You can describe a person or thing that causes a change or event to happen as a catalyst .
例句
I very much hope that this case will prove to be a catalyst for change...我非常希望这起事件能催生变革。He said he saw the bank's role as a catalyst to encourage foreign direct investment.他说,他认为银行就应该起到刺激外国直接投资的作用。
N-COUNT
(化学)催化剂
In chemistry, a catalyst is a substance that causes a chemical reaction to take place more quickly.