A not-to-be-missed

community engagement
event! Join the who's who
of the engagement world!

YOU ARE INVITED...

WEDNESDAY 13 &
THURSDAY 14
SEPTEMBER 2017

What's an (un)Conference?

ST KILDA TOWN HALL, At Engage 2 Act we aim to progress high quality

community engagement. We do this though challenging
CARLISLE ST, ST KILDA the norm and pushing boundaries. 

We feel that the formal set up and programming of a

typical corporate conference can stifle learning
opportunities, networking and creativity. Instead, an
8.30AM-4.30PM DAILY, (un)Conference is a loosely structured conference
emphasising the informal exchange of information and
PLUS NETWORKING ideas between participants, rather than following a
conventionally structured programme of events.
DINNER
We've put together an inspiring mix of leading industry
keynote speakers, practitioner-led curated workshops,
sections of the agenda to be set by participants on the
day, a panel discussion and more. Read on to learn more
about what is going to be the BEST community
SHARE. DISCOVER.
engagement event you have ever attended!
BE INSPIRED.
#E2A17
The theme of the (un)Conference is ‘For the Love of Community Engagement’

Is it the practice itself? The people we encounter? The tools and techniques? The great things we learn
along the way? The capacity we create? The transformation we witness? The legacy we leave?  T he
(un)Conference will explore all of these themes and more.

It is for people at all levels of the community engagement experience, from students and new
practitioners, to our respected engagement elders. We welcome consultants, government employees,
elected officials, interested citizens, and everyone in between. We ask that everyone come prepared to
contribute, and to be stretched….and above all, ready to share their love of community engagement. 

We LOVE our Advocates

Three cheers for these organisations who are financially supporting our (un)Conference. They are "walking the
talk" by assisting in progressing high quality community engagement. And we THANK them!

(C) ENGAGE 2 ACT 2017 • WWW.ENGAGE2ACT.ORG • #E2A17

3 Inspiring Keynote Speakers
Three thought provoking keynote speakers to put you in the mood, to provoke your thinking and
to challenge. Our keynote speakers are the best of the best!  

Stephen Yarwood

Urban futurist, passionate about cities, communities, innovation

and technology, and former Lord Mayor of Adelaide.  

Topic: Smart Citizens and the Self

Organising Communities of
Tomorrow.

Desley Renton

Award-winning engagement leader with expertise in  building

and embedding a culture of progressive community engagement
in organisations.

Topic: For the Love of the Practice  

Professor Lyn Carson

Highly regarded and respected community engagement and

deliberative democracy academic, expert practitioner and author.

Topic: Democratic Innovations
Worldwide: Extraordinary Ideas to
Revitalise Governance.

(C) ENGAGE 2 ACT 2017 • WWW.ENGAGE2ACT.ORG • #E2A17

20 Practitioner-Led Curated Workshops
The (un)Conference will host 19 curated workshops across the two days. The workshops will focus on the theme of
the (Un)Conference ‘for the love of community engagement’, and will ensure delegates learn, discover and share
experiences of community engagement. Visit www.engage2act.org/curate for full details of each workshop.
Making sense of Codesign,
Deliberative Processes and
Collective Impact
Max Hardy, Max Hardy Consulting
Creative online engagement:
nurturing empathy, ideation
and collaborative thinking
Crispin Butteriss, Bang the Table
Step into a new reality -
engaging communities through
virtual and augmented reality
Sarah Hill, Steve Appleby &
Stephanie Potter, Aecom
Authentic, collaborative and
transformative through a
community PlaceMaking lens
From talking to Doing
Gilbert Rochecouste, Village Well  Astrid Ruban, WSP
Next Generation Engagement
Kirsty O’Connell & Sara Bice,
University of Melbourne
Unified Dialogue: An
experimental approach to
resolving issues
Joel Levin, Aha! Consulting
For the love of YOU -
Planning the Future of E2A
Becky Hirst, Engage 2 Act
(C) ENGAGE 2 ACT
What does it mean to be a Taking engagement from
Human-centered designer? zero to HERO within your
Paola Silvano & Kath Mardon, organisation
City of Charles Sturt Dinuki Scharenguivel &
Laura Garner, City of Casey
Three Sides of the Coin -
Engagement in the
Using the creative arts in
regulatory space 
community advocacy 
Ruth Davies & Jessamy
Judy Avisar & Catherine Simmonds 
Nichols, Environment
Protection Authority Victoria
Are you Deliberation Ready? 
Jane Lovejoy & Keith Greaves, The Young Ones -
Mosaic Lab Strengthening engagement
with under 25's
Interactive Mapping basics 
Paul Kooperman, The Field Trip 
Jessica Petersen, Social Pin Point 
The Rural Juror? Engaging
The Invisible Workshop: A Peek regional/rural communities
into the Toolbox of a Spiritually
Minded Community
Engagement Practitioner
Wendy Sarkissian How I wonder what you
think! Engaging with
children on strategies, plans
What’s happening with
and situations
community engagement in
Annie Bolitho & Associates
local government? 
Helen Christensen,
University of Technology Sydney
Is placemaking another fad
Evaluation Ninja   or tool for social change? 
Rob Gravestocks & Amanda Newbery,  Lucinda Hartley & Dani De
Articulous Communications Rose, CoDesign Studio
2017 • WWW.ENGAGE2ACT.ORG • #E2A17
24 Open Sessions
Whilst we have keynote speakers and curated
workshops planned in advance, one of the unique
features of our (un)Conference is the opportunity for
attendees to create sessions on the spot, making for
an energising and freewheeling exchange of
knowledge, ideas and expertise. 

There will be twenty-four open sessions selected,

designed and facilitated by participants during the
(un)Conference.

The (un)Conference MC
The Master of Ceremonies for the duration of the (un)Conference
will be Engage 2 Act's very own President and Co-Founder, Becky
Hirst. Becky will bring her wealth of expertise, facilitation skills
and down right LOVE of community engagement to the two-day
event, keeping us to time, on track and energised!

The Wendy Sarkissian Award

Engage 2 Act is proud to announce the inaugural award for
Courage in the Practice of Community Engagement.  Dr (Aunty)
Wendy is very dear to us.  This award recognises her courageous
approach to life and work.  Over the years we have learnt a great
deal from her and we value her contribution enormously.

This award aims to celebrate courage in the practice of

community engagement so that we all learn and we all grow.  As a
result, we will individually and collectively become braver in our
professional lives.

The award winner will be announced at the opening session of the

Engage to Act (Un)Conference on 13 September 2017. See entry
details at www.engage2act.org/wendy-sarkissian-award

(C) ENGAGE 2 ACT 2017 • WWW.ENGAGE2ACT.ORG • #E2A17

Panel Discussion
The (un)Conference will include a panel discussion with community members, thought leaders and decision
makers. 

Chaired by Chad Foulkes, with Nicole Hunter (Director Fire Light Consulting and Co-Founder MosaicLab),
Professor Lyn Carson and Crikey founder, journalist and former political advisor, Stephen Mayne.

The panel will be a great opportunity for delegates to listen, observe and be inspired by real life stories and real
time discussion.

The topic will be "Is deliberation the answer?" and is sure to include some lively discussion!

Is Delib
eration
the Ans
wer?

#E2A17

(C) ENGAGE 2 ACT 2017 • WWW.ENGAGE2ACT.ORG • #E2A17

FOMO alert!
The following organisations are already coming.
Don't get Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Book today!

Aecom East Gippsland Shire Council

Aha! Consulting Environment Protection Authority Victoria
Annie Bolitho & Associates JTA
Articulous Communications Just Add Lime
Bang the Table Leisa Prowse Consulting
Bastion S&GO Liminal by Design Pty Ltd
Bayside City Council Max Hardy and Associates
Becky Hirst Consulting Mendleson Communication
Belmac Integrated Communication Mosaic Lab
Capire Consulting Group Nation Partners
City of Adelaide Nillumbik Shire Council
City of Casey Projectura
City of Charles Sturt Qbis
City of Melbourne Social Fabric Planning
City of Port Philllip Social Pin Point
City of Stonnington South East Water
City of Yarra Sustainability Victoria
Cochrane Research Solutions The Field Trip
CoDesign Studio University of Melbourne
Commune + Co University of Technology Sydney
Crowdspot Village Well
Deliberations WSP
Department of Justice and Regulation Yarra Ranges Council
Desley Renton Consulting YLab/FYA(Foundation for young Australians)
DEWNR

(un)Conference Dinner
An (un)Conference networking dinner will be
held at the Newmarket Hotel, 34 Inkerman
Street, St Kilda.  Join us for some down time,
whilst meeting and networking with community
engagement enthusiasts from across Australia
and New Zealand, and beyond.

(C) ENGAGE 2 ACT 2017 • WWW.ENGAGE2ACT.ORG • #E2A17

(un)Conference Agenda
Wednesday 13 September Thursday 14 September

8.30am   Registrations, tea & coffee 8.30am   Tea & coffee

9.00am   Welcome & Introductions  9.00am   Welcome & Icebreaker

9.10am    Welcome to Country  9.20am    Keynote speaker: Professor Lyn Carson 

9.25am    Ice-breaker  9.50am    Panel: Is deliberation the answer?

9.40am    Keynote speaker: Stephen Yarwood  10.40am   Break 

10.10am   The Wendy Sarkissian Award for         10.50am   Curated Workshop Sessions #3
                 Courage in Community Engagement
11.50am    Curated Workshop Sessions #4
10.30am  Break
12.50pm   Lunch 
10.45am  Curated Workshop Sessions #1 
1.20pm      (un)Conference Check-in 
11.45am   Curated Workshop Sessions #2
1.30pm     Curated Workshop Sessions #5
12.45pm  Lunch 
2.30pm    Open Sessions #3
1.15pm    Keynote speaker: Desley Renton 
3.30pm    Closing activity
1.45pm   (un)Conference Design 
4.15pm     Plenary
2.15pm   Open Sessions #1 
4.30pm    Close 
3.15pm   Open Sessions #2 

4.15pm   Day 1 Wrap Up 

4.30pm  Close 

6.30-9.30pm Drinks & Dinner at The

Newmarket Hotel, 34 Inkerman Street, St
Kilda, including awarding of The Wendy
Sarkissian Award for Courage in Community
Engagement. 

(C) ENGAGE 2 ACT 2017 • WWW.ENGAGE2ACT.ORG • #E2A17

What is Engage 2 Act?
Engage 2 Act is a collective of individuals committed to progressing high quality community engagement
practice. We bring people together to share and learn through hosting local events and facilitating professional
development opportunities. Our collective is fast growing across the globe but our success lies with our local
networks and event organisers. 

Our board provides the overall governance and strategic direction for the organisation and aims to energise and
empower the passionate collective of practitioners and people who are interested in community engagement.
Our board members are all active and passionate practitioners in the community engagement space. 

From left to right, our Board: Anthony Aisenberg, Eleanor Howe,  Sandra Jerkovic, Andrew Coulson, Megan Girdler,
Desley Renton, Amy Hubbard, Becky Hirst,  Clare Murrell. 

Register today
Cost: $495 for full registration and $295 for
concessions. Registration covers all
(un)Conference materials and food and drinks
(note, it does not cover alcohol at the
networking dinner).

For registration details and accommodation

recommendations, visit our website. Invoices
available by emailing unconference@engage2act.org 

www.engage2act.org/register