Nicole delivers projects and strategies for government and organisations that engage community. Her approach is grounded in co-design and collaboration, ensuring outcomes are holistic, inclusive, and genuinely impactful.
Nicole worked closely with Isaac Regional Council, community members and key regional stakeholders to develop the Isaac Region Arts and Culture Strategic Plan 2026–2031. The strategy is deeply grounded in community engagement and shaped by the people who live, work and create across the region.
From the outset, Nicole partnered with Council to understand their aspirations for the strategy, their approach to community engagement, the resources available to support implementation, and the outcomes they hoped to achieve. While Nicole leads the strategy development process, she sees her role as that of a collaborator rather than an external consultant. She brings experience, ideas and strategic thinking to the table, but firmly believes that the vision and priorities within the strategy must belong to the region itself.
"Working with Nicole was honestly so relieving and refreshing. She has the technical government skills to negotiate complex and competing outcome drivers, whilst still mastering the creative and strategic balance. We asked for bold, creative and unique engagement strategies which pairs creative workshops with qualitative data collection - it resulted in one of our best engagement pieces yet. I would recommend her for any strategic plan development or innovative engagement tasks!" Local Government client
The Maryborough Story Trail is a cultural tourism experience in Maryborough, Queensland, bringing the stories and character of the township to life through a delightful, unexpected and multi-layered public art experience.
Nicole was the project lead for the Maryborough Story Trail, while also leading the creative development and delivery of its public art elements. Working across a two-year project period, Nicole and her team brought together a diverse range of creative and infrastructure components, including footpath development, multimedia, murals and street art, bronze sculptures and other interpretive public artworks, creating a cohesive trail that invites visitors to discover and connect with Maryborough’s stories in unexpected ways.
The project was deeply embedded in community engagement, with the creative approach shaped by local stories, history, identity and community knowledge. Nicole worked closely with regional artists throughout the entire process, supporting them to develop public artworks from initial concept through to fabrication, installation and completion.
Nicole and her team coordinated a complex network of stakeholders, including architects, civil contractors, subcontractors, community representatives, local media, funding bodies and heritage organisations. She navigated the intersection of creative development, heritage considerations, construction, infrastructure and community expectations to successfully deliver the trail.
The result is a distinctive cultural tourism experience that brings to life Maryborough’s streets and public spaces into a living storytelling environment, connecting art, place, history and community while encouraging visitors to explore the township from a new perspective.
Delivering Complex Projects
Regional Land Use Strategies provide the long-term framework that guides how communities grow and develop. They balance housing, industry, agriculture, environmental protection, infrastructure and community needs, ensuring decisions made today support sustainable and prosperous regions into the future. They are critical planning documents that require alignment across all levels of government, multiple agencies and local councils to achieve a shared regional vision.
Nicole was engaged by the Cradle Coast Authority to lead the delivery of the Cradle Coast Regional Land Use Strategy review, bringing together nine councils, mayors, CEOs, consultants, regional planners and Tasmanian Government agencies to deliver this complex planning document.
In partnership with Keppel Coast Arts Council, Nicole led the development of a strategic business plan for the operation of two newly funded gallery spaces. This process involved in-depth stakeholder engagement to co-create a practical, community-owned plan that reflects local needs and aspirations. The business case supported the funding and development of the Emu Park Gallery and the Fig Tree Gallery in Yeppoon.
The Story Bank - Interpretive Displays
Nicole was commissioned to develop interpretive displays and artistic installations for the Maryborough Story Bank, one of Queensland's most distinctive cultural tourism destinations and a nationally recognised storytelling experience.
Working alongside Council, curators, designers and regional artists, Nicole developed a series of bespoke interpretive artworks that celebrated the stories, heritage and imagination that define Maryborough. She prepared artist briefs, facilitated design processes and managed the delivery of commissioned works, ensuring they aligned with the project's storytelling objectives while showcasing the talents of local creatives.
The project placed community and regional artists at its centre, creating opportunities for local creative practitioners to contribute to a landmark cultural destination while strengthening connections between heritage, art and tourism.
Insights
It’s Not My First Rodeo: What a Mechanical Bull Taught Me About Regional Economic Development
There’s a story behind this photo, and it involves a mechanical bull, a lot of hard work and one of the more unexpected lessons I’ve learned about regional economic development. About ten years ago, my husband and I decided to build something a little bit different. We wanted to create the only Australian-made mechanical bull,…
The unexpected community hub: What the local reuse centre has taught me about connection
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Growth is not the same as progress: Why liveability matters in regional Queensland
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How do we make engagement actually engaging?
I think we’ve all been there. A room.A whiteboard.A group of people sitting around it.A stack of sticky notes.And someone saying, “Okay, we really want to hear from you.” The problem is… sometimes the way we’re asking people to engage is completely unengaging. Don’t get me wrong , there is absolutely a place for formal…
Preparing Our Frontline Teams for Public Scrutiny
There is a part of working in local government that we don’t always talk about enough. Being visible. Across councils and local governments, we have passionate, capable and highly skilled people working directly with our communities every day. They are the people answering questions, delivering programs, managing facilities, supporting community groups, coordinating events, working in…
Bringing Art to Community: Why Creativity Belongs in Everyday Life
When we talk about increasing participation in arts and culture, the conversation often starts with a familiar question: How do we get more people into our galleries, libraries, theatres and cultural venues? But perhaps we should also be asking a different question: How do we bring more arts and cultural experiences into people’s everyday lives?…
The Uncomfortable Side of a Career Pivot
What I Learned From Being the Least Knowledgeable Person in the Room A career pivot can be one of the most exciting, challenging and terrifying things you can do. Particularly when you’ve been working in an industry for a couple of decades. After 20 years in a particular field, you develop a certain level of…