John Carey

This month we are shining a light on John Carey – Stakeholder Engagement Manager (Southern Region) at Stanwell, Deputy Chair of Red Earth Community Foundation, and Board Member of Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett.

John’s career spans more than four decades across banking and finance, public service, local government, community development, and, since 2008, stakeholder engagement in the energy and resources sector. His approach to leadership is grounded in the belief that community is where humanity thrives—and that we each have a duty to leave something better for those who come after us.

A values-led leader, John describes his purpose as a “heart call” to help communities build better futures. He sees leadership as collective, inclusive, and intergenerational—built not just on what we achieve, but on the lives we touch along the way.

Have a listen to John’s episode on the emPOWER podcast, here.

This month's guest contributor is the amazing Renee King, the Future Program Manager at Western Downs Regional Council, sharing her take on what it takes to collaborate in regional communities.

We would be remiss not to mention that regional collaboration at its heart, is really about the essence of rural Australian life: mateship, resilience, and a oneness with that rugged open landscape. Regional Australia is where collaboration is not just a nice to-do in theory but is essential to everyday life. Collaboration is something regional Australian communities do extremely well.

The conversations I am hearing in the energy transition all centre around the challenge of developer-collaborating-with-region. I wanted to turn this on its head and reframe the conversation to the essence of regional Australian values. Let's have a strengths-based view of regions, because regional communities already have strong foundations that value collaboration much more deeply than we can tell from the outside looking in.  

I have worked with diverse communities in regional Australia for eight years, as a community development practitioner, and I can't emphasise enough that regional communities are at the forefront of regional collaboration. Here are three anecdotes that highlight the built-in conditions for regional collaboration that regional communities have; and how we can all do better to enhance and nurture their unique collaborative qualities.

Understand Power

All communities have power dynamics that play out in everyday life. Communities that collaborate well understand the power dynamics, who the power brokers are, and who doesn't have the power to raise their voice. Those power brokers in authority cede power and empower others to voice their perspectives, either by giving them a seat at the table to make decisions or by finding ways to ensure their voices and aspirations are heard. When regional communities understand power, they can focus on equity and inclusion and find ways to ensure fairness in all decision making.

The development of a renewable energy project often reshapes the local power dynamics - council, landowners, and local residents stand to gain or lose influence and this can destabilise regional communities. Mapping local stakeholders to identify where power sits, being transparent and respecting existing power dynamics, and empowering underrepresented voices in decisions is important to retain and enhance regional collaboration.

Build a Common Agenda

Communities that collaborate well are grounded in clear agreements on what matters most. I have seen small regional towns rally behind a local childcare centre when it was days away from closing, because all members of that community agreed - that the availability of childcare mattered most. Regional communities that align to specific, measurable, and equitable goals are so good at collaborating. They present a unified and cohesive voice to funders, government, and beyond to advocate and build momentum around local priorities.

Communities are more likely to support large-scale projects that also align to their common agenda - whether it’s the childcare centre, job creation, better roads, or community investment. Developers of renewable energy projects would do well to support the development of place-based plans and co-create goals with communities to enhance collaboration that builds-in accountability and trust.

Know their Networks

Beneath power and common goals, regional communities who collaborate well can map the network of services and stakeholders who make that place tick - the dog groomer, the cat sitter, the house cleaner. And they can probably provide full names and home addresses of the local police officers!! Connections and networks are more valuable in regional communities and hold more information than a google search.

Successful regional collaboration rests on appreciating the networks that exist in that town. Some regional communities who know their networks even create governance frameworks and processes to streamline and collaborate even better - for example, when local sports clubs amalgamate to reduce volunteer burnout and so they can integrate seasonal fixtures so that everyone has access to social sport all year round. These networks are essential to social cohesion and collaboration.

When arriving in a regional community, often the first challenge is finding the right people to talk to. Regional networks are goldmines of informal influence. For us outsiders coming into regional communities, a key challenge is finding the local connectors to build trust and spread information, but most importantly we must respect their networks and the reactions or potential fallout that could come their way.

The truth is some communities don't have the conditions of collaboration built-in; and it shows through distrust of outsiders; distrust of one another; communication break downs; and opposition to change of any kind. Where the social fabric sadly is woven so loosely that only time and leadership can change.

But, when the conditions for collaboration are right, regional communities are special. They look to their authorised leaders and empower one another; they have the capacity to build and plan for common goals; and they lean on local networks to organise for a future that they can continue to thrive. Do not underestimate the strength of regions and their propensity for deep collaboration.

You can learn more about Western Downs Futures work here.

🎙️Episode 21: From Coal to Clean - Latrobe Valley's Energy Shift

This episode features Tony Wolfe, lifelong Latrobe Valley local and former coal industry worker, in conversation with Wendy Agar about what a just and community-led energy transition looks like for coal regions.

Drawing on Tony’s lived experience in the coal sector, local government, and renewable energy advisory groups, they explore the deep cultural and economic shifts underway in Gippsland. The conversation highlights the importance of recognising community identity, addressing overlooked solutions like energy efficiency, and ensuring workers and families aren’t left behind.

🎙️Episode 22: Joanna Stevens - Meaningful Engagement in Regional Australia

In this episode, Wendy Agar sits down with Joanna Stevens, founder of Premier Strategy, to discuss how to build trust and deliver meaningful engagement in regional communities.

Drawing on Jo’s extensive background in journalism, government, and corporate communications, they explore what it really takes to work with—not just in—regional Australia. From grounding yourself in community context to setting up engagement strategies that stick, the discussion offers practical guidance for anyone operating at the intersection of policy, infrastructure, and local impact.

In our July PowerHour episode, attendees joined an insightful and engaging forum featuring leading voices in regional collaboration, where we explored what it truly takes to drive change through trusted relationships and shared vision. From expert practitioners to regional leaders on the ground, the session brought together diverse perspectives to highlight how local leadership, lived experience, and evidence-based insight can power meaningful progress.

The virtual forum opened with keynote speaker Chris Sounness (CEO, Wimmera Southern Mallee Development), who spoke passionately about the journey and impact of the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Energy Collaboration. Sabiene Heindl (CEO, The Energy Charter) followed, sharing national-level insights into the challenges and opportunities of collaborative energy reform, while Colin Kemp (Westwind Energy) brought a project developer’s lens to the conversation, discussing practical strategies for fostering trust, navigating complexity, and ensuring communities are heard and included.

One clear takeaway stood out: meaningful regional change doesn’t happen without collaboration built on trust, shared knowledge, and lived experience. and supported by a clear framework. You can watch the recording and catch up on past episodes here.

Chris also shares his insights on fostering collaboration to bring people in the region together inthis episode of the emPOWER podcast.

Register now for our next PowerHour Episode on 21 August: "Rethinking Renewables + Development Challenges"

Thank you to our proud partners of the PowerHour 2025 series - Powerlink and Windlab.