Aboriginal engagement in Western Australia: Building confidence and capability in practice
How can we strengthen the way Aboriginal engagement is approached across projects in Western Australia?
Join the Engagement Institute on Thursday 26 November for a practical morning exploring Aboriginal engagement in Western Australia and how we can strengthen knowledge, skills, capability and confidence in practice.
Over recent months, research has been undertaken to better understand the experiences of people involved in Aboriginal engagement across Western Australia, alongside conversations with Traditional Owners, Knowledge Holders and Aboriginal engagement specialists.
At this event, we will bring these perspectives together to share what we have heard and create space for learning, discussion and reflection.
Thursday 26 November 2026
John McGrath Pavilion, South Perth
9.30am - 12.00pm
$75 Members & $85 Non-Members. Morning tea included
Questions? Please contact events@engagementinstitute.org.au
Facilitators
Claire Paddison, Director: Engagement & Communications | 361 Strategic Engagement & Communications
Playing a key leadership role across several businesses, Claire has been responsible for building internal capacity and leading and facilitating the design and implementation of strategic organisational planning, change management and stakeholder engagement and communications, to achieve both corporate and operational business outcomes.
Claire’s achievements have been recognised at the national and international level by IAP2. Claire is passionate about building relationships with and between people. As a facilitator she enjoys designing processes which enable participation and gives people a voice through respectful and purposeful conversations.
Leanne Copping, Director: Engagement & Communications | 361 Strategic Engagement & Communications
Leanne Copping is an engagement and communications specialist with 30 years’ experience leading complex stakeholder engagement, facilitation and strategic planning projects for government and the private sector across Western Australia and New South Wales.
She specialises in bringing diverse perspectives together, making sense of complex consultation evidence and translating stakeholder and community insights into clear strategic frameworks, priorities and implementation pathways. Her approach connects engagement findings with evidence and policy objectives, helping organisations make informed decisions and develop outcomes that are inclusive, practical and achievable.
Leanne has extensive experience working with government agencies and local governments to design and deliver evidence-based engagement processes that meet statutory and policy requirements, identify and manage stakeholder risks, and build confidence in decision-making. She has led engagement across major infrastructure, planning, land development, environmental, renewable energy and community projects, often in complex or contested environments.
Leanne is also a strong advocate for plain English and accessible communication. She brings highly developed writing and editing skills and a particular ability to translate complex technical, environmental, planning and regulatory information into clear, concise and audience-focused content. Her combination of engagement expertise, strategic thinking and communication skills enables her to help organisations turn complex information and diverse perspectives into clear messages, sound decisions and better outcomes.
Viv Warren, Managing Director | Viv Warren Consulting
Viv is an engagement strategist with over 20 years of experience partnering with government, businesses and non-profits to put people at the heart of decision making. With a foundation in social psychology and social research, Viv brings an unwavering commitment to connecting organisations with their stakeholders and communities to enhance decision-making.
Viv works at strategic levels of organisations developing strategies, frameworks, and tools for embedding engagement. She also coaches senior executives and managers to develop organisational capability and deliver engagement excellence.
She has a wealth of hands-on experience delivering engagement strategies for large and complex projects across diverse industries such as land development, infrastructure, local government, emergency services, mining, energy, and water.
From evaluating organisations engagement culture and practices to shaping engagement strategies for major urban redevelopments, Viv teams up with clients to navigate multifaceted projects and enable great decision making and change.
A dedicated Engagement Institute (formerly IAP2 Australasia) Fellow and Trainer, Viv continuously seeks to advance the practice of engagement. She previously served as an Engagement Institute Board member, Victorian State Coordinator, and founding committee member in Western Australian. Currently she is a judge for the Engagement Institute Core Values Awards and a Licensed Trainer for the Engagement Institute.