Bec Yandell (pictured left): ‘When we don’t trust our communities, we manage our engagement too tightly. We’re scared to ask the question when we’re not sure what we’ll do with the response. This leads to our communities no longer trusting us, to people feeling disrespected or disempowered, which makes them fight back all the harder. This cycle isn’t helping us, or our communities, make better decisions or create better places to live.’ Read more
Triada Papadimitriou (pictured right): ‘This line, shared during a debate on the housing crisis and the role of community engagement, drew a collective gasp from a room full of engagement professionals. For me it sparked my own debate, is this how engagement is seen by our industry and government partners? We know the value of community engagement, how do we articulate this value?’ Read more
Eliza Knox: ‘As we can see the end of the year in sight, it’s important to acknowledge, accept and act on any burnout we are feeling, especially as engagement practitioners who may experience conflict. I’m excited to read Sally Hussey’s book The Underbelly of Engagement: The Unspoken Realities of Community Engagement Practice (2025), which was referenced during the ‘High Conflict Engagement’ session.’ Read more
On Wednesday, Capire Associate Sarah Roberts (pictured) joined Toby Dawson (RPS) and Rea Singh (Cultural Perspectives) for a panel discussion on inclusion. ‘Sarah noted that true inclusion means moving beyond token consultation to co-design and shared decision-making, ensuring marginal voices not only contribute but actively shape project outcomes.’ – Mel Hagedorn, Capire Client Executive
On Tuesday morning, Capire hosted a coffee catch-up and open conversation about misinformation and disinformation. ‘Together, we explored the growing need for time, connection, and relational work in an increasingly reactive world. We spoke about coming into spaces with curiosity rather than certainty, and about staying committed to seeking connection, even (and especially) when it’s hard.’ – Sarah Roberts, Capire Associate
On Monday afternoon, Capire Associate Denise Francisco and Consultant Milly Woodgrove hosted a tram journey through Melbourne’s engaged places. We explored how community engagement has shaped some of Melbourne’s most iconic public spaces and city-shaping projects – including Federation Square, The Greenline Project, Carlton Gardens and Queen Victoria Market. Read more
Capire’s contribution to the conference included the creation of five engagement personas: the Listener, the Connector, the Visionary, the Builder, and the Changemaker. These characters were promoted through tote bags, badges, and an online quiz to discover which ‘Engager’ best reflects how you naturally approach engagement… Take the quiz now!
