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The money landed but the change didn’t. Why regional communities need more than cash.

/ Investing in the regions, Spiralling up

Rarely a week goes by without a phone call from a passionate regional community member asking me asking for support to get a grant over the line. I get it, money feels like the answer. It’s tangible, it’s immediate, and it signals that someone, somewhere, believes your community is worth investing in. But here’s what […]

The money landed but the change didn’t. Why regional communities need more than cash. Read More

What I learned about building community from the lady downstairs

/ A life that matters, Accidental leadership

This year I became an empty nester. Well, for four teary months anyway. The short version is this… By design the Ready Communities program and our national conference, Social Impact in the Regions is based in a different community each year. While the first two years were practically in my backyard: Coffs Harbour and Kempsey

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When a conference doesn’t feel like a conference: How intentional design sparks connection.

/ Accidental leadership, Regional realities

Know that feeling when you find a model that describes your practice? I recently had this experience when I stumbled upon ‘Harmonic Principles’ designed by IA Interior Architects (shared below). For some time now I’ve known my approach to designing events is not your bog standard practice – initially I thought it was just about

When a conference doesn’t feel like a conference: How intentional design sparks connection. Read More

How producing a conference on my own dime changed my thoughts on speaker payments (even though I’m a paid speaker)

/ Accidental leadership

How producing a conference on my own dime changed my thoughts on speaker payments (and my behaviour as a speaker) Producing conferences and events is not a new thing for me, in fact, I pulled together my first band night which attracted several hundred people at the age of 18. Through the years I’ve been

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The role of local procurement in building regional capability

/ Regional economic development, Regional living, Regional realities, Social impact

Of the 789,645 businesses based in regional Australia a whopping 97% are considered small, that is employing 0-19 people (ABS, 2023). When someone decides to establish a business in a regional area they do so knowing (or just about to find out) they will face a range of challenges that will at some point impact

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Reflecting on 20 years in place: Where to begin?

/ Regional and rural, Regional engagement, Social impact

As I celebrate my 20th year in business #evolveis20 I’ve also dedicated some time to reflect on what it’s been like to live and work ‘in place’ (in the Mid North Coast of NSW) for two whole decades. The ‘work’ I’m referring to has lots of names from community and economic-development, regional development to place-based

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Why it’s time to invest in rural social enterprise eco-systems

/ Regional economic development, Regional economies, Regional engagement, Social impact

I first learned the term ‘social enterprise’ around 2009 when I was managing an Aboriginal Corporation and my funding partner had told me we had 24 months to make the entity sustainable. The entity was essentially a community centre i.e. an entity established to support the community and act as a conduit to valuable services

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