The Program
Who, where, what and when (2025)
Each of the three conference days incorporate a variety of opportunities to learn, connect and reflect on social impact in your own regional community. Our 2025 conference program is inspired by the Nirvana song “come as you are”. The program themes are:
Day 1 Come as you are: Is your regional community ready for what’s next? Are you? Benchmark your individual and collective readiness through plenaries, workshops, and Impact Labs exploring the five Readiness Indicators; Clarity, Capacity, Connection, Collaboration, and Advocacy.
Day 2 As you were: Wellbeing in regional communities often takes a back seat. Today we explore it from every angle: personal, cultural, financial, and systemic, grounded in Connection and Collaboration.
Day 3 As you want to be: Time to turn insight into action. Build a practical plan using the Readiness Indicators to guide your next steps. Connect with allies, investors, and ideas that will carry you forward.
- 50+ Speakers
- Workshops
- Master Classes
- 4 Conference Streams
- Pitchfest
- Social Events
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
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
Funding social impact
Jo Taylor, Siddle Foundation, Margot Beach, Dussledorp Foundation and Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation
Empowering regional voices
Anita Tang, advocacy advisor Emma Broomfield, Locale Learning and Anna McAfee, community strategist and educator
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
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
Funding social impact
Jo Taylor, Siddle Foundation, Margot Beach, Dussledorp Foundation and Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation
Empowering regional voices
Anita Tang, advocacy advisor Emma Broomfield, Locale Learning and Anna McAfee, community strategist and educator
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 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
Evolve Network CEO
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
Collaboration for Impact: Regional collaborative governance models for community led systems change: What we’re learning
Laura Barnes and Sarah Callaghan (Collaboration for Impact)
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)
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)
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)
Measuring your social impact
Eleanor Booth & Jenna McDonald (For-Purpose Evaluations)
Harnessing Personal Strengths for Community Empowerment and Growth
Michelle McFadyen
From Theory of Change to Community of Change
Can Yasmut, CEO of LCSA
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 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.
