#SIITR25 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 listed below:
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
- Pitchfest
- Social Events
Day 1 - Wednesday, 3rd September
Registration from 8am conference will commence at 9am sharp
08:45
Welcome to Country
Welcome
The Hon. Janelle Saffin MP, NSW Minister for Small Business, Recovery and the North Coast
Official opening
SIITR25 Advisory Team member, Jesse Taylor
09:40
Panel conversation: Place, Power and Possibility (Part 1)
The System's Story
FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton will guide us through the first two panels which are designed to build context about where we are in the regions through the lens of place, power and possibility.
There’s a lot of talk about place – what does it mean in the current context and why have policy makers and funders turned their gaze in this direction?
Featuring:Our special guests spanning philanthropy, policy and economics include Margot Beach (CEO of Dussledorp Foundation), Di Kapera, (State Director, NSW/ACT of Mission Australia), Kim Houghton (Economic Solutions) and special guest to be announced.
10:25
Panel Conversation: Place, Power and Possibility (Part 2)
The Community's Call
How is the notion of place impacting regional communities? What matters in the regions?
Featuring: Jo Kelly, (Partnership Lead of Learning the Macleay); Liz Skelton (Director, Adaptive Place), Elly Bird (Executive Director, Resilient Lismore.)
11:10
Morning Tea - Time for a short break
11:40
Panel Conversation: Demystifying the Impact Economy
Demystifying the Impact Economy with Elise Parups
With $7 trillion in funds under management in Australia—but less than 3% of GDP going to impact investing—how are we using our capital to drive real change? Join Elise Parups for a one-hour sprint to unpack everything from philanthropy to impact-aligned capital with commercial returns and everything in-between. Demystify the jargon, identify networks and powerful influencers that shift capital for good and unlock your enterprise’s potential. In this workshop, you will explore options to uncover what kind of capital your venture needs, and how to navigate the financial ecosystem it at the right stage, at the right phase, for the right impact.
12:40
Break for Lunch - experience a range of local produce and meet your SIITR25 community at this interactive lunch experience.
14:15
Impact labs
Hear from a range of host community (Grafton) practitioners and work through a facilitated process to explore real-life opportunities in the selected impact area.
Align this learning to your community.
Social enterprise development
Facilitated conversation on establishing a social enterprise in a regional community.
Main Street Activation
Learn about the South Grafton community and consider how you might activate your main streets.
Food
What do our local food systems look like? Is there more we can do to support local farmers? How can we create more opportunities to eat local produce?
Community engagement: The importance of local events featuring Jacaranda Festival
Featuring Jacaranda Festival which attracts over 45,000 people to Grafton annually.
Youth Futures
What happens when young people are central to community decision making? How can this be done?
16:00
Afternoon tea
16:30
SIITR National Pitchfest
The SIITR National Pitchfest is a popular feature of the annual SIITR event schedule.
Join our panel, 2023 winner Amanda Di Medici and our pitch-ees for this exciting event supported by StartSomeGood.
18:00
Welcome event
Hosted at the Grafton Cathedral
Join us for canapes and a cool drink, network with colleagues and unpack day one.
Day 2 - Thursday, 4th September
Registration from 8am conference will commence at 9am sharp
09:00
Welcome to Day 2
09:30
Panel conversation:
Getting the rubber to the road, moving into action
It’s one thing to think about change – but how do you actually move into action?
Featuring: Marcus Watson (CEO, BackTrack), Dimity Podger (Co-founder Regen Labs), Crystal Taylor (National Communities of Focus Lead, Service Design and Innovation Team, Mission Australia) and Ashley Watt (Why Leave Town).
10:20
Panel conversation:
The work of healing
Holding ourselves, our organisations and our communities. The role of healing in community work.
Convened by: Carmen Stewart (Imagine Northern Rivers)
Featuring: Julia Keady (Benefolk Services), Father Jesse Poole (Anglican Parish, Kempsey), Paul Dutton (First 2000 days Program Manager) and Geoff Woolcock (Uni SQ)
11:20
Morning Tea
12:00
Breakout Sessions (Round 1)
Learn from others who are working and investing in regional communities.
Developing Community Capital
Meaghan Burkett - Ethical Fields
Navigating Systems
Ryan Martin – Centre for Policy Development
Skills for place work
Jane Anderson, Director, Enable, PLACE Australia,
Data decision making
Teresa Bullock-Smith, REMPLAN
Podcasting for Impact – Telling Regional Stories with Purpose
Liz Keen, Headline Productions
13:00
Break for Lunch
14:15
Breakout Sessions (Round 2)
Learn from others who are working and investing in regional communities.
Impact Investment
Tom Dawkins, StartSomeGood
Authentic Youth-leadership opportunities in everyday community practice
Jen Parke, Human Nature and local youth representatives
Co-design through a First Nations lens
Impact Policy team featuring Sean McCarthy
Employment generating social enterprise
Mark Daniels, Whitebox Enterprises with guest Jill Ashley, Shoretrack
Leading in the regions
Dr. Werner Vogels, Australian Rural Leadership Foundation
15:45-1615
Afternoon debrief
Afternoon debrief
Join us back at the conference venue for an afternoon debrief and preparation for our Gala Dinner.
18:00
Conference Gala Dinner - The Hero's Journey, Unleash your Superpowers
Our 2025 dinner theme was chosen by last year’s best dressed Aunty Vicki Taylor. YOUR SUPERPOWERS.
You’ve carried communities. Held the line. Shown up when it mattered most. Now, it’s your turn. The Hero’s Journey: Unleash Your Superpowers is your invitation to step out of the everyday and into the extraordinary — for one unforgettable night of colour, courage, and connection. Come dressed as your superhero self. This is not optional — it’s part of the spell. Who will you be when you stop hiding your power? What happens when hundreds of heroes gather in one place, ready to remember who they are? Join us. Let go. Power up. And prepare for a night like no other.
22:30
Home time
Day 3 - Friday, 5th September
Registration from 830am, conference will commence at 910am sharp
09:10
Welcome
Welcome to Day 3
Taz and Em, Futures Isle
How do you want your community to be? Exploring readiness with the SIITR25 Youth Delegates.
Activity 1: Clarity and Understanding
Activity 2: Connection and connectivity
Activity 3: Capability and capacity
Activity 4: Collaboration for purpose
Activity 5: Advocacy and promotion
10:30
Morning Tea
ACTION PLAN
Unpack your conference learning and create a plan to take back to your community.
12:30
Closing ceremony with Simon Jankelson followed by lunch (take away option)
ACTION PLAN
OPTIONAL: We understand that some delegates will leave following the closing ceremony. The conference space will remain open for continued planning time, networking and R&R prior to travel until 3pm.
