Three fast-paced days in Melbourne delivered exactly what our sector needed: site tours that put practice in context, keynotes that challenged and inspired, buzzing breakouts, and two awards programs celebrating work that delivers real impact. The through-line? Engagement belongs in the room where decisions are made—early, consistently and credibly.
That’s a Wrap
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400+ delegates across three days (27 – 29 October)
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16 awards finalists across the Core Values Awards and Engagement Excellence Awards
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4 Excellence Awards presented on the night
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2 keynotes, 1 keynote cabaret, dozens of sessions and breakouts
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4 site tours showcasing engagement in context
Day 1 Site Tours: Practice You Can Stand In
Before the plenaries, delegates took to the city to see engagement shaping delivery on the ground. Highlights included the Metro Tunnel — State Library Station (a behind-the-scenes look beneath Swanston Street and a precinct reimagined for people), Tracks of Change (how engagement informs accessibility, wayfinding and place), the University of Melbourne Student Precinct (youth-led co-creation and First Nations design), and Project Cultivate at Melbourne General Cemetery (biodiversity and community in a heritage setting).
Metro Tunnel tour snapshot: We stepped behind the scenes at State Library Station to see, first-hand, how this city-shaping project is taking form beneath Melbourne—and how the precinct is being reimagined into safer, more connected public spaces.
Day 2: Demographics, Decisions and a Debate
We opened with Bernard Salt AM, connecting population growth, ageing and migration to social cohesion—and why engagement is mission-critical for delivery over the next decade. The day kept its edge with a lively, future-focused debate: Is engagement helping or holding us back? Two sides stress-tested assumptions about speed, trust and results in housing, energy and climate responses. In renewables, the question “What’s in it for the community?” pushed beyond incentives to early listening, place-based benefit sharing and locally defined measures of impact.
Day 3: Authenticity, Participation and a Bold Finale
Becky Hirst’s keynote turned the room from audience to participants. Rather than presenting at the sector, Becky invited everyone to co-own the session—prompting live reflections, slide-shares and a playful prize draw to surface what resonated most. It was engagement about engagement: practical, candid and energising.
We closed with Isabella GiaVulva’s cabaret keynote Off Leash—a witty, fearless mirror held up to consultation culture that had the room laughing, cringing and reflecting in equal measure.
Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Practice
Momentum culminated in two celebrations:
- Federal Village Masterplan (Byron Shire Council & the Federal Village Masterplan Steering Group)
- Doomadgee Future Planning Project (Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council, Circ Design, Meridian Urban & Queensland Government)
View the 2025 Excellence Awards winners and case studies here.
Category winners and highly commended projects showcased sector-leading practice across planning, infrastructure, energy, inclusion and more—each grounded in values, evidence and measurable community outcomes.
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Organisation of the Year: Latrobe Health Assembly
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Project of the Year: Boorloo Bridge: Building a Bridge Between Two Cultures — Causeway Link Alliance and partners
View all the 2025 Core Values Awards winners and case studies here.
View the Annual Conference 2025 Photos
- Annual Conference 2025 Photos: Day 1
- Annual Conference 2025 Photos: Day 2
- Annual Conference 2025 Photos: Gala Dinner
- Annual Conference 2025 Photos: Day 3
What’s Next
Keep the conversations going: reconnect with speakers, explore the award case studies, and share your takeaways with your teams. Thanks to every presenter, panellist, tour host, entrant and delegate who helped make Engage. Influence. Inspire. more than a theme—something you could feel in every room.
View the Annual Conference 2025 Images
