Who we are
Max Hardy Consulting is a small consultancy specialising in deliberative engagement, facilitation, community engagement and training.
Our focus is on delivering engagement that is considered and authentic. Leveraging on the skills of Max Hardy, who has over 20 years of experience, we help clients with their toughest and most complex projects to achieve positive results.
We work with people at all stages of their projects to understand their unique, and not so unique challenges, and to co-create new ways of responding to those challenges. This has included projects of all sizes and industry sectors across Australia and internationally. Anyone from local councils, government departments and agencies, health authorities and private companies can benefit from working with trained facilitators and engagement specialists on both internal and external issues.
We focus on creating a laid back atmosphere that puts people at ease and allows them to work together at their best.
To learn more, watch Max Hardy's TEDx Talk on asking the right questions.
Max Hardy
Max Hardy is one of Australia’s most sought after facilitators, and a foremost expert in co-design and deliberative process and has designed and facilitated over 40 deliberative panels since 1998. He regularly delivers workshops and master-classes on deliberative processes at conferences and for the professional development programs of the Municipal Association of Victoria, IAP2, Tamarack Institute and Collaboration for Impact.
As a Master Trainer for IAP2 Max co-designed and facilitated two training academies in 2006 and 2008, in Alberta Canada, and Edinburgh, UK respectively. He has co-authored two books, presented papers at numerous international conferences, and is a regular guest lecturer at several universities.
Max is an IAP2 Ambassador, an associate of Collaboration for Impact and regular collaborator with the Tamarack Institute, Canada.
Who we work with
Conversation Co.
We work with Conversation Co. to deliver a wide-range of broad community engagement projects. Conversation Co. specialises in creating meaningful engagement strategies that empower communities to participate in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.
Their expertise in social planning, data analysis, and strategic communications means you’ll receive tailored solutions to engage your stakeholders and achieve the objectives of your infrastructure projects.
Conversation Co. work with you to empower and encourage your community to have their say and then interpret these insights, coupled with industry best practices, to support you when making key decisions. By applying human behaviour modelling and the IAP2 framework, Conversation Co. ensure the best possible community engagement participation.
Michelle Weston, Michelle Weston Consulting
We regularly work with Michelle as a project lead and facilitator. Michelle is a well-renowned designer, deliverer and facilitator of complex, long-term and high profile engagement programs.
A skilled leader with an insights-led, inclusive decision-making and channels approach, Michelle understands how to work internally to gain organisational buy in and support. She knows how to deliberate on wicked problems, work with communities from the ground up, and how to facilitate a wide range of ongoing stakeholder, customer and community forums.
With over 20 years of experience (10 working in communications and engagement leadership roles at Melbourne Water), Michelle has worked in, and together with a number of government and not-for-profit agencies in the water, waste, health, transport and planning sectors.
Susan Carter, The Community Studio
As part of Authentic Co-Design and independently, we also work with Susan Carter. Susan is a community and stakeholder engagement specialist. She’s worked with science, environment, planning, regulation, and infrastructure organisations to manage their community and stakeholder issues and build organisational capability to work effectively with stakeholders. Susan has developed strategy that has calmed angry people down, built relationships and achieved time, cost and stress savings for organisations and the community.
She’s passionate about helping others improve their engagement skills.
Dr. Anthony Boxshall, Science into Action
We work with Anthony Boxshall both as part of our joint venture Authentic Co-Design and other engagement projects. Anthony is an experienced executive, board member and science leader with expertise in climate adaptation, environmental and conservation science. He has a PhD in science, is a qualified board director and a Melbourne Enterprise Fellow at the University of Melbourne.
In the complex situations in which we all must make our decisions, Anthony helps people to embrace that complexity, plot pathways to impact, and actively co-design products, services and future states.
He builds capability in people and helps leaders to build trust with their stakeholders. As the co-creator of the Authentic Co-design and Science Impact Boot Camps, he has found innovative ways to help decision makers and leaders put science into action in their own field.
Finally, Anthony is a mentor and facilitator who aims to leave his clients better off, with the knowledge, skills and the strategy to go out on their own.
Sally Hussey
We worked with Sally to develop the ebook 'The Underbelly of Engagement: The Unspoken Realities of Community Engagement Practice'.
Sally is a researcher and thought leader with decades of expertise across research and policy. She has collaborated with world-leading experts to examine fundamental challenges facing communities and her authored work has been cited in numerous publications and policymaking contexts in Australia and internationally. Sally inaugurated IAP2 Australasia’s thought leadership series and her recent report was launched at Australian Federal Parliament. Author and regular contributor to policy publications, Sally is recognised by the Who’s Who of Australian Women.
