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When projects or policy decisions create more blowback than harmony, it’s often because something was missed earlier. Chris explores the “pre-framing” space, the first interface with community, and why it matters more than we like to admit. Have a read and see why this early stage so often shapes what happens later.

The end of the year is a natural moment to pause and reflect on the path taken and to reconnect with the people who matter. In this edition meet some of the Watertrust team that are the core of what we do and hear from them about their commitment to doing things better, to fairness and inclusive processes. Also, in this edition read about just how challenging water planning can be, as Kane shares some of our early work in South Australia’s Mount Lofty Range’s. Complexity and difficult decisions – it’s a place where the Watertrust approach makes a difference.

Kylie Clarke is Watertrust’s Governance and Operations Manager and Company Secretary, and her work sits at the heart of how the organisation functions. Her background in not-for-profits, communications and the events industry has shaped a style of governance that is practical and collaborative and very much focused on supporting people to do their best work.

Watertrust’s work in South Australia’s Mount Lofty Ranges continues to reveal just how challenging water planning can be when a landscape carries many different expectations.

For Principal Kane Aldridge, this complexity is exactly why Watertrust’s involvement matters. The region has lived with long-running concerns about decisions related to how water is shared and the coming amendments to the region’s Water Allocation Plans is a chance to approach things with an approach that considers different perspectives.

When Andy Lowes joined Watertrust earlier this year, it was the organisation’s purpose that resonated most strongly with him. After years working in both government and non-government capacities in the water industry, he’d recognised how important it is for communities to be genuinely included in decision making processes. It was Watertrust’s commitment to building better and fairer processes which drew him to the team.

As Northern Australia grapples with climate risks alongside big decisions about land and water, Watertrust Principal Kate Peake sees opportunities in the challenge. Fresh from the Great North Conference, which coincided with the release of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment, she reflects on why constructive, forward-looking conversations can open space for collaboration.