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As our industries continue to advance and our communities continue to grow, we are increasingly seeing early, consistent and transparent engagement being key to project success. It’s been just over a month since the Engagement Institute’s (formerly, IAP2) 2025 Annual Conference. The conference brings together practitioners, researchers, and industry leaders to share experiences on the rapidly evolving socio-economic, political, and environmental landscape and learn how we can

The release of the new Queensland Energy Roadmap marks a significant step forward in the State’s pathway to building a long-term and diverse energy asset portfolio. It also highlights a persistent challenge: the gap between the scale of Queensland’s energy transformation and the readiness, expectations and lived experience of regional communities. To bridge this divide, two questions must anchor Queensland’s energy transition: What practical steps are needed to deliver the Qu

The global race for critical minerals is accelerating as clean technology and energy security rise to the top of national agendas. Countries like Canada, the United States, and Australia are stepping forward as reliable and ethical suppliers with strong environmental credentials. The U.S. is actively pursuing critical minerals supply agreements with Australia, aiming to reduce dependence on China. This urgency stems from the fact that approximately 90% of Australia’s lithium

As Australia progresses toward its net-zero commitments and a cleaner energy future, the demand for critical minerals such as vanadium, lithium, nickel, rare earths, and copper continues to rise. These minerals are essential inputs for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and battery storage, and investment in their exploration and development is accelerating across the country. Much of this activity is taking place in greenfield (undeveloped) areas, where the lo

At many industry and planning forums, one topic keeps surfacing: Agrivoltaics – the balance of solar energy development with the protection of agricultural land. The configuration was first conceived in 1981 by two Germans, due to then-increasing concerns regarding land scarcity, food security, and energy demand. Five years ago, agrivoltaics wasn’t on the radar. Today, whether through sheep grazing or crop production, the practice is becoming a core component of many large-sc

In urban planning and development, sustainability is a core focus, aiming to balance growth with environmental protection. This includes goals such as reducing carbon footprints, conserving natural resources, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring communities are resilient to climate change. In New South Wales, the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is vital in achieving these sustainability objectives by enabling local authorities to proceed with projects without the need