Dr Kieren Moffat- Why Are Communities Angry? The Social License Dilemma

It’s a question that keeps popping up in the energy shift across the country—and one that professionals across the industry struggle to answer. Why do some communities push back harder than others? Why does trust seem so hard to build… and so easy to lose?

Join Wendy Agar, your host, as she unpacks  the deep drivers of community anger, social license and trust building with Dr Kieren Moffat, a global expert who has spent decades turning research into real-world action. From tackling inter-group conflict in the Australian Defence Force to leading groundbreaking work at CSIRO and launching Voconiq, Kieren has seen firsthand what fuels community frustration—and, more importantly, what actually works to rebuild trust.

We’re tackling the tough questions, including:

•       What does community actually look like in the energy shift?
•       How does anger show up—and is it always obvious?
•       If we know so much about social license, why is it difficult to achieve?
•       What’s the difference between building trust vs. gaining acceptance?
• What impact does internal company culture have on engagement outcomes—and what can individuals do to shift the narrative?

This isn’t just theory—this is about practical solutions. Whether you’re in renewables, infrastructure, or community engagement, this episode will help you navigate complexity, reduce friction, and engage communities in ways that actually work.

From a dream of becoming a pro golfer to global social license expert, Kieren’s journey is anything but typical…and neither is this conversation!

Tune in now and get ready to change the way you think about social license, building trust and gaining acceptance!

This podcast is an initiative of Engaged Outcomes - a training, facilitation and engagement organisation, dedicated to building capacity, empowering people and driving lasting change for regional communities across Australia.

EmPOWER is proudly supported by The Energy Charter, a CEO collaboration across the energy sector nationally, delivering better outcomes for customers and communities in the energy transition.

Produced by The Podcast Boss