The summer break is behind us and 2026 is officially off and running. At LKB we have delivered our first community engagement event of the year in western Sydney’s vibrant Cabramatta, where the community is preparing to welcome the Chinese Year of the Horse – a year of freedom, energy and ambition.
Some of the early trends we are seeing for 2026 here at LKB are facilitation and events projects, with face-to-face connection and relationship building continuing to be critical on client projects.
2026 is also bound to be a big year for community engagement practitioners;
- In NSW, Sydney Metro has awarded major contracts for the continued delivery of Sydney Metro West – this project is set to transform the way we travel around Sydney. We’re excited to see how local communities will help to shape the design of new stations and precincts.
- In Queensland, the delivery of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic infrastructure is gaining momentum. With just over six years to go until the Opening Ceremony, a delivery partner has recently been appointed, as well as the architects for the main Olympic Stadium – I can’t wait to see the design. What an exciting opportunity for the people of Brisbane to get involved in this city-shaping project.
- Across regional and metropolitan Australia, the shift to renewable energy is physically changing the landscape of communities, and it is also changing the way we engage – with major projects requiring more innovation than ever before.
Across our work in facilitation, events and community engagement we know that building trust is both critical to successful project delivery, and one of the strongest outcomes from our engagement work. Face-to-face engagement is one of the best ways to build trust, enable stakeholder input and deliver better projects, allowing genuine two-way dialogue.
Wishing everyone a great start to the Year of the Horse – I hope that its’ positive energy is reflected across your projects this year.
Curious about how events, facilitation or engagement could strengthen your next project, policy or program? Open a conversation with our team today and find out how we can help you connect, collaborate and create meaningful outcomes.
