Luminary: Graeme Taylor

Luminary: Graeme Taylor

Graeme Taylor is the author of Evolution's Edge: The Coming Collapse and Transformation of Our World (New Society, 2008), a book described by reviewers as "utterly inspired", "fantastic", "outstanding" and "a must read". Thomas Homer-Dixon, an award-winning author and international scholar, says that "Evolution's Edge gives readers a beautifully lucid account of humankind's increasingly dire predicament…and how we can turn the coming crisis into an opportunity for profound and beneficial change. If our children and grandchildren are to have a future worth living, we're probably going to get there along the path this book describes. Written with charm and style and rich with insight, this book is highly recommended for anyone looking for reasons for hope."

Graeme Taylor is a researcher, speaker and author. A social activist since the early1960s, he has worked with many peace, social justice and environmental organizations. Because he was interested in learning first-hand about different cultures, political systems and workplaces, in the sixties and seventies he travelled widely and worked in many jobs in community organizing, construction, printing, farming, fishing, retail, hospitals, mining, and logging. He then worked for 21 years as a front-line emergency paramedic and foreman. After retiring from the British Columbia Ambulance Service he completed a Master's degree in Conflict Analysis and Management at Royal Roads University, graduating with the Chancellor's Award.

Since 2003 he has been the coordinator of BEST Futures, a project using Evolutionary Systems Theory to study how societies change and evolve. During this time he has authored or co-authored a number of graphic presentations and articles explaining how a systems perspective can be used to explain the historical evolution of human societies, analyse global trends and develop sustainable outcomes. His current focus is on helping build an international coalition to accelerate the emergence of a sustainable planetary civilization and prevent the catastrophic collapse of major ecosystems and human societies.

Graeme is married to Fereshteh Sadeghi, the project's graphic designer. They currently live in Brisbane, Australia, where Graeme is a PhD candidate at the Griffith School of Environment and an Honorary Research Advisor to the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. His two adult children, Lars and Zara, live in Canada.

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