Engagement, Communication, and Communities

Our Engagement, Communication and Communities (ECC) team was established by GHD over twenty years ago and has played a significant and sustained leadership role in the growth and development of public participation in Australia, New Zealand, the Asia-Pacific Region, the United States, and Canada.
business advisors having a meeting

We work with clients who seek to manage risk and prepare communities for change by drawing on our broad experience and global network. We support the most challenging and complex projects by offering strategic advice and practical solutions.

We work with clients who seek to manage risk and prepare communities for change by drawing on our broad experience and global network. We support the most challenging and complex projects by offering strategic advice and practical solutions.

We design strategies and deliver communications and engagement services across multiple markets including Water, Transport, Environment, and Energy and Resources.

We draw on our technical capability to co-create with multi-discipline project teams and tailor solutions for our federal, state and local government clients, as well as multinational firms and corporations.

ECC digital toolkit

What we do

Strategic communication

Government relations, strategic messaging, internal communication and change management, media relations, project / program interface management

Digital engagement and online tools
Digital platforms, social media, multimedia content, virtual reality, augmented reality, analytics and online optimisation, visualisation.
Risk management
Issues, reputation and risk management, outrage management, crisis communication, media, and public relations.
Indigenous
Dedicated expertise in Indigenous community engagement.
Community
Community consultation, events, focus groups, surveys, research, land access negotiations.
Social research
Social and economic impact assessment, social planning, community infrastructure needs assessment, social knowledge base research, community development.
Stakeholders
Stakeholder engagement, plan and strategy development, stakeholder mapping and analysis.
Workshops
Workshop facilitation (online and in-person), meditation, training, and public presentations.
female advisor explaining during a meeting

In our highly connected and sophisticated world, project success is now most often driven by social acceptability. Building strong and effective relationships with project stakeholders, internal and external, as well as local communities is an integral to a project’s success.

Our GHD teams ensure that the knowledge, perspectives and well-being of the communities concerned by a project are valued in a climate of trust, respect and transparency.

We identify potential project and reputational risks, and develop mitigation measures, and deliver services aligned to your scope, schedule and cost objectives to create lasting social and project benefits.


How we deliver

We ensure internal and external stakeholders views, as well as community sentiment are considered and integrated into the planning, design and delivery phases of any project or large scale program of work.

Define

Identify and understand the issues, complexity, history and nuances of the project and the desired outcomes and objectives.

Assess

Identify and assess the stakeholders (internal and/or external) – determine their level of interest, influence, key issues, demographics, and drivers.

Design

Define the engagement plan – tools, techniques, timings, and tactics. Determine how information and data will be captured and analysed.

Execute

Undertake the communication and engagement activities – blending traditional and digital techniques.

Analyse

Collate, interpret and analyse the information and data gathered. Prepare reports and other deliverables.

Report

Publish findings, evaluate participation outcomes and final report back to client.

Contacts