Keynote Speaker

Keynote: Narelda Jacobs OAM

We are honoured to welcome Narelda Jacobs OAM as the keynote speaker for ChangeFest25. A proud Whadjuk Noongar woman from Perth, Narelda is a trailblazer in Australian media and a passionate advocate for justice, truth-telling, and equity.

As a journalist, presenter, and advocate with over two decades of experience, she is known for her powerful storytelling, cultural leadership, and fearless commentary.

Narelda will open ChangeFest25 on her home Country, setting the tone for three days of connection, truth-telling, and collective action.

Program Story: Creating a new way

Held during Kanbarang, the Noongar season of change and renewal, this year’s theme, Creating a New Way, invites us to explore community agency in addressing the injustices of the past and imagining new futures through the strength of collaboration in the present.

This year’s gathering is about community agency in addressing the injustices of the past and imagining new futures through the strength of collaboration in the present. The ChangeFest25 Program will centre stories from communities leading change, examples of collaborative action across diverse sectors and perspectives that is changing how systems work, and opportunities to develop networks for strengthening our collective influencing and learning.

The ChangeFest25 Program will explore the cycles of time, the seasons of change that occur as we explore the intersections of past, present and future together into a shared experience.  Co-created with community, elements of the program include:

• Grounding in where we’ve come from: Understanding the history and context of our communities and institutions is an important first step in collaborating together in community led systems change. We will begin by grounding ourselves in the culture and stories of Walyalup Country. Together, we’ll explore how truth-telling, storytelling, deep listening, and systems mapping can connect diverse voices, heal communities, and reimagine.
• Collaborating in the present: Communities and collaborators across Australia are already demonstrating collective action to shift systems and address root causes. The program will highlight stories of community-led peacebuilding and healing and share practical examples of how community-centred systems change is happening across Australia — including measurement and learning, sharing power and decision making, building mutual accountability and community-owned resources and capital.

• Stepping bravely into new futures: From grounding and collaborating in place we will then reimagine what futures we are co-creating for the next generations and young people of today. Here we will explore what power-shifting work is needed next – locally to nationally – to create systems that work for all people and country. This may include practices such as First Nations leadership of futures thinking, intergenerational learning and accountability, and opportunities for influencing policies, resourcing and narratives around place-based change.

Program

Here’s what you can expect each day:

Day 1: Grounding and Opening (9am – 5pm) Begin with Welcome to Country, keynote address, and a shared grounding in the themes of justice, renewal, and collaboration.

Day 2: Deep Dive & Collaboration (9am – 5pm) Engage in workshops, learning circles, and panel discussions. Share insights and shape action together.

Day 3: Action & Futures (9am – 1pm approx) Step into collective visioning and planning for the road ahead. The gathering closes with commitments, calls to action, and ceremony.

View last year’s 2024 program overview.

Planning Your Visit

You can find out more about planning your visit here:

Plan your visit 25

Joining us for ChangeFest25? Here’s some helpful info to plan your visit to Walyalup. Book your tickets here.