Program 2023

NextGen Workshop (this workshop is being run twice to allow attendees to attend the alternate sessions)

ANU

The ANU Next Generation Engagement Research team is a little bit different - we work with industry every step of the way, from defining the research priorities to co-designing the evidence-based tools that support practitioners in their work. 

As we look beyond our current program of research to themes such as creating social value and the transition to net zero, we are inviting industry to join us in co-designing the next phase of the world’s most ambitious engagement research agenda. Be among the first of your peers to name the key trends, challenges and opportunities for the sector Beyond 2025 and together we will:

* Identify the most pressing issues for community engagement
* Support the value and relevance of the discipline into the future
* Support engagement practitioners to play a key role in sustainable infrastructure delivery.  

We hope you (and your critical curiosity) can join us!

Co-Design

Co-Design seems to the most requested engagement technique at the moment.

Join this session to learn how to facilitate a Co-Design engagement process. You will be assigned a character and will participate in a mock session with the aim of learning new engagement skills and techniques.

Art Engagement

Join this session as an artistic participant (yes you will be creating artworks) and learn how art in engagement can produce exceptional outcomes.
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Participants will collaboratively design and develop creative ideas for upgrading a playground through art-based participatory approaches. They will also engage in a reflection activity to evaluate and adapt their approach.

NextGen Workshop

ANU

The ANU Next Generation Engagement Research team is a little bit different - we work with industry every step of the way, from defining the research priorities to co-designing the evidence-based tools that support practitioners in their work. 

As we look beyond our current program of research to themes such as creating social value and the transition to net zero, we are inviting industry to join us in co-designing the next phase of the world’s most ambitious engagement research agenda. Be among the first of your peers to name the key trends, challenges and opportunities for the sector Beyond 2025 and together we will:

* Identify the most pressing issues for community engagement
* Support the value and relevance of the discipline into the future
* Support engagement practitioners to play a key role in sustainable infrastructure delivery.  

We hope you (and your critical curiosity) can join us!

Canberra Site Walking tour

Key sites include raising London Circuit construction site, land release sites, possible convention centre/concert venue site, Canberra Civic and Culture District / Canberra Theatre redevelopment site, City Walk public realm upgrade (completed), Garema Place public realm upgrade (planned), Sydney and Melbourne Buildings heritage revitalisation site (parts complete). Hosted by Doug Millen, Director Communications and Engagement, City Renewal Authority, ACT Government.

Welcome Drinks - Bentspoke Brewery

The walking tour will end at Bentspoke Brewery. This evening is an informal opportunity to relax, reconnect and make new friends before the forum official program kicks off on Tuesday 29 August. If you are not attending the walking tour - feel free to make your own way and join us for the first social event of the Forum.

Welcome to Country

with Serena Williams.  Serena is a proud Ngunnawal - Wiradjuri women, a Traditional Custodian. She has lived in Canberra all her life and is heavily involved in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and organisations in the ACT and surrounding regions such as the Ngambri Aboriginal Land Council, ACSRA Aboriginal Communities Sporting and Recreational Activities, Munjuwa Aboriginal Cooperation for Housing and Health and Burringiri Aboriginal Corporation for Cultural and Arts.

Opening address

Jessica Hall, First Assistant Secretary Commonwealth Infrastructure Projects Division in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts, leads the oversight and governance of some of Australia’s largest key infrastructure initiatives. Jessica will talk about the department’s diverse portfolio of transport infrastructure projects and regulatory initiatives which touch on the lives of all Australians and will discuss the importance of community engagement in shaping this work.

Keynote Presentation

Georgia Murch , Culture Creator and Author

We know the tough conversations matter. We don't avoid these. We have them. In the past few years, the volume of them is growing. What becomes challenging is managing these behaviours, and the emotional reactions, that occur as a result. Georgia will help us to navigate some of these trickier conversations. And build techniques to restore the conversation back to a useful space for our stakeholders and for ourselves. 

Keynote Presentation - The world is changing: how do I channel my inner leader?

Anne Pattillo (Pattillo)

You know the list of the societal and environmental challenges effecting us all.  So what does that means for us as engages, and infrastructure engagement?  How can we be influential and relevant in our projects, companies, communities and practice.  How do I lead engagement practice to make a difference?

Global insights of community engagement

Clare Murrell (Capire) with Tony Clark, Anne Pattillo and Marion Short

How are we going in our engagement practice? What are the challenges and opportunities ahead of us to undertake effective and inclusive engagement? Who even cares? Join Clare Murrell from Capire Consulting Group as she shares insights from the first Engagement Compass Survey, and invites a panel discussion to reflect on global trends in community engagement.

Move over Engineers and Economists - the wellbeing era for Australian infrastructure is here

Rebecca Roebuck (Social Impax)

The context and power dynamics in the infrastructure sector is changing rapidly. Community engagement professionals are likely to be at the forefront of heralding in a new era of wellbeing and social value focus. Just launched in July 2023, the Australia's Government's national wellbeing framework - Measuring What Matters - could provide the opportunity community engagement professionals have been waiting for.

Equitable engagement - some insights from Social Impact Assessment

Richard Parsons (SMEC) and Angela Peace (AAP Consulting)

Community engagement for Social Impact Assessment (SIA) has a distinct purpose as research – it is a key mechanism used to collect relevant social data to ensure a targeted and rigorous assessment. At the same time, a core principle in SIA is distributive equity, but what does this mean in practice?  In this session, Angela and Richard will explore equitable processes in community engagement and the principles and practices that ensure fairness, justice, and inclusivity in involving community members in decision-making and problem-solving.

We will share some case studies of successful (and not so successful) community engagement initiatives that have focused on creating opportunities for all individuals, especially those who have been historically marginalised or disadvantaged – and show how these have helped inform SIA processes and create equitable outcomes.

Is a focus on team and community wellbeing the optimal way to deliver Infrastructure and Natural Resource projects post COVID?

Donna Groves and Shantelle O'Riordan (Comacon)
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The research is clear – focusing on the holistic wellbeing of employees increases productivity, employee retention and general employee satisfaction. Truly valuing team members, treating people with respect and kindness, communicating transparently, and including the whole team in decision making processes and planning, creates better performing (and happier) teams.

When these same values are instilled into our community engagement approach on infrastructure and natural resources projects – and the wellbeing of communities as well as teams is our focus – the results are extraordinary.

Hear from Team Comacon on the interim results from their first Community Wellbeing programs and how they’ve incorporated community and employee wellbeing and training into their service offering.

Led by Comacon’s Managing Director Donna Groves, whose book Shine – a personal wellbeing journey, will soon be released – the session will include practical examples of wellbeing planning in community engagement and discuss the legislative directions that were the impetus for Comacon creating a Wellbeing division.

Infrastructure Beyond 2025 - The unique challenges and opportunities for savvy engagement professionals.

Prof Sara Bice and Kirsty O'Connell (ANU/Institute for Infrastructure in Society)

In 2017 the ANU Next Generation Engagement Research Team had a bold ambition - to establish the world’s first research institute focussed on understanding the impact of engagement, social risk management and social license in the infrastructure sector. Six years on ’NextGen’ has morphed into the Institute for Infrastructure in Society - a dedicated research institute in its own right with a string of world firsts to its credit. Join co-founders, Professor Sara Bice and Kirsty O’Connell as they look at the trends, challenges and opportunities facing the infrastructure sector and provide their own research-informed view as to what this will mean for engagement practitioners looking to support sustainable infrastructure delivery beyond 2025.

Empowering communities to be part of Australia's energy transition

Helen Leayr (Communication Link) and Bronwen Butterfield (Evoenergy)

Australia is moving at an increasing pace towards net zero emissions. Significant transition of our energy infrastructure is underway as we move to an all-electric future. How do we remember there are real customers at the end of the powerline? What role should they play in ensuring a smooth and just transition?

Have we simply not been listening?

In Australia, the energy transition is upon us, impacted by the same global forces as the rest of the world: geo-political tensions, societal pressures, and the push for a net-zero economy. But everything is not equal until we make it so.
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GHD’s Technical Director, Sharon Sebastian, Victorian Engagement, Communication and Community Lead, Jennie Suann, and Leon Filewood, proud Ugar Um Le and Kuku Yalanji Bamaman and Senior Indigenous Community Engagement Consultant, share their learnings of the transition from a global, regional and community perspective. From within this framework, social licence is clear. We are pleased to also be joined by Julie Spencer, Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communication for Queensland Hydro.

This presentation and mini-workshop will seek to provide conference participants with a view of what is upon us, what it looks like when looking back at the city, how we bring First Nations people to the table, and what social licence comprises: strong relationships, shared value creation and impact mitigation.
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From there we will explore the experience, knowledge and gaps in the room, before walking out with a better view of what we need to bring to the table. Join us if you’re ready to hear.

Guided walk to cocktail party

Cocktail Party

Ovolo Nishi