INSPIREd Leadership for Community Impact

Due to the positive outcome of the highly anticipated 2020 Learning Event, INSPIRE hosted a 2nd REIPPPP Learning Event in October 2023 themed Inspired Leadership for Community Impact aiming to:  

• To build capacity for inspired leadership in support of deepened community impact. 
• To allow for strengthened relationships and networks of support. 
• To better understand the factors that are enabling and restraining bold leadership in our sector. 
• To activate people to participate in collaborative projects, programmes and change within the renewable energy sector. 
• To gain fresh perspectives and practical knowledge to apply to your work. 

Our 2023 Learning Event brought together diverse and engaged esteemed speakers and thought leaders addressing critical aspects of community impact within REIPPPP. The event provided valuable practice insights and opportunities to enhance leadership skills, strengthening networks of support for greater community impact through discussions on; 

• Community trusts and strategic investment 
• The role of leadership in a wounded context 
• Mapping the wider ecosystem 
• Bold leadership for deepened community impact. 

The speakers, distinguished in their fields, brought forth profound perspectives that resonated deeply with the challenges and opportunities intertwined within community development and energy transition. 

The key insights include but are not limited to; 

• Understanding historical contexts and addressing unhealed wounds within marginalised communities is essential to foster lasting change. In the landscape of community development within the REIPPPP, there’s a paradoxical situation where some communities seem forgotten, stuck in a time capsule, lacking motivation. While big companies aim for significant achievements, these communities primarily seek sustenance. 
• The deep-seated historical trauma within communities requires a nuanced understanding and deliberate efforts to engage and heal communities from past wounds for sustainable development. It is important to facilitate trauma informed leadership to address trauma, fostering resilient leaders capable of leading communities towards healing and development. 
• It is emphasised that impact in communities might not be immediately visible, requiring a shift in perspective towards evaluating the long-term effects rather than short-term gains. 
• Collaboration is identified as key, yet the fear of sharing risks impedes progress. There’s a call for synchronised efforts among IPPs, government, and communities for effective implementation. 
• It is important to engage in ongoing, non-statistical conversations with communities. Government support is essential, but there are challenges in implementing plans on a quarterly basis, often focusing on the number of people reached rather than the transformative impact. Therefore, the pressure for numerical reporting within short-term frames hinders the implementation of sustainable, long-term initiatives. 
• The importance of strategic investments and community trusts in nurturing the potential of the youth within renewable energy programs was acknowledged. There is an opportunity to harness the youth demographic for economic advancement. This necessitates a concentrated focus on skills development and nurturing the potential of younger generations. Shifting human development outcomes to break the cycle of poverty requires understanding the root causes, including intangible barriers like cognitive development. 

The potential to realise justice, freedom, and liberation lies through a deliberate and inclusive approach to restructuring the energy system to avoid past mistakes impacting marginalised communities. This involves not only focusing on technological advancements but also centring the needs and experiences of marginalised communities to build a fairer and more equitable future. Despite acknowledging challenges, collective responsibility is emphasised, asserting that the quest for justice and equitable energy systems requires a united effort from all voices.