Stakeholder engagement

Beyond conversations. Connect people, influence outcomes

As the stakeholder engagement environment grows increasingly complex, organisations face the challenge of balancing diverse interests, countering misinformation, advancing cultural inclusion, and adapting to new modes of connection. Navigating this space requires more than tools, tactics and a timeline – it demands a deep understanding of how ‘engagement’ itself is changing; and the foresight to adapt approaches accordingly.

With decades of experience across major government, infrastructure, health, transport, community, and cultural projects, Phillips Group is recognised as a leading authority in delivering high-impact stakeholder engagement.

Our expertise lies in engaging a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including those traditionally difficult to engage, and ensuring that all voices play a meaningful role in shaping outcomes. By combining an extensive practical knowledge with tailored, evidence-based strategies, we deliver solutions that effectually navigate complexity and foster enduring stakeholder trust.

Tailored services for every challenge

Strategy and planning

We know the success of stakeholder engagement is determined long before the first conversation ever takes place. That’s why we use data to bring clarity, deep domain knowledge to uncover nuance, and experience to anticipate challenges. Our strategies are not based on generic frameworks – they are tailored, creative, and robust solutions that navigate complexity to deliver meaningful results.

Consultation

Generic consultation models undermine trust and endanger long-term program success. We design frameworks that reflect the realities of each stakeholder group and establish processes for meaningful participation. Our methodologies – now adopted as industry standards – and our record of innovation place us at the forefront of guiding organisations through the most complex consultations.

Social value

Understanding the true impact of a project goes beyond compliance or headline metrics. We analyse economic, ethical, and social outcomes through an evidence-based lens, capturing both data and sentiment as projects unfold. This approach exposes where value is genuinely created, highlights risks and opportunities, and equips decision-makers with the insights needed to design programs that deliver lasting benefit.

Issues and risk

With more than four decades of experience, we know that managing issues and risk is about foresight as much as response. Anticipating challenges early allows us to design strategies that limit disruption, protect reputation, and maintain trust. Our approach goes beyond mitigation: we build resilience into projects and programs so organisations and governments can navigate complexity with confidence and sustain success over the long term.

Facilitation

Effective facilitation is more than managing a room – it’s about creating the conditions for open dialogue, balanced perspectives, and collective problem-solving. We design processes that anticipate tension points, break down barriers, and draw out the voices that matter. From strategic design and planning through to research, analysis, and reporting, our facilitation helps organisations turn dialogue into action and obstacles into opportunities.

Co-design

We lead industry best-practice in co-design methodologies that bring people together to create more effective, efficient and equitable solutions. Fit-for-purpose, our participatory and narrative-led programs are grounded in inclusivity and curiosity, fostering collaboration and driving meaningful, lasting change by design.

Activist management

Unmanaged activist or organised opposition can quickly undermine an organisation’s economic, political, social, environmental and regulatory licence to operate. We apply proven methodologies to anticipate and monitor emerging challenges, then design strategies that reduce risk and limit disruption. Through strategic insight and rigorous assessment, we equip organisations to navigate opposition with confidence and resilience.

Intelligence that moves you forward

Five strategies for effective stakeholder management

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