In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Gina Rembe about testing what works, pragmatic systems and process design, and creating structural change that holds.

Gina is Head of Human & Organisational Development at ProjectTogether in Berlin, leading complex, cross-sector transformation initiatives. Her career spans Associate Director of Human-Centered Design at PwC New Zealand, systems-intervention leadership at Lifehack, and deep involvement with Enspiral’s global network. She has led youth mental health innovation, circular futures initiatives, large-scale stakeholder processes, and experience design across government, construction, and social impact sectors.

Drawing on more than a decade of systems work across Europe, Australia, and Aotearoa New Zealand, Gina reflects on what actually creates durable impact: testing and iterating, designing strong containers, shaping pragmatic next steps, and building relationships that outlast projects.

This is a conversation about structural ambition grounded in practice, community resilience in uncertain times, and why scrappy prototypes can become lasting systems.

This episode explores:

• Process design as craft: shaping invitations, containers, and stakeholder journeys 
• Pragmatism in complex systems: test, iterate, build on what resonates
• Prototypes, stories, and output as communication tools
• Youth wellbeing innovation and open-source resources that continue to ripple years later
• Scrappy prototypes and communication to provide vision, structural ambition, and learning through “loose” systems
• Enspiral’s networked model and long-term community development
• Experience design and adding delight to serious work
• Impossible projects, limited budgets, and making them real
• Geopolitics, civic responsibility, and strengthening local community ties
• Relationships first: lessons from New Zealand about connection before agenda

Guest links

• Gina Rembe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-rembe-3a607014/
• Enspiral: https://www.enspiral.com/
• The youth wellbeing innovation initiative – Lifehack: https://lifehackhq.co
• Dan Burgess and Good for Nothing: https://goodfornothing.co
• Maggie Doyne @ the DO Lectures: https://thedolectures.com/speakers/maggie-doyne/

Chapters

03:08 Choosing mission-driven challenges and structural change
07:42 Testing, building prototypes and using stories as communication tools
11:38 DO Lectures Wales and life-changing moments
14:26 Family lineage, craft, and mediation
16:47 Slowing down and ‘relationships-first’ in New Zealand
24:19 Building community intentionally in Berlin
27:23 Long-term networked impact with Enspiral and Lifehack (youth mental health), and open-source innovation
33:30 Scrappy systems, governance tensions, and learning by doing
40:24 Experience design, adding delight to retreats and spaces of care
48:28 Impossible projects and doing more with less
51:14 Digital lightness vs real-world weight
52:30 Neighbours, local resilience, and small acts of community

Explore further

Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
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Credits

Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Berlin, 1 February, 2026
Produced at the Violet Town and Peregian Beach offices, 1 February - 3 March, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au