#16 - Gina Rembe: Test What Works, Pragmatic Systems Design, and Building Systems that Last

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 agendaGuest 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/Chapters03:08 Choosing mission-driven challenges and structural change07:42 Testing, building prototypes and using stories as communication tools11:38 DO Lectures Wales and life-changing moments14:26 Family lineage, craft, and mediation16:47 Slowing down and ‘relationships-first’ in New Zealand24:19 Building community intentionally in Berlin27:23 Long-term networked impact with Enspiral and Lifehack (youth mental health), and open-source innovation33:30 Scrappy systems, governance tensions, and learning by doing40:24 Experience design, adding delight to retreats and spaces of care48:28 Impossible projects and doing more with less51:14 Digital lightness vs real-world weight52:30 Neighbours, local resilience, and small acts of communityExplore furtherBook a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes.CreditsHosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Berlin, 1 February, 2026Produced at the Violet Town and Peregian Beach offices, 1 February - 3 March, 2026Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au