Turning Challenges into Action at Our 2026 Partners Workshop
We recently brought together our corporate partners for a day of uncovering insights, workshopping challenges, developing solutions, and collaborating over a shared purpose.
Taking place in The Edge in Melbourne’s Federation Square, Landcare Australia’s Partners Workshop was ably facilitated by Sharon Dann and Linda Garnett from Stellar Partnerships. After a warm Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Tony Garvey, Sharon and Linda opened proceedings by talking through current trends and insights shaping corporate and not-for-profit partnerships in 2026. We heard about the challenges around maintaining trust in a fast-evolving sector, the importance of authenticity in partnerships, and the risks and opportunities associated with nature.
Although there was a diversity of industries and functions represented in the room, the interactive sessions and presentations on the day brought common goals and challenges to the fore.
Attendees shared challenges around engaging employees, measuring impact, navigating stakeholder expectations, and facing the uncertain times we’re operating in today.
Some key insights shared from a group discussion around challenges include:
- Securing internal buy-in for ESG or social impact initiatives can be challenging. People may care, but often lack the time, resources or budget to get things done.
- Many businesses know they need to respond to climate risk but are stuck in the discovery phase of how and what this looks like for them.
- Measurement of impact can make it difficult to secure long-term investment for initiatives and accurately communicate their true value.
- When the challenges are outside of your direct control, such as with supply chain emissions, it’s difficult to know what the best way to act is.
However, where there are challenges there are solutions, and a collaborative session on focus areas for the future revealed many exciting and impactful opportunities:
- Businesses need to show stakeholders what they’re doing, not just do it. Landcare Australia as a trusted voice in the sector can bring credibility around stories of impact and outcomes, both environmental and social.
- Employees need participation, not just observation. Engaging employees in hands-on volunteering with Landcare Australia not only provides valuable experiences but builds community connection and collaboration in areas of operations.
- Sustainability and ESG initiatives have the best chance of success when they bring business benefits – whether it’s reducing Scope 3 emissions, enhancing employee engagement, supporting social license or enhancing brand awareness.
A big thank you to our partners and friends who came along and contributed on the day. The energy and enthusiasm in the room was palpable. A special thank you to Sharon Beach from AusNet, Belinda Keeffe from Asahi, Bronwyn Portes from Bupa and Krystin Dudley from ENGIE, who presented on the day.
If you’re a business looking to create credible, long-term impact for our climate, nature and communities, while bringing your people along on the journey, we’d love to connect. Email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed this article, we regularly share partnership stories, insights and ideas through our quarterly IMPACT Partnership Newsletter. Subscribe here.
