The event brought together people working in engagement and related professions to share experiences and reflections on how we can better design and deliver engagement to make it truly inclusive and accessible. We also discussed how we can reflect, learn and adapt when things don’t go to plan.
The event was hosted by Capire consultants Eliza Knox, Bec Yandell, Merryn Appleby and Milly Woodgrove. They shared their reflections below.
‘It was a great night to connect, laugh and reflect with others working across the community and engagement space. We are always learning from times things go right and “shitshows”, so having the space to share ideas in person over a nibble and drink was refreshing.’
– Eliza Knox
‘It was great to see such a diverse group of people come together for an event like this. Learning from different industries and roles helps build practice for all of us. It was great to see a mix of familiar faces and new ones, creating such a nice energy in the room.’
– Bec Yandell
‘It was so fun to have so many like-minded, passionate people in one room. You could really feel the energy! People are actively thinking about how to make engagement fairer and more inclusive. There were so many valuable conversations about working in engagement and all the lessons learned along the way.’
– Merryn Appleby
‘Such a wonderful evening spent connecting with peers who are passionate about inclusive engagement and keen to learn from one another’s experiences. The room was filled with chatty and friendly people eager to share. It was inspiring to see so many thoughtful ideas, insights and practical approaches flowing throughout the room.’
– Milly Woodgrove
In 2025, Capire supported the Engagement Institute to develop the Inclusive and Accessible Engagement Toolkit. Members can access this resource via the Engagement Institute Community Portal.
