Millicent Barty Named Earth’s Impact Hero 2024

Earth Company, a global impact-driven organization proudly unveils the Impact Heroes Class of 2024, selecting Millicent Barty among nine distinguished recipients.

This recognition highlights Millicent’s exemplary commitment to environmental and indigenous conservation through her Kastom Keepers organization established last year as an Emerson Collective Fellow.

Japanese-based, Earth Company is a leading global organization dedicated to supporting and empowering one-of-a-kind change-makers in the Asia Pacific. Through its Impact Heroes Program, Earth Company identifies visionary leaders that are driven by bottomless passion and resolute determination to make transformative changes to the communities they serve. The program attracts an outstanding pool of change-makers and after a rigorous five-month process of assessing, interviewing, and shortlisting, the program has selected nine Impact Heroes who showcase innovation, commitment, and a proven track record of driving sustainable solutions.

Millicent Barty, a trailblazing Solomon Islander, is acknowledged for her exemplary commitment to preserving indigenous knowledge as the founder of Kastom Keepers. This female-led organization aims to preserve and safeguard traditional knowledge and cultural heritage at risk of loss. Barty’s innovative approach blends cultural preservation with entrepreneurial spirit, leveraging technology and community collaboration.

“I’m proud to be selected as an Earth Company’s Impact Hero this year. Kastom Keepers, a young organization, reflects the world’s recognition of its value. Our Melanesian ancestral wisdom has much to offer, and through collaboration, we safeguard and share it, fostering economic opportunities for communities.” The program provides mentorship, funding, and global networking opportunities to accelerate positive change in Millicent’s community. Millicent, a Queen’s Young Leader award-winner, Obama Scholar, and Emerson Collective Fellow, now adds Earth Company’s Impact Hero to her list of achievements, emphasizing her commitment to sustainable development and preserving cultural heritage.

“I’m very proud and humbled to be selected as an Earth Company’s Impact Hero this year. Kastom Keepers is a very young organization and achieving this is an honest testament that the world also sees and believes in the value and importance of this work. I’ve always believed our Melanesian ancestral wisdom has so much to offer in helping us navigate contemporary and climate challenges. This is why Kastom Keepers exists to restore and preserve our ancient wisdom for current and future generations to learn, and I am thankful to Earth Company for believing in this ambitious undertaking, being part of this program will greatly benefit our work”, Barty states.

The program includes mentorship, funding, and global networking opportunities to accelerate the positive change Millicent is driving in her community. Millicent, a Queen’s Young Leader award-winner, Obama Scholar and Emerson Collective Fellow now adds Earth Company’s Impact Hero to her list of achievements. Barty’s inclusion in the Earth’s Impact Heroes 2024 cohort is a recognition of her continued commitment to sustainable development and firm commitment to protecting and preserving kastom stories/traditional knowledge and practices.