The Panel
Desley Renton - Managing Director, Renton and Co
Desley Renton is a multiple award-winning engagement practitioner with extensive experience supporting organisations in embedding quality engagement systems and practices. Her interest lies in taking a strategic approach to building internal knowledge and capacity that, over time, becomes inherent in the culture of an organisation, leaving a legacy for its internal stakeholders and the communities they serve.
She is an Engagement Institute Fellow and a former IAP2 International and Australian President, providing a global perspective on quality engagement practice. Desley has also held numerous leadership roles in government and the private sector, guiding teams in the design and development of successful and respected community engagement frameworks. As the Director of Renton and Co., an Australian-based community engagement consultancy, she is proactive in supporting and mentoring a diverse range of organisations through their engagement maturity journey.
Dr Emanuela Savini - Practice Lead / Director Public Value Studio
Dr Emanuela Savini is the Practice Lead for Democracy and Citizen Engagement at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra. Her research focuses on how government organisations adapt and embed deliberative engagement practices, with a strong interest in building capacity for democratic innovation within public management. Alongside her academic work, Emanuela is the Director of The Public Value Studio, an organisation dedicated to expanding civic participation and supporting community-led initiatives. She regularly facilitates programs, such as the Democracy Lab, and served as Chair of the Engagement Institute Research Working Group from 2019 to 2025. Passionate about bridging theory and practice, Emanuela works to advance more inclusive, participatory and democratic approaches to governance.