Becky Hirst joins Communiti Labs as Strategic Engagement Advisor

Becky Hirst joins Communiti Labs as Strategic Engagement Advisor, helping shape the future of community engagement.

There’s a particular kind of person in every sector who seems to know everyone, who practitioners trust instinctively, and whose presence in a room shifts the energy of the conversation. In community engagement, that person is Becky Hirst.

We’re thrilled to announce that Becky Hirst has joined Communiti Labs as Strategic Engagement Advisor, bringing nearly three decades of experience, a global network of sector leaders, and a strong belief in the future of community engagement.

Meet Becky Hirst: A trusted voice in community engagement

Becky is a community engagement strategist, facilitator, keynote speaker, author, and podcaster based in South Australia. She holds a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), is a board director, and is co-instigator of Global Community Engagement Day.

Her book, For the Love of Community Engagement, has become a trusted resource for practitioners around the world, while her podcast of the same name has reached listeners in more than 30 countries.

Over nearly 30 years, Becky has worked across government, community, and organisational contexts, delivering engagement that drives meaningful outcomes rather than simply ticking consultation boxes. Through her business, Hey Engage, she continues to consult, train, facilitate, and speak on what great engagement practice can and should look like.

She is also, as she would put it, deeply impatient with the sector’s tendency to play it safe.

Why Communiti Labs?

At Communiti Labs, we have built an end-to-end engagement operating system, designed for community engagement teams. We help councils plan, engage, analyse, report, and close the loop in one connected workflow, making engagement more inclusive, auditable, and easier to act on.

We asked Becky why she chose to join Communiti Labs. In her words:

“I've been watching the community engagement sector for nearly 30 years, and I'll be honest, it's been a while since something genuinely excited me. Communiti Labs excited me. When I looked at what Dan and the team have built, I thought: this is exactly the innovation the sector has been waiting for. And I didn't want to just watch it from the sidelines. I wanted skin in the game.”

“This is a genuine strategic partnership, sitting alongside everything I already do. I chose it because I believe in it, and because I think the sector needs someone to stand up and say: there is a better way, and here it is.”

What Becky Hirst brings to Communiti Labs

Becky’s role as Strategic Engagement Advisor is to shape how the sector understands the future of engagement by explaining what Communiti Labs is building, why it matters, and why the sector can’t afford to stand still.

She brings nearly three decades of practice, a trusted voice across Australia and the UK, and a network built on genuine relationships. Just as importantly, she brings an honest, practitioner-grounded perspective on what the sector actually needs, and the candour to speak honestly about it.

Over the coming months, Becky and Dan Ferguson will work together on a new program of thought leadership, conversations, and industry initiatives focused on the future of community engagement practice.

Dan Ferguson, Founder of Communiti Labs, says:

“The first time I spoke with Becky, I was struck by the depth of genuine care she has for community engagement as a practice. She understands the impact practitioners on the front line have on everyday people, and she carries that responsibility seriously. What makes Becky so exciting to work with is that her care is matched by a real impatience to see the sector move forward.”

“At Communiti Labs, we know we stand on the shoulders of incredible pioneers who shaped this field. But we also believe the sector is ready for a new wave of energy, innovation, and ambition. Becky brings the rare combination of deep practitioner trust, sector credibility, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. That is exactly the kind of voice we want helping shape what comes next.”

What’s coming next

The Future of Community Engagement program launches this month, beginning with a new podcast series exploring the questions the sector has been too comfortable to avoid.

Follow Becky Hirst, Dan Ferguson, and Communiti Labs on LinkedIn to stay across upcoming conversations, initiatives, and announcements as they unfold.

The future of community engagement should not just be more efficient. It should be more human, more informed, and more impactful for the communities engagement practitioners serve every day.