthropic community, impact investors and young social innovators from across Australia and the world came together in Melbourne this week for the 2025 NEXUS Australia Summit under the banner Brave Voices, Bold Ideas. Saska Coote, Philanthropy Australia’s Marketing Lead, shares her top 5 takeaways from the inspiring event.

This week I had the privilege of attending the 2025 NEXUS Australia Summit for the first time. I was excited to learn more about topics of interest including impact investing, climate change and the future of tech. While I certainly gained insights into philanthropy and social impact, what I didn’t anticipate were the profound life lessons that would leave a lasting mark on me. The summit shifted my perspective in several ways, and here are my top five takeaways.

1. Passion over power
One of the most impactful moments came during Angus Crowther’s opening address, where we were encouraged to ask the people we meet not “What do you do?” but “What are you passionate about?” This simple shift in conversation was eye-opening for me. Talking about passions instead of professional titles fosters deeper connections and reveals more of a person’s essence. When someone shares their passion, it lights them up and infuses the conversation with vibrant energy, making it flow more naturally and authentically.

This approach not only created meaningful connections but also encouraged vulnerability, bold ideas and honest exchanges. It was a powerful reminder that relationships are far more enriching when we connect on a deeper level, rather than staying on the surface of who we are on paper.

2. Everything is interconnected
During Anthea Roberts’ session on Artificial Intelligence with Purpose, she encouraged us to move beyond black-and-white thinking and embrace “full-spectrum thinking” – a multi-faceted approach to viewing problems. Looking at issues from multiple lenses, was a theme that emerged consistently throughout the summit. Whether discussing climate change, impact investing, First Nations philanthropy, or the power of music, it became clear that everything is interconnected. As I sat through different sessions, one topic often led to another, showing me how deeply linked our struggles are and how collective action is necessary for solutions.

No matter the challenge – be it environmental, social or economic – working together and remaining open to collaboration was continually emphasised as the key to overcoming these obstacles. It reminded me that our most pressing issues cannot be tackled in isolation and the most effective solutions are often born from cross-sector collaboration.

3. Abundance vs scarcity
A key idea that emerged during the summit was shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance. During Damon Gameau’s keynote, he said that an intense scarcity mindset has pervaded society since humans began to cultivate crops rather than foraging for food. We’ve been conditioned to believe that resources are limited, yet we are surrounded by innovative solutions and the abundant intelligence of nature itself which challenges this mindset.

A session featuring Sam Elsom’s work on using seaweed to reduce livestock methane emissions was a perfect example. His question – “If there are so many solutions, why isn’t there more progress?” – stuck with me. The reality is that we need more entrepreneurs, innovators and change-makers to champion these solutions and make them scalable. There is a wealth of opportunity waiting to be unlocked and shifting our mindset from scarcity to abundance is crucial for solving global challenges.

4. Together, small actions can transform the world
One of the most inspiring moments at the summit came from Ronni Kahn AO, who shared a powerful metaphor about putting out a fire with only a teaspoon of water. She explained that when faced with a crisis, say a fire, we have three choices: 1) run away, 2)  write an angry letter, or 3) contribute what we can, even if it’s just putting a teaspoon of water on the fire. Ronni reminded us that even small actions, when done collectively, can help change the world.

During a discussion on Treaty and Philanthropy, an audience member asked: “What can I do to help?” Rueben Berg answered that starting with a simple conversation is the best way forward. We need to talk more about the issues that matter, rather than avoiding them. Our voices are powerful and we must share them with the world.

5. There is still hope
We are living in challenging times, with political, environmental and social tensions at an all-time high. Almost every presenter acknowledged this. It’s easy to become polarised or even retreat from society altogether, especially when faced with the corruption and inaction surrounding issues such as climate change. Yet, there is still hope.

The halls of the NEXUS Australia Summit were charged with powerful energy – a testament to the idea that when we connect, inspire and activate new pathways, we can achieve great things. While things may get worse before they get better, my time at the summit provided me with a renewed sense of hope in humanity.

NEXUS is a global community of 6,000+ young people (aged 20-45) from more than 70 countries working to unite a new generation of philanthropists to increase and improve philanthropy and social change. Philanthropy Australia is the proud Host Partner of NEXUS Australia’s 2025 Summit.