EFFECTIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: HOW TO DO IT WELL
Engaging the right stakeholders at the right time is essential for successful policy design and implementation. In this recorded webinar, experts Sam Byfield and Linda Gyorki share key strategies for effective stakeholder engagement, drawing from their extensive experience in complex and sensitive contexts.
You’ll learn about stakeholder mapping, engagement design, and the tools and techniques to ensure stakeholders’ voices are heard and valued. Whether you work in policy development, change management, or evaluation, this session will provide you with the insights you need to improve your stakeholder engagement approach.
What you’ll discover in this video:
- Identifying Key Issues that require stakeholder input
- Stakeholder Mapping to categorise and prioritise key groups
- Engagement Design that encourages early, respectful involvement
- Tools & Techniques for culturally safe, trauma-informed, and ethical engagement
- Managing Challenges with difficult stakeholders
- Effective Communication to keep stakeholders informed and involved throughout the process
Watch the video now and learn how to elevate your stakeholder engagement strategies.
About the Experts
Linda Gyorki is an expert in stakeholder engagement for policy design and implementation. Examples of consultations she has led include the inaugural review of the Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM), the Independent Review into Culture and Issues Management for the Country Fire Authority, the University of Melbourne’s Sexual Misconduct Policy, a range of projects in the tobacco control space and the Review of the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme.
Sam Byfield is a policy and evaluation expert with extensive stakeholder engagement experience. He has designed and led national consultation processes in sectors including health, aged care, disability, foreign policy and education.
Kylie Berg drives business development in Australia and specialises in building strong client relationships. With public service experience in New Zealand and the UK, she excels in stakeholder engagement across policy, regulation, and crisis management.
Downloadable Resource
Effective Stakeholder Engagement Slides
Download the slides and extract the team's key tips, including the different stakeholder types.Second Downloadable Resource
Effective Stakeholder Engagement Activity Types Template
Obtain the team's matrix of engagement activity types, including guidance on when to use them and when not to.Coming up
Restream + Live Q&A | Credible Evaluations: Balancing Resourcing and Accurate Insights
Date: Thursday 11 September 2025 | 12:10-12:55 p.m. NZST | 10:10-10:55 a.m. AEST
In an era where the competing priorities of understanding what drives policy, program, and service success—or lack thereof—and reduced evaluation resources prevail, how can you maintain the integrity and impact of your evaluations?
In this webinar, our evaluation veterans will discuss how to deliver 'the Toyota' of evaluations, as opposed to 'the Ferrari', by focusing on the fundamentals of credible evaluation within your context. They'll explore the delicate balance of making necessary compromises while avoiding detrimental ones, including strategies for scenarios where there simply isn’t enough capacity to deliver your evaluation work program.
