Joanna Stevens – Meaningful Engagement in Regional Australia

In this episode, Wendy Agar sits down with strategic communications expert Joanna Stevens, founder of Premier Strategy, to unpack what it takes to genuinely work with—not just in—regional communities. With decades of experience across journalism, government communications, and corporate engagement in infrastructure and renewables, Jo and her team deliver engagement services across Australia. She brings sharp insight and practical strategies for anyone navigating the complex space between policy, projects, and people. Together, they explore: • The key ingredients for meaningful, regionally grounded engagement • What it takes to be the right fit for engagement work in the regions • How to ‘ground truth’ yourself in a community when you're not local • Five strategies to set your engagement up for success from the start Whether you’re leading projects, shaping policy, or facilitating tough conversations on the ground, this episode offers a masterclass in respectful, results-focused engagement. emPOWER is proudly supported by The Energy Charter, a CEO-led collaboration across the Australian energy sector committed to delivering better outcomes for customers and communities in the energy transition. Produced by The Podcast Boss