Zoe O’Neill

Conditions for Systems Change – a social impact perspective

Zoe is a systems change proponent, facilitator and former community lawyer with more than ten years’ experience working across complex social issues. With a background in family and domestic violence (FDV), cross-cultural practice and human rights, she brings a human-centred approach to designing better services and systems. Zoe is especially skilled in working within complexity and navigating change with care and clarity.

At ThirdStory (previously Innovation Unit), she has led a wide range of projects spanning FDV, homelessness, mental health, alcohol and other drugs (AOD), justice, and lived experience governance and facilitation. Zoe is also the creative lead behind “This Is Manly”, ThirdStory’s bold FDV primary prevention campaign. Backed by postgraduate qualifications in social impact, she is committed to meaningful, long-term change—working in deep partnership with communities to turn ambitious ideas into action.

Join her workshop – 

What does it really take to shift the systems that shape our lives, and how do we do it in ways that centre people, purpose and possibility?

This interactive session explores the enabling conditions for deep, long-term social change. Together, we’ll unpack systems change frameworks, use practical tools, and draw from real-world examples that show what’s possible when we reimagine how change happens — not just within organisations, but across sectors, communities and generations.

Whether you’re working in a company, community organisation, government agency or social enterprise, this session is for change agents who want to move beyond surface fixes and tap into the deeper levers of transformation.

You’ll leave with a clearer sense of your role in the system, practical ways to influence it, and renewed energy to act. Most importantly, you’ll leave with a shift in mindset: you’re not stuck in traffic, you are traffic. Which means you have the power to move it.