Community Wealth Building Masterclass

Join this Community Wealth Building Masterclass, designed for local leaders and professionals who want to create lasting benefits from economic activity and investment. This masterclass is exclusive to Councils and practitioners in the Victorian Goldfields region.

RSVP by 7 March 2025

Why attend?

The World Heritage bid for the Victorian Goldfields presents a unique opportunity to celebrate the region’s ancient and recent history while boosting local prosperity. This one-off 2025 masterclass will explore how Community Wealth Building can help ensure that investment benefits local businesses, workers and communities.

Community Wealth Building is a growing approach used worldwide–including in the USA, Europe and the UK–to support stronger local economies. Many Goldfield councils already support wellbeing-focused economic strategies, community businesses, and the co-operative sector. This masterclass will provide practical guidance on scaling these efforts.

Hear from

Co-led by Patrick Fensham and Neil McInroy with guest contributor Melina Morrison.

Patrick Fensham – Principal & Partner at SGS Economics & Planning, Strategic and Economic Planner, and advocate for Community Wealth Building.

Neil McInroy – Global leader in Community Wealth Building at the Democracy Collaborative, Chair of Economic Development Association Scotland, Chair of Shetland Island Energy Transition Taskforce, and Independent Review of Inclusive Business Models. This masterclass is Neil’s only non-capital city event during his 2025 Australia visit.

Melina Morrison – CEO of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals, supporting the sector to help build a more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable Australia. Melina will share practical Australian case studies across farming, healthcare, housing and energy sectors on inclusive member-led businesses.

What you’ll learn

• Key challenges in the Goldfields and how Community Wealth Building can address them.
• The principles of Community Wealth Building and how they apply locally.
• The potential for economic transformation from growing cooperative and/or mutually owned businesses.
• Steps to turn strategy into action for local benefit.
• Real-world case studies from successful Community Wealth Building initiatives.

Who should attend?

This masterclass is ideal for economic development professionals, local leaders, and elected representatives from the Victorian Goldfields region interested in practical ways to build stronger, more resilient communities.

Secure your spot

This session offers a focused, hands-on approach to applying Community Wealth Building in the Goldfields region of Central Victoria and beyond. Attendees will leave with clear action steps to strengthen local economies.

Community discount

We are offering a fee subsidy for people representing not-for-profits and community-based organisations. Contact us to find out more: nblanco@sgsep.com.au

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