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The Next Economy - Australia The Next Economy supports communities dealing with economic change to build resilient regional economies that are good for people and planet.

Last night, Paul Ramsay Foundation and The Next Economy co-hosted Erinch Sahan for his last public event in beautiful Yi...
15/10/2026

Last night, Paul Ramsay Foundation and The Next Economy co-hosted Erinch Sahan for his last public event in beautiful Yirranma Place, which was a perfect location, especially as “Yirranma” is translated from Gadigal meaning “many-create.” 🤝

Erinch was joined by a fantastic panel: Melina Morrison, CEO of Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), Dr Belinda Russon Nayanar, CEO of Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd. and Nathan Robertson-Ball, founder of Finding Nature.

One of the dangerous myths that structures how we run our economy is based on people being economic self-maximisers: but as Melina pointed out, societies are built and thrive through their ability to work together: “It’s enlightened self-interest to cooperate.”

Armidale ecologist and founder of Stringybark Ecological David Carr walks a fine line. He’s a strong supporter of renewa...
14/10/2026

Armidale ecologist and founder of Stringybark Ecological David Carr walks a fine line. He’s a strong supporter of renewable energy developments, but he wants “to see them done in the proper way, in the right place, and minimising their impact where possible.”

For David, good renewables development for biodiversity means taking the time to engage with regional communities to identify high conservation-value sites and avoid them. This includes threatened species habitat and corridors.

David recently sat down with us to talk through balancing nature and renewables, and what developers and councils can do to get it right.

🔗 Read the full story on our website: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01rhrc0

📸Credits: Uralla Shire Council and Michelle Savill

🌏 Regional communities are back in the spotlight. Sixth-generation Uralla farmer Hugh Sutherland shares an honest persp...
11/10/2026

🌏 Regional communities are back in the spotlight. Sixth-generation Uralla farmer Hugh Sutherland shares an honest perspective on the opportunities, challenges and expectations that come with hosting renewable energy projects, and why this moment matters for the future of regional Australia.

"Renewable energy developments have brought attention back onto regional communities. Historically, regional and rural communities haven't received equitable per capita government funding compared to major metropolitan centres. The Renewable Energy Zone has put regional Australia back in focus, and hopefully the community can leverage that."

🔗 Read Hugh's candid take (https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01qqg00) on renewable energy development, community benefit and supplementing his farm business income in the face of a changing climate and business succession.

Wrap up on Erinch Sahan first day of his tour and we’ve been so excited by the energy and wisdom he’s brought and the in...
07/10/2026

Wrap up on Erinch Sahan first day of his tour and we’ve been so excited by the energy and wisdom he’s brought and the interest sparked around the very important challenge of redesigning business and investment for good. 🤝 Thanks to the Melbourne Business School and the Sustainable Value Creation Institute and to greatermelbournefoundation, Social Traders Australia, Regen Melbourne for amazing events so far! Photo credit: Chris Grose 📸

A great event unfolded in Toowoomba last week, bringing together regional leaders, councils and community organisations ...
25/09/2026

A great event unfolded in Toowoomba last week, bringing together regional leaders, councils and community organisations from across Australia to share what's working, and what's not, as renewable energy development accelerates in regional communities.

Saideh Kent (The Next Economy's Program Director, Energy) attended the Regional Leaders Network Forum hosted by RE-Alliance and came away inspired by a consistent theme running through every conversation:

Relationships matter.

“While every region is navigating change in its own way, the strongest outcomes are emerging where communities, councils, landholders and industry are investing in long-term relationships, not just projects,” she says.

Some of Saideh's key takeaways:

🌐 Councils are playing a vital role in coordinating activity and helping ensure renewable energy development delivers lasting community benefits

🤝 Proximity to development doesn't automatically create prosperity. Building trust, partnerships and local opportunities requires ongoing investment and collaboration

🌱 Regional communities are focused not just on megawatts, but on how the energy transition can create stronger local economies and more resilient futures.

The event was a great opportunity for The Next Economy to share lessons from the New England Renewable Energy Zone alongside Emily Sims from Uralla Shire Council, including work underway to strengthen coordination and address cumulative impacts across the region. This includes the Coalition of Renewable Energy Mayors working with the UNE Renewable Energy Hub and EnergyCo, through focussed working groups and forums.

Thanks to RE-Alliance for hosting such an important conversation.

🔗 Learn more about our work with Uralla Shire Council: Uralla Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan (https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01nTKj0)

📸 Saideh Kent with Tony Mahar (Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner), Kylie Davies, Samye Watson, Hector Hines, Rebecca Powlett, Clementine Thompson

🌏 What would it take to create an economy where nature, Country and communities thrive together? The Next Economy’s CEO ...
23/09/2026

🌏 What would it take to create an economy where nature, Country and communities thrive together?

The Next Economy’s CEO Lizzie Webb joined a thought-provoking panel at the Philanthropy Australia Conference, convened by Rendere Environmental Trust, exploring how key sectors in the Northern Territory are working together to pursue a new economic paradigm.

Alongside Sean Appoo (NAILSMA), Bree Ahrens (Environment Centre NT) and Paddy O'Leary (Country Needs People), and expertly facilitated by Esther Abram of Nature Impact Collective, Lizzie was part of a conversation that challenged conventional ideas of economic success and highlighted the need to align environmental health, community wellbeing and prosperity.

"We discussed the importance of measuring what truly matters, recognising the economic contribution of sectors beyond resource extraction, supporting First Nations leadership and governance, investing in caring for Country, and creating the conditions for long-term, systems-level change," says Lizzie.

The panel also explored the role philanthropy can play in backing community-led solutions, strengthening organisations, and supporting the "work between the work" that helps transformative ideas take root and grow.

Thank you to Rendere Environmental Trust for convening such an important conversation as part of an insightful Philanthropy Australia Conference in Brisbane, and to our fellow panellists and partners whose work continues to demonstrate that a different economic future is both possible and already emerging.

We look forward to continuing the conversation about how we design economies that work for people, place and future generations.

🔗 Read Rendere’s story: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01nTlg0

21/09/2026

Last week, our Economic Change lead Dr Katherine Trebeck attended Make/shift, two weeks of events around future-making in Walyalup Fremantle. The festival brought together people who were ready to challenge the idea that the future is something that just happens, with people ready to roll up their sleeves to make a sustainable and joyful future!

17/09/2026

Come see Erinch Sahan in Australia! During a time where some businesses are profiting off war and interest rate rises that are causing other businesses to close due to rising costs, it’s time we changed the way business is designed for GOOD. Check out our website for more info

16/09/2026

With Hay's future prosperity closely connected to the strength of its community, local landholder and Vice Chair of Hay Inc. Richard Cannon sees the Roadmap as a way to help ensure the benefits of change are shared across the region and create opportunities for generations to come.

Watch Richard's story below, then head to our website (https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01n2PK0) to hear what members of the Hay community had to say about the Roadmap and the future they're working towards.

Hay Shire Council

🎥Chris Grose

The role that regional leaders play in the energy transition and the economic opportunity for Queensland was in focus at...
15/09/2026

The role that regional leaders play in the energy transition and the economic opportunity for Queensland was in focus at the Clean Energy Council’s Queensland Energy and Economic Summit last week.

Highlights for The Next Economy’s Energy Program Lead Saideh Kent included:

💡 Clean Energy Council CEO Jackie Trad leading a panel of regional Mayors through a discussion on what true partnership looks like for regions.

💡 RAPAD - Remote Area Planning and Development Board CEO Morgan Gronold stating the energy transition is an economic one first and foremost, one where community must lead the transition and not have it thrust upon them.

💡 Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Matt Burnett giving a great shout to The Next Economy for our work with the Gladstone Regional Council: ‘we chose to do a transition roadmap to bring our community along the journey’.

💡 Goondiwindi Regional Council Mayor The Hon. Lawrence Springborg AM highlighting the reality on the ground.

Saideh says "It was a great discussion that didn’t shy away from local realities but focussed on how industry and regions can work together to build the energy we need and develop the communities we want.

Nathan Blundell, Chief Development Officer, Windlab stated something we have known for a long time at The Next Economy: renewable energy projects are regional development platforms not just energy assets and the most successful projects create value both inside and outside the project boundaries.

This approach of developing true partnerships from the outset has helped Windlab gain the most recent approval for the Gawara Baya Wind farm. "

To read more about the conference and our work with Gladstone Regional Council, check out:

🔗 https://reneweconomy.com.au/cut-the-bs-and-please-understand-what-youre-dealing-with-wind-and-solar-developers-come-face-to-face-with-new-reality/





📸 Saideh with Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Matt Burnett

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