From the Board November with Helen Christensen

What a conference! Fabulous location, terrific mix of session and an amazing group of nearly 300 delegates.

As this isn’t my first conference (or my second, or third… actually, let’s not go there) I’m becoming more reflective on what’s changed and what’s stayed the same in the IAP2 family and our conferences.

I continue to experience a feeling of ‘coming home’ to my IAP2 family at the conference. I have always felt that the people I have met in IAP2 circles have been so open and giving. They are keen to share, to listen and to learn about new ways of making productive change in the communities and stakeholder they serve. I have always felt at home and as I’ve continued to participate in more events, the conference feels like a family reunion – a chance to get away, reflect and recharge. The difference of course, is that the family is now getting so big and I’m finding it difficult to find time to rekindle connections and form new ones!

As for the content of the conference, it seems to me as though the core themes have remained, but the topics have broadened and become more sophisticated. For example, at earlier conferences, sessions on methods were often of the ‘new things to try’ variety and participants were introduced to: online engagement tools, deliberative methods, ideas on how to engage young people, and how to do engagement on local infrastructure.

Now, online engagement is embedded in practice, platforms have proliferated and sessions involve securing mobile phones to our heads to experience virtual reality! Likewise, deliberative methods are widely known and the sessions on them are taking a more critical approach to key factors needed for their success. Sessions such as those about young people are now led by young people themselves (the future is in good hands!). You may have also noticed that engagement on infrastructure is no longer local plans but has expanded into significant road, rail and water projects.

As with all conferences, there did seem to be a handful of recurring themes in the discussions. I counted five:

• the re/building of trust;
• the need for skilled engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Maori and other cultural groups;
• how to influence decision-makers;
• how to disrupt the future; and careful thought of the benefits and drawbacks of a practice which is professionalising.

Did I get them all or do you think there were others?

While I have this chance, I would like to thank: our generous sponsors, the speakers, the conference organising committee, volunteers, all of the delegates and CEO and staff for making this conference one of the best yet.

I look forward to catching up on the sessions I missed when they become available online!

See you all at the conference next year in Sydney!