Strategic Development Group

Pendaftaran untuk Program Hibah Institut Australia-Indonesia kini telah dibuka bagi individu dan organisasi yang ingin mendukung inisiatif yang memperdalam pemahaman dan kerja sama antara Indonesia dan Australia. 🇦🇺 🤝 🇮🇩 Tema prioritas meliputi: 🗣️ Pendidikan, Bahasa, dan Studi Indonesia 🎭 Seni dan Budaya ⚕️ Kesehatan dan Sains 💻 Inovasi dan Teknologi Digital 📊 Keterlibatan Bidang Ekonomi dan Bisnis 🏆 Pemuda dan Olahraga 📺 Media 🛐 Agama Pendaftaran tutup pada Selasa, 14 Januari 2025 pukul 09.00 WIB. Untuk informasi lebih lanjut termasuk persyaratan dan cara mendaftar, kunjungi: https://lnkd.in/g_nJgnBi --- Applications are now open for the Australia-Indonesia Institute Grants Program for individuals and organisations seeking to support initiatives that deepen understanding and cooperation between Indonesia and Australia. 🇦🇺 🤝 🇮🇩 Priority themes include: 🗣️ Education, Language and Indonesian Studies 🎭 Arts and Culture ⚕️ Health and Science 💻 Digital Innovation and Technology 📊 Economic and Business Engagement 🏆 Youth and Sport 📺 Media 🛐 Religion Applications close 9:00 (WIB) on Tuesday 14 January 2025. For more info including eligibility and how to apply visit: https://lnkd.in/g_nJgnBi

At this week’s Development Policy Centre Australasian AID Conference #AAC24, Strategic brought together 3 inspiring voices to discuss “Total Value Creation: Co-ops as Models of Social Business". The panel discussed co-ops as catalysts for social and economic change, and their future role in Australia’s Development Policy. - Melina Morrison (CEO, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals) highlighted the global power of co-ops in tackling economic and social challenges. - Dulce Bustamante (ICA Asia Pacific) called on youth to drive the co-op movement, emphasising its potential for inclusive, member-owned growth. - Setareki S. Macanawai (Global Disability Inclusion Advisor) shared how co-ops are breaking down barriers for people with disabilities, creating employment and belonging. Key takeaways from the panel: > As business enterprises that are member-owned, co-ops are the best-kept secret in international development. > Co-ops empower local communities because they are owned by local people - locally-led development in its purest form. > They thrive with government and ecosystem support but must be community-driven for sustainability. Co-operatives aren't just a "business model" – they’re a proven engine for inclusive, locally-driven economic growth. Let's invest in co-op capacity building for marginalised communities and ensure that co-ops are recognised as a powerful tool for development. With 2025 being the UN International Year of Co-operatives #IYC25 – we want to make it a year that the world will never forget!   #Coops #SocialBusiness #EconomicGrowth #SocialImpact

Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) 2024, we asked our Strategic Advisor and Global Disability Inclusion and Equity Specialist Setareki S. Macanawai (Seta) for his reflections on the IDPWD theme of “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future”.   Seta reflects that: “Whilst the 2024 IDPWD theme focuses on the leadership of persons with disabilities (and rightly so in my humble view), the word “amplifying” in this year’s theme is inappropriate and void of the much-needed action to shift the dial in favour of people with disabilities who now constitute 16 per cent of the world’s population. We are only six years away from the end of the 2030 Agenda, the UN Summit of the Future now behind us, and yet, “leaving no one behind” remains an elusive dream for the most marginalised section in our society today: that is persons with disabilities themselves. And yes, this dream will remain a dream for such people if we only “amplify” the leadership of persons with disabilities without addressing the root and underlying causes of both “visible and invisible barriers” that have prevented such persons from becoming leaders in their own right almost two decades after the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The launch of the International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy last week by the Australian Government (linked below) is a great step in the right direction. Now, more of the same from other development partners, please! Let’s be genuine, sincere and strategic by being action-oriented, people-centred and putting our money where our mouth is to end tokenism and ableism against people with disabilities in the world today.” https://lnkd.in/g9PcNPmf [Image description: Seta and Glenn Cummings working together during an exercise at our 2024 team retreat]

Our team are gearing up for a big week attending the Development Policy Centre Australasian AID Conference 2024 #AAC2024. A highlight will be our Director, Michael Pilbrow, chairing a panel on the hot topic of co-operatives. The panel features an outstanding line-up of panelists you won't want to miss. Join the discussion: "Total Value Creation: Cooperatives as Models of Social Business in the Asia-Pacific" Location: Crawford School ANU, Brindabella Theatre (Level 2, Room 2.130) Date: Wednesday, 4th December Time: 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM   We look forward to sharing insights and updates from the conference this week.   #AidandDevelopment #AustralasianAIDConference #SocialBusiness #Cooperatives

Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA) in partnership with the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) approached Strategic to design an advocacy document that succinctly presented the need for more investment in co-operative rental housing, explained the co-operative housing model and presented its benefits. The advocacy document was intended to be a resource for MPs, advisors, senior officials, industry and media. It also needed to present clear visualisations that could be used for brand advocacy activities and in supporting collateral such as presentations and emails. We’re proud to say we delivered a compelling, simple and multi-use advocacy document that can be used to represent the sector's voice on rental co-operative housing. We devised the 'Missing piece of Australia’s housing puzzle' tagline and graphics that presented ACHA’s key messages in the context of this tagline. The visualisations could also be used as standalone graphics across ACHA’s website and communications. Rental housing co-operatives really are an important missing piece of Australia’s housing puzzle. We’re pleased to have helped ACHA amplify the benefits of this housing model and look forward to working further with them to reach their goal of achieving a “viable and thriving rental co-operative housing sector managing at least 10% of Australia’s community housing stock”. Read more about co-operative housing and find ACHA’s Blueprint document here: https://lnkd.in/gsu53QNq

Be part of strengthening business, education, cultural and community connections between Australia and Southeast Asia. Grants of up to $200,000 per year are available through the ASEAN-Australia Centre. Priority areas for the grants are: · creative industry exchanges, · cultural initiatives and · supporting Southeast Asia literacy in Australia. More information is available here:

Care Together's Peter Hunt, Michael Pilbrow and Clare Fountain, GAICD recently facilitated a workshop in Wagga Wagga with the Murrumbidgee Aged Care Provider Network Shared Services Co-op, a Care Together project. The aim of the workshop was to create a clear purpose for the co-op and test ideas against the MVM Framework. The steering group is laying some solid foundations for what has the scope to be a ground breaking co-operative model for regionally based aged care providers. #CareTogether #coops #AgedCare #MVMFramework

Cannabis, Co-ops, and Commitment: Lessons from the Informa Connect Australia Infrastructure and Community Engagement Conference... Last week, Strategic Development Group had the privilege of attending the Energy Infrastructure and Community Engagement Conference in Sydney. Represented by our Director, Michael Pilbrow, and Senior Consultants, Tom McColl and Nick Hislop, it was a fantastic opportunity to connect with others in the field and showcase our expertise in community engagement from our base in regional NSW.   Michael brought a bold and heartfelt perspective to the panel on Building Trust & Enhancing Community Relations, drawing on experiences from renewable energy hotspots like Yass Valley, Upper Lachlan, and Goulburn-Mulwaree. To many people’s surprise, Michael's insights touched on marriage, marijuana, and co-operatives. Intrigued? Here’s why: 🔑 Marriage over the Wedding Michael likened most community engagement to planning for a wedding rather than a marriage: a focus on project approval rather than the 30+ years of operation. He stressed the importance of ongoing engagement—monitoring, evaluating, and improving community relations throughout the entire project lifecycle. 🤝 Moving Beyond ‘Consulting’ Michael called for a shift from the "inform and consult" stages of engagement to "collaborate and empower," as defined by IAP2. Genuine community ownership is the gold standard, and the co-operative business model is a proven way to achieve it. 🌱 Cannabis & Co-operatives: A Policy Challenge In an unexpected twist, Michael shared the Rhode Island Cannabis Act as inspiration—mandating that 25% of cannabis retailers be co-operatives. Why not apply this logic to renewable energy? Michael challenged governments to mandate community ownership in a portion of renewable projects, citing the Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative, which boasts over 600 local owners and is about to break ground, as a shining example.   This conference reinforced that bold ideas and real-world collaboration are essential to shaping the future of energy infrastructure. At Strategic, we’re committed to bringing our expertise and innovative thinking to help communities thrive.   What are your thoughts on the intersection of renewable energy, community ownership, and bold policy ideas? We’d love to hear from you! #CommunityEngagement #RenewableEnergy #Cooperatives #EnergyTransition #Leadership Melina Morrison | David Wilson | Michael Frangos | Margaret Harvie (FIAP2) | Nicole Vaughan | Dr. Simon Wright | Cath R. | Richard Payne | Kirsty O'Connell | Matt Moncrieff | Jodana A. | Romina Cavallo | RE-Alliance

Cannabis, Co-ops, and Commitment: Lessons from the Informa Connect Australia Infrastructure and Community Engagement Conference... Last week, Strategic Development Group had the privilege of attending the Energy Infrastructure and Community Engagement Conference in Sydney. Represented by our Director, Michael Pilbrow, and Senior Consultants, Tom McColl and Nick Hislop, it was a fantastic opportunity to connect with others in the field and showcase our expertise in community engagement from our base in regional NSW.   Michael brought a bold and heartfelt perspective to the panel on Building Trust & Enhancing Community Relations, drawing on experiences from renewable energy hotspots like Yass Valley, Upper Lachlan, and Goulburn-Mulwaree. To many people’s surprise, Michael's insights touched on marriage, marijuana, and co-operatives. Intrigued? Here’s why: 🔑 Marriage over the Wedding Michael likened most community engagement to planning for a wedding rather than a marriage: a focus on project approval rather than the 30+ years of operation. He stressed the importance of ongoing engagement—monitoring, evaluating, and improving community relations throughout the entire project lifecycle. 🤝 Moving Beyond ‘Consulting’ Michael called for a shift from the "inform and consult" stages of engagement to "collaborate and empower," as defined by IAP2. Genuine community ownership is the gold standard, and the co-operative business model is a proven way to achieve it. 🌱 Cannabis & Co-operatives: A Policy Challenge In an unexpected twist, Michael shared the Rhode Island Cannabis Act as inspiration—mandating that 25% of cannabis retailers be co-operatives. Why not apply this logic to renewable energy? Michael challenged governments to mandate community ownership in a portion of renewable projects, citing the Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative, which boasts over 600 local owners and is about to break ground, as a shining example.   This conference reinforced that bold ideas and real-world collaboration are essential to shaping the future of energy infrastructure. At Strategic, we’re committed to bringing our expertise and innovative thinking to help communities thrive.   What are your thoughts on the intersection of renewable energy, community ownership, and bold policy ideas? We’d love to hear from you! #CommunityEngagement #RenewableEnergy #Cooperatives #EnergyTransition #Leadership Melina Morrison | David Wilson | Michael Frangos | Margaret Harvie (FIAP2) | Nicole Vaughan | Dr. Simon Wright | Cath R. | Richard Payne | Kirsty O'Connell | Matt Moncrieff | Jodana A. | Romina Cavallo | RE-Alliance

Excited to be part of the Energy Infrastructure & Community Engagement Conference on 12-13 November 2024 at Swissotel Sydney! 🌍💡 to join me click here https://lnkd.in/guaNkSRs I’ll be representing Strategic Development Group and joining industry leaders to discuss strategies for engaging communities in driving the clean energy transition. Let's work together to build trust, transparency, and a greener future for all! Don't miss out on key insights from this game-changing event! #CleanEnergy #CommunityEngagement #NetZero Informa Australia