Carbon targets are becoming standard practice, but biodiversity remains murky - no clear steps, no roadmaps, just growing pressure to act.
Business of Biodiversity gives you that roadmap.
A practical framework with clear, achievable steps - designed for businesses in the built environment.
BUSINESS OF BIODIVERSITY
BUSINESS OF BIODIVERSITY
What if construction meant restoration, where every development increased local wildlife populations, where your projects were celebrated for the habitats they created, and where regenerating nature became your competitive edge?
Business of Biodiversity (BoB) is a tiered framework to help businesses in the built environment take real, nature-positive action - one step at a time.
You’ll always know exactly what to do next - whether you have two hours or two years.
The best part? You’re not doing it alone.
Join the waitlist.
Beyond carbon neutral - build nature positive.
Beyond carbon neutral - build nature positive.
Start small. Stay real. Build momentum.
Here’s how it works:
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A simple, public first step that creates intention, visibility, and momentum.
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BoB’s three-tier framework makes nature-positive action doable - wherever you’re starting from.
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Pick from a curated list of real-world actions tailored to the built environment.
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Understand what’s coming - and get your business in good stead before the rules land.
Tim Flannery
“BoB empowers you to create a legacy of sustainability and innovation - it's your chance to be a trailblazer in natures stewardship.”
Led by Marnie Hawson, curator of the BoB framework
Marnie Hawson, a Certified B Corp, is in business to bring back nature. With a decade as an environmental scientist and an Honours degree in Zoology (fun fact - the topic was sexually transmitted diseases in birds), Marnie now works at the intersection of architectural photography, education, and advocacy - helping businesses reconnect with nature through the way they design and build.
BoB is supported by the Odonata Foundation – whose mission is to save Australia’s threatened species. When you’re ready to fund real biodiversity projects, they’re your go-to. And in the meantime, they’re there for advice and connecting you with the right people.
Supported by the Odonata Foundation
Supported by the Odonata Foundation
You don’t have to have it all figured out to start.
BoB brings together architects, builders, designers, and others in the built environment who care about nature - and want to do more.
You’ll be part of a growing movement, with practical tools and shared support to help you take the next step – whatever stage you’re at.
The shift has already begun. Add your name to it.
Here’s what’s included.
A half-day introductory workshop - assess your business, envision your future, and make your first commitment to biodiversity.
Then join BoB+, which includes:
A simple, tiered framework to guide your journey.
A curated catalogue of practical actions to choose from at your own pace, with resources and real-world examples to help you.
A community platform for support, connection, and sharing ideas.
Quarterly in-person events for deeper learning, conversation, and real-world connection.
Advocacy and collective action opportunities to help shift industry practices.
Collaboration pods for greater impact, motivation, and accountability.
Support and guidance from the Odonata Foundation.
You can't offset extinction.
You can't offset extinction.
A look into each tier.
The tiered framework is the foundation of BoB - a curated list of practical actions grouped into three tiers. It starts with easy, low-cost steps and builds toward deeper, more impactful commitments. You choose what’s relevant, and move at a pace that works for your business.
The framework is simple to follow. There are three tiers - like levels in a game:
Tier 1 is the easiest - start here with simple actions that create visible change.
Tier 2 is a bit harder - for businesses ready to make nature part of how they operate.
Tier 3 is for businesses ready to lead- and get ahead of incoming regulations.
Each tier has three categories - these are the main focus areas for taking action. Inside each category are a bunch of actions to choose from:
• You choose the ones that work for your business.
• You don’t have to do them all.
You start at Tier 1 and move up at your own pace, growing your impact as you go. Look inside each tier below.
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Start simple. Take the first step. Engage employees and clients.
This tier is all about making it easy to start. Actions here are low-cost and low-complexity. There are three categories to guide you:
Office & operations - improve your physical spaces with simple, visible changes like habitat plantings or wildlife-friendly lighting.
Design & planning - embed biodiversity into your projects with features like green roofs, man-made habitat, and wildlife-friendly habitat.
Community + collective action - join forces with others - through advocacy, collaboration, or sharing what you’re learning along the way.
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Embed biodiversity into the way your business works.
This tier is for businesses ready to go deeper. Actions here may take more time, budget, or internal buy-in - helping you weave nature-positive thinking into how you operate.
Three categories support this shift:
Investment & impact – support real nature projects by giving time, skills, land, or funding.
Supply chain & procurement - start by reviewing your current supply chain. Then choose suppliers and products that are better for nature.
Carbon & climate alignment - choose climate actions that also support nature - like using nature-based carbon credits.
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Lead the way - and invest in nature’s future.
This tier is for businesses ready to lead with long-term, meaningful change. The actions take more commitment - but the impact goes deeper.Three categories guide your leadership:
Target setting & strategy - set clear biodiversity goals and create plans to get there.
Measurement & reporting - start tracking your impact: on land, in your operations, and your supply chain.
Leadership & governance - make nature part of how you lead. Bring biodiversity into your policies, planning, and decisions.
This kind of leadership puts your business ahead of the curve, as frameworks like Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) roll out.
Ready to start your nature-positive journey?
Most businesses see their first wins within 30 days of starting Tier 1.
Start small with the intro workshop - a practical first step before the full framework.
Start small with the intro workshop - a practical first step before the full framework.
Select the plan that works for you.
Intro workshop
Beyond carbon: your first steps to nature-positive business.
A half-day workshop to assess your business, envision your future, and make your first commitment to biodiversity. Held at a threatened species sanctuary - because the best place to talk about nature is in nature.
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Get clear on what nature-positive actually means for your business
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Assess where you currently stand with biodiversity (your baseline)
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Envision what you want your business to look like in the future
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Make your first public commitment to nature
BoB+
BoB+ Membership.
A tiered framework that grows with your business - from simple first steps to industry leadership. Access practical actions, expert resources, and a community of like-minded businesses all working to make the built environment better for nature.
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Connect with professionals in the built environment who share your commitment to nature - share resources, learn from successes, and tackle challenges together.
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Mid-level actions that embed biodiversity into your operations - from supply chain choices to supporting real restoration projects.
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Strategic, high-impact actions for businesses ready to lead - setting biodiversity targets, measuring impact, and making nature part of your governance.
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Regular workshops and masterclasses with biodiversity experts, covering everything from native plant selection to ecosystem restoration strategies.
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Networking events, site visits to nature-positive projects, and hands-on workshops held at locations like threatened species sanctuaries.
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Small groups of similar businesses supporting each other to stay on track with their nature-positive commitments, and to celebrate progress together.
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Exclusive discounts with suppliers, consultants, and service providers who specialise in nature-friendly products and biodiversity solutions.
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A bank of high-res nature images by Marnie Hawson of nature-positive projects, native species, and sustainable design features to use for your marketing around biodiversity initiatives.
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Access to a curated database of books, podcasts, articles, websites, and films, plus practical guides, case studies, and toolkits that make it easy to implement biodiversity actions and communicate your impact.
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Ready-to-use project planning templates, action trackers, and reporting frameworks to organise your nature-positive initiatives.
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Work directly with other similar businesses on joint projects, shared learning initiatives, or collective advocacy efforts.
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Marnie Hawson will document your successful case studies (for free!) so you can use the collateral as marketing material.
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Regular progress reviews and personalised guidance to keep you moving forward and help you navigate any challenges along the way.
Previous students say
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“I was open-minded coming into the Business of Biodiversity program with Odonata and Marnie Hawson wanting to learn about incorporating nature into business. The examples provided were quality, the cohort were engaged and inspiring themselves, the mentoring & guidance from the facilitators was on point - you will feel supported, inspired and primed to take action.”
Ishara Fernando, BlueRock
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“The course was a great opportunity to stop and think about impact, company impact and our personal approach. Doing deep work like this has so much importance in changing our mindsets to think beyond the day to day emails and what our real impact is and could be. Meeting like minded people and companies will go a long way in the connection and a united front to helping save our planet through biodiversity.”
Michael Nowlan, The Sociable Weaver
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"The course allowed us to consider the myriad of ways we could engage with supporting biodiversity in Australia in ways we had not previously considered, despite being a sustainability-driven design practice. The breadth of existing projects we were exposed to was deeply inspiring as were the connections to the people driving them. We are very grateful for the opportunity to build a supportive community with other companies committed to having a nature-based impact, and have taken the learnings into our operations and beyond. The course was a beginning for us-and we look forward to building on what we have learnt. "
Megan Norgate, Brave New Eco
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"I thoroughly enjoyed the Business of Biodiversity, offered by Marnie Hawson and Odonata, I gained invaluable insights into the critical intersection of ecological conservation and sustainable business practices that are working with nature. As a Founder working across sustainable farming and tourism, I'm honored to have collaborated with experts in the field to explore innovative strategies for fostering biodiversity while driving positive economic outcomes. The course cemented my drive to use the power of business for the betterment of our planet."
Eliza Sanby, Farmer Stays
FAQs
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Any Australian business - big or small - that wants to take practical, supported steps to protect and restore nature. No prior sustainability experience needed.
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Business of Biodiversity is led by Marnie Hawson, with support from the Odonata Foundation. Marnie manages the program day-to-day, while Odonata provides expert guidance on biodiversity and practical project delivery.
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Yes - Tier 1 is completely free. You’ll get access to the core framework, community platform, starter templates, and practical actions to help you begin.
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You’ll be invited into the BoB community and get immediate access to the Tier 1 action catalogue and community. You can begin straight away, and move at your own pace.
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A curated list of simple actions (like reviewing policies or hosting a nature day), basic tools and templates, community access, and the BoB Tier 1 logo to show your commitment.
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Item description
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BoB+ (coming soon) will give members access to advanced tiers, expert-led learning sessions, in-person event discounts, and opportunities to collaborate with Odonata on biodiversity projects.
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Not at all. BoB works like a choose-your-own-adventure - you only do the actions that make sense for your business. It’s flexible by design.
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That’s up to you. Some businesses start small and stay steady. Others move through quickly. There’s no deadline or pressure - just progress.
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No. BoB was created to be accessible for sole traders, growing teams, and national companies alike. You choose what’s realistic for where you’re at.
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No - BoB focuses on biodiversity, which includes things like land use, ecosystems, water, and species impact. It’s a broader and more complex space than emissions alone, and this is a practical way to begin.
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Not yet - BoB isn’t a certification or compliance program. It’s a practical starting point to help businesses take real steps for biodiversity. Who knows, though - it might grow into something more down the track. B Corp started as an idea between two friends who believed business could be done better. It all has to start somewhere.
