The Session
This session will explore how community-led organisations can meaningfully influence large-scale infrastructure, policy, and energy outcomes in regional Australia. Drawing on the work of Upper Murray Inc., the Energy Resilience and Reliability Project, and the Corryong Islandable Microgrid, the presenters will unpack how local advocacy, technical understanding, partnerships, and persistence can translate grassroots concern into real, systemic change. The discussion will highlight how architects, through their broad skillsets in problem solving, systems thinking, and project management, can be valuable contributors to community-led initiatives that shape resilient regional futures.

The Presenters
The presenters bring together perspectives from community governance, regional energy advocacy, and project delivery. Representing Upper Murray Inc. and Indigo Power, they will reflect on the role of locally embedded organisations in enabling complex infrastructure projects that respond directly to regional needs.

Sarah Lebner (Vice Chair, Upper Murray Inc.)
Sarah is the Director of Cooee Architecture and a regional practitioner with a strong focus on sustainability, resilience, and community-led change. As Vice Chair of Upper Murray Inc., she has been actively involved in governance and advocacy supporting regional resilience initiatives across the Upper Murray. Her work bridges the gap between built-environment practice and community action, with a particular focus on how professionals can contribute their skills to grassroots, systems-level change.

Dominic Sandilands (Former Chair, Upper Murray Inc.)
Dominic (Podiatrist) is a former Vice Chair of Upper Murray Inc. and was the Chair of the Upper Murray Community Recovery Committee following the 2020 Bushfires. He played a key leadership role in developing the Energy Resilience and Reliability Project and the Corryong Islandable Microgrid. With deep local knowledge and experience in community governance, Dominic helped guide Upper Murray Inc.’s strategic engagement with energy providers, government, and technical experts. He will speak to how community organisations can effectively convene stakeholders and create the conditions for complex regional projects to succeed.

Heath Shakespeare (Indigo Power)
Heath is a Project Manager at Indigo Power and brings extensive experience in community-focused renewable energy and regional energy systems. He has been closely involved in the Upper Murray Energy Resilience and Reliability Project. Heath will discuss how community energy knowledge, collaboration, and long-term thinking can support resilient regional infrastructure, even across multi-organisational projects.

This 1 hour session offers 1 formal CPD point, performance criteria addressed are 7, 5, 4 and 8 from the AACA National Standard of Competency for Architects 2021.

RAA members are eligible to utilise the discount code available in the member content area for free attendance of this session.

POWER OF COMMUNITY delegates are also eligible for free attendance. Discount code will be provided via your booking and event WhatsApp group.

Contact the host of RAA In Practice | POWER OF COMMUNITY Online Lead Up Event | From Grassroots to Grid: How Community-Led Action Can Drive Systemic Change in Regional Australia