Nicole delivers 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.
Engagement Approach
Every strategy should reflect the unique strengths, opportunities and challenges of the community it serves. This commitment informed the engagement approach was supported by the Isaac Council.
To ensure local voices were genuinely captured, Nicole spent two weeks travelling throughout the Isaac region, visiting townships and delivering a series of creative community engagement workshops. These sessions provided opportunities for people to come together, connect with one another and engage in creative activities, while also sharing their hopes and vision for the future of arts and culture in the region.
Rather than relying solely on traditional consultation methods, the workshops created a relaxed and welcoming environment where people could contribute openly and authentically. The result was a strategy informed not only by data and planning principles, but by the lived experiences, ideas and aspirations of the community itself.
In partnership with Keppel Coast Arts Council and Livingstone 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.
