What helps a community turn investment into real, lasting change?
Billions are invested into regional communities every year, yet too many places still remain vulnerable, disconnected and unprepared. This Masterclass explores the missing ingredient behind meaningful, lasting impact: readiness. Join Kerry Grace and Dr Chad Renando from Ready Communities for a timely conversation on what readiness really means, why it matters, and how communities can build the conditions that help opportunity land, take root and last.
If you work in social impact, regional investment or community development, this session is for you.
Together, Kerry and Chad will unpack the five enabling conditions that turn funding into foundations and programs into progress. You will hear practical insights for anyone who has asked why some places thrive while others stay stuck, and what it takes to move from short term activity to long term change.
Event Details
📅 Date: Wednesday 27 May
⏰ Time: 12 PM (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne) / 11:30 AM (Adelaide, Darwin) / 10 AM (Perth) / 2 PM (Wellington)
💻 Online
🎟 Cost: Free for BFGN members, $20 for non-members
What You’ll Learn & Do
• Explore what readiness really means in a regional and social impact context
• Understand why funding alone does not create sustainable change
• Learn the five enabling conditions that help investment land and endure
• Reflect on why some communities gain traction while others remain stuck
• Discover how clarity, connection, capability, collaboration and advocacy strengthen local action
• Gain practical language and frameworks to support community-led progress
About the Speakers
👤 Kerry Grace
Co-founder of Ready Communities and Evolve Group Network, Kerry Grace is a leader in regional development, community engagement and impact-driven leadership. She brings deep experience in building the relationships, vision and local momentum that help communities create lasting change.
👤 Chad Renando
Co-founder of Ready Communities and Research Fellow at the University of Southern Queensland, Dr Chad Renando is an expert in innovation ecosystems and community transformation. His work brings together research, systems thinking and place-based practice to help regional communities navigate change and shape stronger futures.
About the Host Organisation
Social Impact in the Regions, SIITR, creates immersive and experiential opportunities for regional people creating social change to learn, connect and step back from day-to-day challenges. Its approach is grounded in a philosophy of working with communities, not at them, with alumni and host communities helping shape speakers and program design.
This Masterclass also draws on the work of Ready Communities, which supports regions to build the enabling conditions that help good ideas, action and investment take hold and endure through shared clarity, strong connections, local capability, purposeful collaboration and confident advocacy.
Why Attend?
This BFGN Webinar Series event is for changemakers, funders, practitioners and regional leaders who want to move beyond busyness and towards lasting impact. If you care about community-led change, place-based practice and stronger social infrastructure, this session will give you a clearer understanding of what readiness looks like in practice, and why it matters so much.
Join BFGN to access free webinars, resources, and a community of changemakers!