Last week I attended the Sydney Engagement Meetup – a relaxed, practitioner-led space for honest conversations about what’s working in engagement, and what isn’t.

Alongside catching up with fellow engagement practitioners, we were invited to suggest discussion topics. I hosted a small-group conversation on Accessibility and Inclusion, and the takeaway was simple but important: effective engagement respects people’s time, language, and lived experience. It prioritises accessibility, plain language, and practical design choices – and, crucially, it follows through on what it hears.

When engagement is done this way, trust isn’t something you ask for – it’s something you earn.

Conversations like this are exactly why practitioner-led spaces matter.

Notes from a small-group discussion on Accessibility and Inclusion at the Sydney Engagement Meetup – a reminder that good engagement is practical, considered, and designed with people in mind.

With Cumberland Place & Economy Manager Chris Manoski and local business operator Seda Sarikci.

Last week was Cumberland’s Small Business Month celebration – always one of the most uplifting parts of the local calendar. I spent the afternoon and evening catching up with local operators, former colleagues, and familiar faces from across the community, and it was a reminder of just how much energy and creativity small businesses bring to our town centres.

We also had a photo booth, which is always a favourite of mine. It’s such a simple way to mark an occasion and bring people together, and this year’s “Bite into Business” booth did not disappoint. Huge thanks to everyone who jumped in for photos – it made the event even more memorable.

Guildford Laneway mural

Cumberland’s Back to Guildford Festival was recognised earlier this year at the Place Leaders Asia Pacific Awards, receiving a commendation in the Placemaking for Prosperity category. The return of this much-loved community event – after two decades away – delivered a strong boost for local businesses and helped reignite pride in the town centre. I was proud to play a part in delivering the festival and being there on the day, and I’m delighted to congratulate the Place and Economy team on this well-earned award.

Tall ships on Cannes Beach at sunset

In 2018 I had one of the best vacations of my life, I was fortunate enough to participate in an international retreat for a fitness activity that I love. Although I didn’t know anyone else there when I arrived, there were 800 people with a common interest staying at a beautiful relaxing resort.

We were able to exercise and relax, meet new people, and also get business and marketing advice as part of the information sessions. On the final day there was a very special presentation by the founder of this fitness group, and he said something I found interesting but at the same time very important.*

Sometimes this organisation partners with big name celebrities and musicians in order to generate publicity, views on YouTube, likes on Twitter and so on. This is a common marketing practice, and I’ve watched some of those videos myself. What I didn’t realise is that some participants are so passionate about the fitness hobby / business, they then go on social media and complain about the celebrities and singers not doing ‘real’ fitness moves. Or the music in the videos is just pop music, not the ‘real’ music for the classes. They are so passionate about the details, they unwittingly publicly undermine the larger plan. Our guest presenter said:

“We are doing this for YOU. To get publicity, to get attention, to spike interest, and ultimately bring people through the doors of YOUR classes. We love your passion, we love your enthusiasm, but please don’t be so focused on the details that you miss the big picture. Sometimes we have to do things and make decisions that may not make sense to you, but at the end of the day, our worldwide marketing plan is all about every one of you.”

And he is correct. To those of us who work in marketing and communications every day, we understand exactly what is happening. It never even occurred to me that this strategy had to be articulated. But of course, most people do not have marketing experience and that is why they need assistance from a marketing team or a head office. Some people learned that there is a marketing strategy behind every decision, and I learned that not everyone understands those strategies.

My take-away is that I will work hard on making my own marketing strategies more accessible for those who need to understand them. Don’t let them get so bogged down in the details that they miss the big picture. That sounds like a great resolution for 2019!

This photo is also about the bigger picture. The tall ships were far out from the beach, and the bird is right in front of me. But together - they look fantastic. You would never know there is a huge distance between them.

*My involvement is purely out of interest, I did the training so I could understand it better and be the best I could be. I don’t run classes, but I want to learn more about the international marketing side of the organisation.