Working in sustainability can be deeply meaningful — and deeply overwhelming, with no finish line and no moment where the job is truly “done.” Treo House was created to help people stay in it for the long haul, and we spoke to its Director, Gemma, about building community, resilience, and a new kind of space for systemic change in London.
The Green Londoner: For those who don’t know it yet, what is Treo House? What’s the vision behind the space?
Gemma: Treo House is a community and a physical space for people working on environmental and social change.
The core idea is that this kind of work is complex, long-term and often overwhelming. Our ability to do it well depends a lot on how we are as individuals — whether we feel healthy, supported, connected and able to bring the best of ourselves.
So Treo House is about bringing together people who share values around sustainability and systemic thinking, and creating a place where they can support each other. It’s both a hub where people can meet, work and reflect, and a community that helps each other build the skills we need: critical problem-solving, communication, and the resilience to stay in this work for the long haul.
TGL: How did you come to lead Treo House? Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming Director?
Gemma: My journey to Treo House comes very much from my own experience.
I realised early on that working in sustainability and social change is really hard. There isn’t a neat end point — it’s not the kind of job where you tick a box and say “done”. So I started asking: what do I need to feel sustained in this work?
One thing that became very clear is how powerful community is. Being part of a group that understands both the joy and the grief in this work makes a huge difference. But in modern working life, connections often feel short-term and transactional. There wasn’t really a place to explore the deeper questions.
I started out in the science and technical space, and I could see that we were missing a lot of the transformational skills we need: navigating contradictions, sitting with complexity, learning together, sharing wisdom. Treo House grew out of that gap — out of the feeling that there needed to be a space for people to come together, support each other and learn as a collective.
TGL: London has plenty of venues, clubs and coworking spaces. What makes Treo House different?
Gemma: Treo House is different because the community comes first and the space serves that community.
Even the name has a story: Treo sounds like “tree house” — a place that feels creative, slightly hidden, connected to friends, and safe enough to retreat, reflect and play. That’s the atmosphere we’re trying to create.
What really sets Treo House apart isn’t just the building; it’s the relationships. We’re building an ecosystem — a web of connection between people who share a sense of purpose. The space gives us somewhere to gather, but the real magic is in the conversations, the trust and the sense of belonging that grows between members.
TGL: Who is Treo House for? What kind of people or organisations thrive in this environment?
Gemma: Treo House is for people whose work touches sustainability in some way — environmental or social.
That could be people in business, policy, academia, NGOs, grassroots organising, the arts, or innovation. What they tend to have in common is curiosity, and a sense that everything is interconnected: you can’t really separate the environmental from the social, or the technical from the human.
We’re intergenerational — roughly from early 20s to 60s — and age isn’t a barrier. What matters is a willingness to ask difficult questions, look at root causes, and engage with systems, not just symptoms.
TGL: How can Londoners get involved or join Treo House? Is there a membership, open days, events, volunteering…?
Gemma: The easiest way to get involved is just to come along to an event.
We host regular welcome evenings and other gatherings, and there’ll be more running into the New Year. People can check the website for upcoming events, or simply reach out to me by email if they’re curious.
From there, we can explore whether membership, collaboration or something else makes sense. The door is very much open — Treo House is built for people who want to be part of this kind of community.
TGL: What role does community play at Treo House? How do you cultivate that sense of belonging people often talk about?
Gemma: Community is at the heart of everything we do.
We try to create conditions where people feel seen and heard, where they can bring both their expertise and their doubts. A lot of it is about building trust: slowing down enough to really listen, making space for vulnerability as well as ideas, and recognising that everyone brings something valuable.
We design gatherings and events that encourage deep conversation rather than just networking. Over time, that builds a sense of belonging — people feel they’re part of something that sustains them, not just another professional contact list.
TGL: Looking ahead, what are your hopes or plans for Treo House over the next few months and years?
Gemma: My hope is for Treo House to become a focused, high-energy hub of activity — a place that radiates joy, hope and creativity.
I’d love people to walk in and feel a real love for life, for the planet and for each other. Practically, that means a thriving programme of events, a strong, supportive membership, and a visible impact on the people and projects that pass through the space.
If we can help people stay in this work longer, with more energy and more connection, then Treo House will be doing its job.
Quick-Fire Round
TGL: Your favourite green spot in London?
Gemma: Richmond Park.
TGL: A sustainable habit you swear by?
Gemma: Cycling.
TGL: One thing London should fix by 2030?
Gemma: Litter.
TGL: Treo House in three words?
Gemma: Joyful, honest, curious.
