The Program

Who, where, what and when (2024)

Each of the three conference days incorporate a variety of opportunities to learn, connect and reflect on social impact in your own regional community. The program themes are:

Day 1: Investing in impact in regional Australia
Day 2:  Empowering regional voices
Day 3: Understanding regional challenges

Day 1 - Wednesday, 4th September: Investing in regional impact

Registration from 8am conference will commence at 9am sharp

09:00
Welcome to Country
Uncle Fred Kelly
Welcome to the Macleay Valley
Mayor Leo Hauville
Official opening
Kerry Grace, #SIITR Founder
Investing in regional impact
Investing in regional impact

Philip Gaskin (US) Social Impact and Sustainability Strategist

The Regionalisation Ambition 2032

Liz Ritchie, CEO, Regional Australia Institute (RAI)

Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI)
Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI)

David Hetherington, CEO, Impact Investing Australia

Panel: investing in regional impact
Panel

Philip Gaskin, Social Impact and Sustainability Strategist
Liz Ritchie, CEO, Regional Australia Institute (RAI)
David Hetherington, CEO, Impact Investing Australia
Panel Host: Dr. Chad Renando (UniSQ and Ready Communities)

11:20
Morning Tea served from Country University Centre
12:00
Masterclasses

Empower Your Community: A Masterclass on building local ownership, funding and community-led development for a prosperous future.

Meaghan Burkett and Sam Doove, Ethical Fields, Dr. Dimity Podger, Regen Labs and Father Jesse Poole

More Info

Regional place-based program design

Jo Kelly, Learning the Macleay, Deb Samuels, FRRR, Dr. Chad Renando Uni SQ and Ready Communities and Jesse Taylor, Mission Australia Housing

More Info

Funding social impact

Jo Taylor, Siddle Foundation, Margot Beach, Dussledorp Foundation and Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation

More Info

Empowering regional voices

Anita Tang, advocacy advisor Emma Broomfield, Locale Learning and Anna McAfee, community strategist and educator

More Info
13:00
Break for Lunch
14:00
Masterclasses continued

Empower Your Community: A Masterclass on building local ownership, funding and community-led development for a prosperous future.

Meaghan Burkett and Sam Doove, Ethical Fields, Dr. Dimity Podger, Regen Labs and Father Jesse Poole

More Info

Regional place-based program design

Jo Kelly, Learning the Macleay, Deb Samuels, FRRR, Dr. Chad Renando Uni SQ and Ready Communities and Jesse Taylor, Mission Australia Housing

More Info

Funding social impact

Jo Taylor, Siddle Foundation, Margot Beach, Dussledorp Foundation and Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation

More Info

Empowering regional voices

Anita Tang, advocacy advisor Emma Broomfield, Locale Learning and Anna McAfee, community strategist and educator

More Info
15:45
Afternoon tea
16:15
Pitchfest

Our 2023 Pitchfest was a hit so we are going again in 2024.

This year 6 social impact practitioners will pitch for a prize pool. The event is fast, fun and informative for both the speakers and audience.

Pitchfest is supported by StartSomeGood and Alt Collective

17:45
Welcome event
Hosted in main conference space

Join us for canapes and a cool drink, network with colleagues and unpack day 1.

Sponsored by Misty Mountain Lifestyle Retreat

Day 1

Day 2 - Thursday, 5th September: Amplifying regional voices

Registration from 8am conference will commence at 9am sharp

09:00
Welcome to Country
Welcome to Day 2
Kerry Grace, conference producer
Evolve Network CEO
Ready Communities co-founder
What is a ready community?
Learn how the Kempsey community have engaged to co-design and deliver Social Impact in the Regions

Dr. Chad Renando, Ready Communities Co-Founder and Jo Kelly Learning the Macleay Partnership Lead.

Hear from LCSA CEO, Can Yasmut on place-based design

Amplifying regional voices
The Hon. Fiona Nash, Commissioner for Regional Education
Grassroots community engagement
Phil Haines, Voices for Indi
Authentic place-based engagement
Adam West, Head of Business Services, Community Housing Industry Association of NSW (CHIA)
Panel: Amplifying regional voices
Amplifying Regional Voices

The Hon. Fiona Nash, Commissioner for Regional Education
Phil Haines, Voices for Indi
Adam West, Community Housing Industry Association of NSW (CHIA)

Panel Host: Lucy Brotherton, Community Capacity Building Lead – Social Investment, The City of Parramatta

11:20
Morning Tea served from Country University Centre
11:45
Breakout Session 1:
Our FIRST Breakout Session comprising of a range of workshops to choose from, including:

Practicing Conflict Curiosity: for creativity, diversity and impact

Beck Ronkson

More Info

Collaboration for Impact: Regional collaborative governance models for community led systems change: What we’re learning

Laura Barnes and Sarah Callaghan (Collaboration for Impact)

More Info

Regional housing place-making innovation

Steve Neale (Community Housing Limited), Jamie Hutchinson (Community Housing Limited) and Adam West (CHIA NSW), Michelle Palmer (Housing in Place)
HOST: Jesse Taylor (Mission Australia)

More Info

Regional Showcase

Jill Ashley: (ShoreTrack), Ann Goslett: (The SHIFT Project) and Brooke Maggs: (Liberty Women’s Domestic Violence Service)
Hosted by: Tom Allen (Impact Boom)

More Info

Grant Writing

Natalie Bramble (iclick2learn)

13:00
Break for Lunch
14:30
Breakout Session 2:
Our SECOND Breakout Session comprising of a range of workshops to choose from, including:

Why are main streets important to regional social impact?

Ashley Watt (Why Leave Town)

More Info

Measuring your social impact

Eleanor Booth & Jenna McDonald (For-Purpose Evaluations)

More Info

Harnessing Personal Strengths for Community Empowerment and Growth

Michelle McFadyen

More Info

From Theory of Change to Community of Change

Can Yasmut, CEO of LCSA

More Info

Insights into Success, Stress and Self-care among social entrepreneurs: A balancing act

Dr. Aastha Malhotra (UniSQ) and Dr. Naomi Ryan (UniSQ)

15:45 - 16:30
Your Choice
Choose from one of the following activities:
  • Fireside chat: Regional social and affordable housing with Maree McKenzie (Homes North), Liz Collyer (Homes NSW). Interactive session with leading housing industry experts about opportunities for regional housing and the future of housing.
  • Speed networking with a range of social impact practitioners
  • Local tour: Macleay Portraits with Ronnie Grammatica
18:00
Conference Gala Dinner

Join us for an exciting night filled with live entertainment, street food, fun with your colleagues and a carnival atmosphere.

Our 2024 conference dinner theme is “on the fringes”

22:30
Home time
Day 2

Day 3 - Friday, 6th September: Understanding regional challenges

Registration from 830am, conference will commence at 910am sharp

09:10
Welcome to Country
Welcome to Day 3
Kerry Grace, conference producer
Evolve Network CEO
Ready Communities co-founder
Understanding regional challenges
Natalie Egleton, CEO Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
The Rural Manifesto
Mary-Ann Scully, Executive Director, Innovation and Service ACRE
Understanding place
Jamie Hutchinson, National Community Impact Manager, Community Housing Limited
Panel
Understanding regional challenges

Natalie Egleton, CEO Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
Mary-Ann Scully, Executive Director, Innovation and Service ACRE
Jamie Hutchinson, National Community Impact Manager, Community Housing Limited

Panel Host: Kylie Flament, Social Enterprise Council of NSW and ACT (SECNA)

11:20
Morning Tea served from Country University Centre

STREAM CONVERSATIONS
Time to talk about the greatest opportunities and challenges currently faced in your regional community. This session will be facilitated by the fabulous Taz and Em of Futures Isle. Taz and Em will also showcase the #SIITR24 Youth Ambassador program and be supported by our youth ambassadors as this session rolls out. The session will be recorded and will contribute to our national paper on Social Impact In The Regions.  

13:00
Closing ceremony and lunch to go
Day 3

Our 2024
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We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians and Elders past and present.

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