My Research

Community-centred governance and capital: an exploration of power, equity, and inclusion in Australian place-based systems change

This doctoral study looks at how people working together can transform their communities.

It aims to generate practical insights into inclusive local governance and investment models that build community wealth and wellbeing.

The purpose of this site is to share my PhD research interests and insights, so that others can engage with and benefit from this work.

This research project takes place on Aboriginal land. I pay my respects to the Traditional Custodians, and commit to conducting this work in a way that honours Indigenous wisdom and sovereignty.

There is no part of this place that was not, is not, cared for, loved by, an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander nation

There are no trees, rivers, hills, stars, that were not, are not, someone’s kin

— Ambelin Kwaymullina, Living on Stolen Land

Australia always was and always will be traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

Re-imagining community governance and capital: redefining the Golden Rule

As a kid, my Dad would often invoke what he called the Golden Rule: "Those who hold the gold, make the rules."

In our household, this translated to: "I make the money, I make the rules."

Today, the Golden Rule takes on a new meaning for me. It captures the essence of structural injustices deeply embedded in our society: our current economic and financial systems favour those who already control substantial capital— the metaphorical and literal gold. Meanwhile, many— particularly those marginalised by our systems— are excluded from decisions that directly impact their lives.

However, these systems hold seeds for major change.

What if we could redefine the Golden Rule?

What if we could shift systems so communities collectively hold the 'gold' and work together to make new rules?

These questions are at the heart of my PhD research—a learning process to explore how we can reshape governance and capital systems to serve the many, not just the few, and create conditions for Australian communities to determine local futures.

Setting the scene: context and insights 

Australia is changing. Our economic, political, social and environmental systems are deeply interconnected, creating complex situations no single group can address alone. These changes are shaped by local contexts and experienced differently—often unequally—across communities. This complexity brings challenges but also opens new paths for shared progress and innovation.

There's a growing focus on 'place-based' approaches: strategies prioritising local knowledge, decision-making and resources. These approaches aim to develop context-specific responses and support people working together for long-term change.

The current landscape

    • Significant rise in place-based investment over the past decade to address entrenched disadvantage and build community resilience.

    • Recent government initiatives, including the Albanese Government's 2023 budget allocation of $199.8 million over six years for social impact initiatives, and the establishment of the National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration (Nexus Centre) in 2025.

    • Creation of the Place Based Capital Network to explore the development of local, community-led investment funds linked to a common national structure.

    • The 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan acknowledges the benefits of place-based approaches, emphasising economic, environmental, social, and governance outcomes.

    • Growing interest in bioregional approaches that emphasise ecologically-defined regions in sustainability efforts.

    • Increasing activity at federal, state, and territory levels to broaden measures of progress, focusing on place and social determinants of health, wealth, and wellbeing.

    • Introduction of the 2023 Measuring What Matters framework, Australia's first national wellbeing framework.

    • The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2024 outlines how economic instability, climate change, misinformation, and geopolitical tensions are interconnected, creating complex challenges that no single actor can address alone. The report suggests that targeted local investments and regulations can help manage these risks and build resilience.


    • Rapid changes in the renewable energy landscape, particularly in regional and rural Australia.

    • The Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative estimates a need for an additional $225 billion of investment by 2050 for an integrated clean energy and industrial system.

    • The federal Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) aims to establish 23 GW of new renewable energy and 9 GW of storage across regions by 2030.

    • Increasing trend towards community benefit sharing in energy and resource projects, though true community equity ownership remains rare.

    • Agreement-making processes have shifted towards more comprehensive models that go beyond land access and compensation, focusing on long-term community development and economic participation.

    • Increasing focus on mine closure planning and post-mining transitions, with examples like the Gove Peninsula Futures Reference Group. This reflects a growing recognition of the need to leverage mining infrastructure and capabilities to support new economic opportunities in regional areas after mining.

    • Growing emphasis on responsible sourcing and supply chains, with initiatives like the Copper Mark certification program emerging in the minerals industry.

    • The minerals industry is implementing the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) accountability framework to assess and communicate site-level management.

    • The industry has set an ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, as outlined in the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) Climate Action Plan.

    • Court decisions and legislative changes over the past 30-40 years, notably, Mabo decision (1992) and the subsequent Native Title Act (1993), have resulted in First Nations peoples holding interests in 60-70% of Australia's land mass, increasing to approximately 90% across northern Australia.

    • In the resources sector, 60% of Australian projects operate on land covered by Native Title claims, highlighting the importance of First Nations engagement.

    • Growing focus on increasing First Nations participation in mining supply chains and leadership roles, with the emergence of Aboriginal-owned minerals projects, such as Gulkula and Winchelsea Mining in the Northern Territory.

    • Establishment of First Nations Clean Energy Network ensuring First Nations people play a central role in, and equitably benefit from, Australia’s transition to renewables.

    • Formation of a First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance to champion major economic reform in Australia. This alliance advocates for a comprehensive framework that includes land rights, freshwater rights, sea Country rights, cultural and intellectual property rights, and rights in financial assets.

    • Growing interest in the concept of legal personhood for nature, with notable global examples, most recently Aotearoa/New Zealand introduced the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill 2024. Australian developments include The Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017; and the establishment of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council in 2018, advocating for the recognition of 'First Lore' and the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) as a living 'ancestral being.'

    • Increasing recognition of the potential for bioregional approaches and environmental personhood concepts to integrate traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary sustainability practices.

    • Only 2% of global impact assets are held within Australia, indicating significant growth potential.

    • Growing adoption of responsible investing principles, coupled with a shift towards evaluating overall organisational performance, including treatment of stakeholders and community impact.

    • Establishment of First Nations Funders Network and movement towards centring First Nations peoples’ experiences in philanthropic giving models signals a commitment to increasing support for First Nations philanthropy.

    • Growing demand for non-prescriptive funding to support creativity and inclusivity in project design.

    • Increasing recognition of the importance of self-determination and local autonomy in place-based models, with a growing emphasis on investments that are locally led, owned and governed.

    • Emergence of initiatives supporting new 'community-led' fund managers, recognising that those with lived experience of societal challenges are best placed to direct capital to their communities.

    • Formation of the Foundation Group for Impact Investing (FGII) to promote and streamline impact investing in Australia.

    • The Australian government has shown support for impact investing through the establishment of a $100 million Outcomes Fund and an $11.6 million Social Enterprise Development initiative in the May 2023 federal budget.

    • The Australian Government has pledged to collaborate with philanthropy to double giving by 2030. A key area of collaboration includes the Investment Dialogue for Australia's Children (IDAC), focusing on scaling up place-based interventions developed by local communities.


Challenges and gaps

    • High reliance on competitive, short-term grants leading to fragmented responses to complex issues.

    • Funding for collaborative, community-led initiatives often focuses on early stages, leaving gaps in long-term resourcing and sustainability.

    • Disconnect between local efforts and those with the power to fund and scale initiatives.

    • Difficulty in aligning funding models with bioregional thinking and environmental personhood concepts, which emphasise long-term, holistic approaches.

    • Many communities lack the expertise, coordinating structures, or investment mechanisms to effectively activate local assets or manage investments.

    • High costs and complexity associated with establishing and operating effective investment vehicles, including legal, governance, and regulatory requirements.

    • The Australian market lacks a range of investors to provide well-rounded and adequate choices required by For-Purpose Organisations (FPOs).

    • Australia currently lacks the legal and structural infrastructure to enable whole-of-community ownership of assets that support benefits and risks to be collocated in community.

    • Shifting from a proponent-led model to one that empowers multiple stakeholders in mine closure and transition planning. The current model places most responsibility on mining companies, limiting opportunities for post-mining investors and communities to actively engage in decision-making.

    • Managing residual risks and liabilities after mine closure in a way that gives confidence to communities and future land users. There are gaps in regulatory frameworks for the post-mining landscape.

    • Balancing different stakeholder interests and visions for post-mining land use and economic development. There can be tensions between environmental rehabilitation, cultural heritage protection, and new economic opportunities.

    • Building trust and maintaining social license to operate, especially in light of past incidents like the destruction of Juukan Gorge.traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary sustainability practices.

    • Despite legislative changes, existing law continues to undermine First Nations rights and custodial responsibilities. For instance, the granting of mining tenements can restrict or suspend certain native title rights.

    • Limited fungibility of native title and First Nations land assets restricts economic development opportunities.

    • Absence of a comprehensive macro-economic policy for First Nations peoples, resulting in significant consequences for communities.

    • Notable gap in impact funds led by those with 'lived experience' of the societal and environmental issues that impact funds seek to solve.

    • Persistent challenges in income inequality, housing affordability, and environmental sustainability, despite Australia's high performance on some international comparisons.

    • Tension between economic development goals and the preservation of bioregional integrity and environmental rights.

    • Legal and conceptual challenges hindering the implementation of environmental personhood within current governance structures. International rights-of-nature decisions have been challenged, with two cases legally overturned due to liability issues. These outcomes highlight the incongruence between Western legal frameworks and Indigenous cultural authority, and the limitations of environmental personhood alone in protecting significant cultural and environmental assets.


Emerging opportunities

    • Growing discussions on increasing fungibility of First Nations assets whilst preserving native title integrity.

    • Exploring models that could allow for long-term leasing or other commercial arrangements while maintaining First Nations ownership.

    • Considering ways to unlock economic potential and redefine 'value' without compromising social, environmental, and cultural aspects.

    • Potential for bioregional and environmental personhood approaches to inform new models of asset utilisation that respect both economic and ecological imperatives.

    • Potential to transform resource and renewable industries to prioritise First Nations leadership and support self-determined development.

    • Opportunity to effectively coordinate and amplify the impact of private and public investment.

    • Opportunity for co-ownership between communities, industry, government, philanthropy, and other investors to catalyse local-level change.

    • Opportunity to develop new models for benefit-sharing and joint ventures between communities and industry.

    • Developing new governance models that place local communities, First Nations groups, and other stakeholders as partners in planning mine transitions and closures.

    • Leveraging mining infrastructure, assets and capabilities to support new economic opportunities in regional areas after mining.

    • Exploring the application of environmental personhood concepts in industry partnerships and resource management.

    • Growing recognition of the need to move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility to more substantive, community-driven benefit sharing arrangements.

    • Emerging models for ensuring local communities receive tangible benefits from development projects, particularly in renewable energy and resource sectors.

    • Expansion and strengthening of the place-based community foundations network. 

    • Emerging models of blended finance to support community-led fund managers, including concessional capital, technical assistance, and transaction design, enabling managers to build and demonstrate a track record.

    • Opportunity to strengthen place-based funding models and advocacy efforts through enhanced collaboration among key initiatives such as the Foundation Group for Impact Investing (FGII), Place Based Capital Network, Community Foundations Australia, First Nations Funders Network, and the National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration (Nexus Centre), potentially catalysing significant reforms.

    • Potential for bioregional governance models and environmental personhood frameworks to inform new funding structures that prioritise long-term ecological and community wellbeing.

    • Opportunity to integrate bioregional thinking and environmental rights into community investment strategies, emphasising ecological and cultural contexts.

    • The Measuring What Matters framework provides a foundation for embedding wellbeing considerations into government decision-making. This approach could shift paradigms towards broader definitions of value and capital, moving beyond traditional metrics like Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    • The Murru Waaruu Outcomes Report provides a framework for economic reform centred on First Nations economic empowerment and proposes a structure for Treaty-like Agreements and Settlement. Australia can learn from international policies supporting Indigenous economic self-determination, drawing on examples from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.

    • Potential for environmental and Ancestral personhood laws to inform new approaches to environmental protection, community resilience, and First Nations self-determination in Australia. Future rights-of-nature frameworks could include well-defined legal rights and appointed guardians, established as separate legal entities with limited liability, supported by interest group representatives.

    • Potential for new legislation and legal structures that support whole-of-community ownership of assets and enterprises. International examples, such as the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and Community Interest Companies (CICs) in the UK, offer valuable insights.

    • Potential for new regulatory frameworks that support the establishment and growth of community-led fund managers, learning from international examples such as the UK's Access Foundation and Canada's support for Indigenous funds.

    • Opportunity to advance mutually informed and reinforcing legislation in Australia, supporting community-centred and governed capital, leading to improved socio-economic outcomes for all Australians while protecting cultural and environmental assets. Key areas for policy reform include:

      • Macroeconomic development policy focused on First Nations economic self-determination

      • New laws supporting whole-of-community ownership of assets

      • Enhanced legislation better upholding rights-of-nature decisions

The research gap

Current funding models and limited local investment options impact the effectiveness and long-term viability of place-based strategies. Moreover, many community members lack equal opportunity to influence, invest in, or benefit from these initiatives.

While there's recognition that we need to rethink resourcing and governance of place-based change in Australia, we're still developing our understanding of what is required.

Knowledge gaps

  • We need to better understand the preconditions and processes necessary to initiate, sustain, and scale community-led change efforts over time.

  • We need to better understand the structures, approaches, and competencies required to ensure equitable representation, decision-making, and benefit-sharing in community-led initiatives.

  • We need to understand the mechanisms, strategies, and expertise required to mobilise and govern various forms of community capital to drive sustainable, place-based change.

Assumptions

  • Systemic inequities are deeply embedded within specific local contexts, shaping community experiences and opportunities. These contexts necessitate place-based approaches and offer valuable insights into broader conditions for change, informing the development of more effective and scalable community-led solutions.


  • Change efforts require a shift from deficit narratives to strength-based approaches. Community-centred change prioritises local perspectives, leadership and decision-making, focusing on collective capabilities and shared visions rather than 'problems'. It supports whole-of-community ownership, by identifying pathways for agency and action towards a desired future.

  • Communities, particularly within the Australian context, are not homogeneous. While initiatives can be 'community informed' or 'community-led', these approaches do not automatically guarantee inclusivity, equity, or justice. This necessitates justice-centred community governance and capital models that acknowledge diversity and continually address systemic barriers to engagement, decision-making, and benefit distribution.


  • Equity is an active, ongoing process rather than a fixed endpoint. As we centre marginal experiences, new margins emerge. Building an equitable Australia involves fostering a culture that values and celebrates difference, while continuously reassessing and adapting our approaches to community-led change.

  • There is an opportunity to leverage various types of community capital beyond traditional financial assets, encompassing natural resources, cultural heritage, social networks, human capabilities, and physical infrastructure. For First Nations peoples, cultural capital includes customary laws (Lore) and practices acknowledging deep connections to ancestral lands and beings. These diverse forms of capital reflect the economic, social, cultural, and ecological dimensions of community wealth, emphasising the interconnectedness of people and place, community and Country.

  • Current structures and capabilities often insufficiently support genuine community custodianship of assets and locally-led development.

    Local financial structures, however, offer potential to reshape power dynamics and deliver positive long-term impact. If effectively implemented, these structures could center community voices in decision-making, aligning investments with local priorities. Additionally, locally governed community-centred capital may enable ongoing reinvestment and drive sustainable, place-based change.

  • Existing legislative frameworks often inadvertently reinforce systemic barriers to community-centred capital initiatives and locally-led development. A supportive policy environment is crucial to overcome challenges in replicability and scalability, underscoring the need for policy innovation that actively supports community ownership of assets, enhances local decision-making power, and facilitates the growth of successful community-led solutions.


  • Effective systemic change requires a coordinated approach across communities, First Nations groups, commercial business, philanthropy, financial services, and government. This coordination is essential for developing necessary structures, conditions, and capabilities for community-centred capital and development.


  • The ongoing energy transition and increasing demand for critical minerals present a significant opportunity to develop community-centred investment models, particularly in resource-rich regions. This transition offers a unique moment to reshape engagement, benefit-sharing, and governance structures in the resources sector.

My PhD research at a glance

My PhD research examines how community governance of local capital can support fair, inclusive, and sustainable progress in Australia.

This PhD research project is conducted through Flinders University's Centre for Social Impact.

  • Australia is experiencing significant changes across its economic, political, social, and environmental systems. These changes affect communities differently and often unequally. While "place-based" approaches that prioritise local knowledge and decision-making are gaining momentum, existing funding models and limited local investment opportunities can restrict their impact. Many community members remain without equal access to influence or benefit from these efforts.

    The ongoing energy transition and rising demand for critical minerals highlight the need for strong place-based strategies, particularly in resource-rich regions. These shifts create opportunities to develop community-centred governance and investment models that reshape how communities engage with and benefit from both the resources sector and community development.

    This PhD research project investigates how local governance of capital can deliver broad community benefits and sustain place-based initiatives. Specifically, my research examines regions undergoing energy and mining transitions, exploring how inclusive governance and investment models can help build community wealth and long-term wellbeing.

  • The key research question asks: How can a community-centred approach, emphasising inclusive representation, support equitable progress and enhance the long-term sustainability of collaborative place-based change initiatives within the Australian context?

  • This applied-research project is guided by two primary objectives:

    1. Explore how collaborative governance structures and processes can strengthen community voice and advance equity and inclusion.

    2. Analyse how community-controlled capital and financial structures can redistribute power and enhance the sustainability of place-based change.

    To achieve these objectives, the project will investigate:

    Context and power dynamics

    • Unpack how Australia's unique contexts shape community-led change efforts

    • Examine how current local governance structures might maintain, worsen, or create new forms of inequity

    • Listen to diverse perspectives on power, justice, equity, and inclusion to identify enablers of fair participation

    Energy and resource transitions

    • Map emerging opportunities and challenges in Australia's energy transition landscape

    • Investigate how transition policies and investment frameworks impact local communities

    • Explore models for community participation in renewable energy and critical minerals development

    Governance approaches

    • Explore how Western, bio-regional, and cultural governance approaches can strengthen community-led change

    • Identify conditions, structures, and processes that elevate local leadership and decision-making

    • Analyse the relationship between community agency and local financial structures

    Financial independence and sustainability

    • Investigate how community-controlled finances can redistribute power in place-based change

    • Examine how financial independence strengthens the sustainability of community-led initiatives

    • Explore policy mechanisms that support community investment in transition opportunities

  • This research addresses critical gaps in both theory and practice of community-led change in Australia. The project:

    • Bridges multiple academic disciplines including social geography, anthropology, social psychology, governance studies, social innovation, and social economy theory

    • Draws on practice frameworks and diverse knowledge systems and ways of knowing

    • Brings together perspectives from communities, industry, government, philanthropy, and civil society sectors

    It comes at a pivotal moment as communities seek greater control over local assets and development, including in regions experiencing significant transitions.

    Expected outcomes include:

    • An evidence-based framework for community-centred governance and capital models

    • Practical tools for implementing community-led decision-making and benefit-sharing approaches

    • Policy recommendations to strengthen community-owned structures, including legislative reforms

    • New insights into power redistribution through community-controlled financial structures

    • Documentation of diverse perspectives on equity and inclusion in community-governed approaches

    The findings will benefit policymakers, community leaders, practitioners, and organisations across public, private, and philanthropic sectors at local, regional, and national levels, particularly those working towards more equitable and sustainable community outcomes.

  • I'm Kate Williams, a practitioner and PhD student focused on community-centred change. I am a white, cis-gendered woman of Hungarian/Yugoslavian (Croatian) and Welsh/Scottish ancestry. I use she/her pronouns.

    I was born and live on Tandanya, the unceded lands of the Kaurna people, also known as Adelaide, South Australia. Australia's history is characterised by systemic inequities and colonial structures that continue to shape our policies and practices. As a white, non-Indigenous researcher, I acknowledge my privileged position and the responsibility this carries in my work.

    Western research methods have historically been instruments of colonisation. Today, researchers are increasingly embracing transformative and Indigenist approaches that challenge traditional academic paradigms. This evolution towards more inclusive and culturally responsive methodologies fundamentally shapes my research approach.

    My research examines communities and regions at the forefront of Australia's energy transition. The growing demand for critical minerals and renewable energy creates opportunities to develop community-centred investment models in resource-rich regions, reshaping engagement, benefit-sharing, and governance in the resources sector. Recognising historical injustices in resource extraction and land rights, this research aims to centre local voices and knowledge systems, drawing on both past experiences and emerging innovations to support just and equitable transitions.

    Guided by principles of reciprocity and relational accountability, this research involves extended engagement with place and people as active participants in knowledge creation. Through sustained presence and practice alongside community members as co-inquirers, the research design prioritises deep understanding over breadth of comparison.

  • Taking a pluralistic research approach, this study is guided by a transformative paradigm while actively engaging with and learning from Indigenous research paradigms. The approach involves:

    Research design

    • Qualitative methodology emphasising participatory action learning and action research

    • Single case-study approach enabling deep engagement and co-inquiry

    • Extended time in place to support contextual learning and meaningful collaboration

    Methodological principles

    • Prioritising local voices, processes, and governance structures

    • Commitment to co-learning and co-creation of knowledge

    • Recognition of multiple ways of knowing and knowledge systems

    • Emphasis on place-based understanding and relational accountability

    Knowledge and relationality

    • Learning from and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems, particularly understandings of Country and cultural governance

    • Understanding relationships through diverse cultural perspectives and worldviews

    • Acknowledging connections between human and more-than-human worlds

    • Grounding research in local context and lived experience

  • Phase One: Discovery and relationship building (Nov 2023 - Nov 2025)

    A focused discovery process, establishing relationships and partnerships to gather insights and clarify enablers, barriers, and priorities across the field, including:

    • Literature review

    • Semi-structured interviews and focus groups

    • Building relationships and partnerships

    Phase Two: Co-inquiry and co-devlopment (Dec 2025 - Oct 2029)

    Based on Phase One findings, this phase focuses on a local research partnership to support the co-development and incubation of community-centred governance and capital approaches, including:

    • Establishment of local research site and partnerships

    • Co-development of community-governed capital models and frameworks

    • Testing and refinement of approaches through practical application

    Recognising that equity is inherently context-specific, Phase Two involves extended engagement with a single place. By invitation, I hope to spend four years living and working alongside community members as co-inquirers. This approach enables deep collaborative analysis and ensures community experiences and perspectives inform all aspects of the research.

  • This project aims to establish a governance model that convenes diverse stakeholders in a cross-sectoral partnership centred on shared inquiry and learning. 

    A Governance Group would bring together leaders from Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, community groups, industry, finance, philanthropy, government, and academia to ensure the research balances academic rigour with real-world impact.

    The establishment of the Governance Group will occur in two phases:

    Phase One: Scoping and relationship building (Nov 2023 - Nov 2025):

    • Identify potential partners across sectors

    • Building relationships and trust with prospective partners

    • Algin interests and expectations with research project

    Phase Two: Formal cross-sectoral learning partnership (Dec 2025 - Oct 2029)

    • Facilitate a formal process to establish clear expectations, shared values, and mutual benefits

    • Formalise governance structures and decision-making processes

  • This doctoral research project benefits from cross-sectoral supervision combining academic and industry expertise:

    Academic supervisors:

    • Principal Supervisor: Dr Selina Tually, Deputy Director, Centre for Social Impact, Flinders University

    • Associate Supervisor: Dr Ian Goodwin-Smith, Director, Centre for Social Impact, Flinders University

    Industry supervisors*:

    • Meaghan Burkett, Executive Director and Place Based Capital Lead, Ethical Fields

    • Mark Yettica-Paulson, Chief, Super Native Unlimited; Deep Collaboration Practice Lead, Collaboration for Impact

    • Chris Rowlands, Global Technical Lead, Regional Economic Development, Rio Tinto

    *Industry advisors represent personal professional relationships built on mutual interest in learning, separate from formal industry agreements.

An invitation 

I'm currently in the early stages of building relationships and scoping potential partnerships. If you'd like to learn more about the project or discuss future involvement, please get in touch to set up a time for a virtual or in-person cuppa!

Credit and acknowledgement 

My research focus, including the field insights presented, has been shaped by numerous conversations and years of field experience working in economic inclusion and community-strengthening.

  • Field insights were based on conversation transcripts taken with OtterAi, discussion notes, academic articles, grey literature, as well as my own observation notes and analysis. 

Acknowledgements

I am deeply grateful to the many individuals and organisations who have contributed their knowledge, perspectives, and support over the years which has enabled me to get to this time-point. The views expressed in this research are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the individuals and organisations mentioned below.

  • Selina Tually and Ian Goodwin-Smith, for your patience, guidance, and supporting me step into the world of academia. 

  • Meaghan Burkett, Mark Yettica-Paulson, and Chris Rowlands who have provided invaluable insights into the practical applications and real-world implications of my research.

  • Particularly Anna Powell, Min Wah Voon and Sarah Callaghan, who offered a rich environment for learning and working over two years. They're to credit for deepening my understanding of the enablers of community-led systems change, and supporting me to clarify my research focus and approach.

  • The team driving the work of the Place Based Capital Program, including Meagahn Burkett, Kate Simpson, Samantha Doove, Gareth Priday, Shane Arthurson and Jenny Saveera. Their work on community wealth-building and place-based capital solutions has been instrumental in my thinking and has also sharpened my research interests. My research is inspired by and builds on the work of the Place Based Capital program. Thank you for your generosity and mentorship.

  • Those who have generously shared their time and insights over virtual and in-person cuppas, helping me clarify my thinking. This non-exhaustive list includes (in no particular order): Niall Fay, Olivia Naughtin, Jock Noble, Sue Gilbey, Cari Taylor, Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, Kim Doohan, Bree Katsamangos, Chris Rowlands,  Kirsten Smith, Andy Yeates, Liz Storr, Vic Thom, Teresa Hutchins, Donna Moodie, Howard Pederson, Peter Yu, Cindy Reese Mitchell, Ian Bird, Ben Smith, Sarah Wright, Alison Harwood, Juli Coffin, Eula Rohan, Sharon Fraser, Peter Saunders, Ariella Helfgott, Alex Hannant, Cheryl-Godwell Pepper, Lisa Ryan, Luke Craven, Kerry Graham, Lee-Anne Buckskin, and Jake Dunagan.

  • For their mentorship on cultural governance and how to do things 'right way.' This non-exhaustive list includes Yisah Bin Omar, Pat Mamanjun Torres, Susan Murphy, Sonia Tait, Leena Buckle, Diana Larkin, Uja Sebastian, Steven Nulgit, Wayne Barker, Sandy Moore, Robyn Wells, Patricia Juboy, Natasha Short, Anne Poelina, Tina Watson, Lachie Carracher, Trent Harewa, Geoff Harewa, Wendy Albert, Marion Bear, Nat Davey, Jenni Gould, and many others who have shared their wisdom and experiences. I appreciate the cups of tea, Toyota Therapy, and the occasional 'growling.’ You gifted me the education of a life-time.

  • Kit, who has become my bedrock. He always listens, even when he's not quite sure what I'm rabbiting on about. He consistently seeks to understand my perspectives while gently challenging them. I’m grateful for the way he regularly brings me back from the abstract to the practical and applicable, grounding my ideas in what is important.

  • Finally, my deepest gratitude goes to my parents.

    My Mum, Mary-Ann, who, true to her Eastern European sensibilities, has a personal commitment to keeping me well-fed (whether I need it or not) and caring for those around her. She taught me the value of genuinely listening to people and hearing their story, and imparted her curiosity, creativity, and courage to pursue unlikely, untenable ideas.

    My Dad, Brian, my lifelong intellectual companion. As my original thought partner and most trusted critical friend, he has shaped my analytical thinking and perseverance. I am grateful for his wisdom, including the sage advice to "eat the elephant bit by bit" and, my personal favourite, to “never bullshit a bullshitter.”

Inspirations

Key inspirations and bodies of work that inform my thinking include:

  • Intricacies of how people gather, learn, and create together, and the invisible threads of connection that govern these interactions. This fascination extends to Process Work, the wisdom of Taoism, self-organising principles found in nature, and First Law (Lore and cultural governance).

  • This research draws on holistic design approaches inspired by living systems. It incorporates ideas from systems thinking, complexity theory, permaculture, and pattern language, as developed by thinkers like Donella Meadows, David Holmgren, and Christopher Alexander. These approaches help us understand and design complex, adaptive community systems that can thrive in changing environment.

  • Governance models that promote adaptive, participatory systems. These include polycentric approaches with multiple decision-making centres, bioregional governance aligned with ecological boundaries, sociocracy's consent-based structures, holocracy's self-organising teams, and the flexible networks of constellation governance. Collectively, these models emphasise the importance of responsive, locally-attuned systems that can evolve with changing needs. They prioritise broad participation, distributed authority and the integration of diverse perspectives, aiming to create more resilient and inclusive community structures.


  • Alternative economic models that prioritise community wellbeing and sustainability. These include Doughnut Economics, balancing social and environmental needs; Community Wealth Building, leveraging local assets; Neighbourhood Economics, focusing on hyperlocal initiatives; and Wellbeing Economics, measuring progress beyond traditional growth metrics. Additionally, it explores the B Corp movement, which certifies companies meeting high standards of social and environmental performance. These frameworks and practices offer new ways to build resilient, responsible local economies while addressing broader societal and environmental concerns.


  • Place-based approaches and co-authorship with Country, as exemplified by Indigenous scholars like Dr Anne Poelina and the Bawaka Collective. These methodologies recognise land as a living entity and active participant in research, integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into academic practices. By challenging Western-centric paradigms, these approaches promote more ethical, inclusive and contextually relevant research.

  • Healing practices developed by Judy Atkinson and the deep ecology work of Joanna Macy, informing understanding of trauma-informed approaches and the importance of reconnecting with ourselves, each other, and the natural world.


  • The significant contributions of Indigenous scholars such as Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Amanda Tachine and Z Nicolazzo, Donna Moodie and Tyson Yunkaporta, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi Efi, and Shawn Wilson in challenging dominant Western research paradigms. Their work collectively advocates for centring Indigenous perspectives, knowledge systems, and methodologies in research practices. These scholars emphasise the importance of self-determination, cultural safety, relational accountability, and Indigenous data sovereignty. They promote research approaches that respect Indigenous ways of knowing, prioritise community benefit, and recognise the holistic nature of wellbeing, including spiritual and cultural dimensions. Their contributions have been instrumental in shifting academic practices towards more inclusive, ethical, and culturally appropriate approaches, fostering a growing movement to decolonise research methodologies.

  • The principles of 'working out loud' and open-source information sharing, as exemplified by organisations like the Griffith Centre for Systems Change and Enspiral, inspiring approaches to knowledge creation and dissemination.

  • Collaborative community-led change initiatives, including Gove Futures, Logan Together, Maranugka Bourke, and Flemington Works. I’m particularly inspired by Far West Community Partnerships Change Agenda that presents a model for social reinvestment and highlights the value of community-led contexts. This important work is resourced by Federal and State Governments through collective impact initiatives such as Stronger Places Stronger People, Empowered Communities, Connected Beginnings, and Community Revitalisation. Critical to the success of these initiatives is the role of intermediaries, such as Collaboration for Impact, providing evidence informed capability partner support.

  • My six-year tenure with World Vision's Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (SEED) Unit, creating evidence-based, scalable economic development project models. SEED’s approach involved immersive experiences within local contexts, living and working alongside communities by invitation to build, test and incubate project models. The process included multiple pilot sites, codification and establishing the necessary capabilities, infrastructure and business models for replication. As SEED Manager Jock Noble aptly put it, "You can't be an armchair theorist. You need to be on the ground and figure it out with community." This experience has deeply influenced my understanding of developing and scaling community-centred models, reinforcing the importance of place-based, collaborative approaches to community-led change.

  • Finally, my research draws heavily from the thinking of Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou, Lilla Watson, and others who challenge us to reimagine systemic change. This transformation requires rethinking our approaches, integrating diverse epistemologies and knowledge systems, and recognition that our futures are interconnected. Lasting change requires us to work together.

"If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."

— Lilla Watson