We’re here to collaborate with you to co-design strategies for resilience, adaption and recovery.
At Cobalt Engagement, we believe that for our collective plans, programs and infrastructure to succeed it is critical for the work to be place-based and community-led.
We are grounded in the principle that there must be a just transition, not just a green transition. From this position, we recognise that the impacts and pressures of achieving a sustainable future are unevenly felt in our regional and suburban communities.
Our team is from diverse backgrounds in the built environment, planning, community development and the arts, bringing a deep understanding and respect for the range of issues, considerations and opportunities that are encountered.
We support a Caring for Country approach in all our work and we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we work and live; we are grateful for their continuing care and connection to culture, community, land, sea and sky.
Our passionate team brings a wealth of complementary experiences that we harness to ensure that our engagement and strategies are accessible, inclusive and mindful of a range of different lived experiences.
TEAM
Nicole Dennis
Founder and Director
Nicole has more than 15 years of experience in engagement, strategic planning, placemaking and resilience-based strategies and regeneration.
Through her work, Nicole recognised the need for connecting with the experiences of regional and marginalised communities.
She founded Cobalt Engagement with the primary goal of designing bespoke approaches that build from the ground up trust with communities, while ensuring that engagement leads to meaningful contributions for decision makers.
As an experienced urban and regional planner, Nicole has designed and delivered numerous technical workshops for government bodies and decision makers, fostering clear knowledge sharing and targeted conversations to address complex problems.
James Peter Brown
Founder and Director
James is a composer and sound designer and Director of Cobalt Engagement. He oversees the creative direction of the company and works to integrate artists and creatives into engagement, co-design and producing artistic activations that support increasing resilience, engagement and collaboration.
He has been a practicing independent artist for over 20 years and brings considerable experience to working across theatre, film, dance, VR, podcasts and installations.
He works with a wide variety of independent artists, main stage and creatives to create scores and soundscapes closely with artists.
He is currently working with Latai Taumoepeau to produce an orgiainal soundscape to support her work Restor(y)ing Oceania to be presented at the Venice Biennale 2024.
Susie Rugg
Communications and Engagement
Susie is an engagement consultant, public programs curator, sustainability advocate and contemporary artist. She is passionate about creating open-ended and engaging opportunities for adults, youth and children to engage with art, communities and culture.
Susie works with community organisations, arts and cultural groups, schools and not-for-profit organisations to produce both small and large scale events that enable adults and children to learn and play side by side.
She works at Cobalt Engagement to design and lead children and youth focused engagement, creative partnerships and communications.
Rhana Fleming
Principal
Rhana is a trusted senior community and stakeholder engagement specialist. She has with extensive experience across the public and private sector in developing and delivering strategic communication and engagement plans within dynamic environments.
Her experience spans state borders and includes urban transformation, critical infrastructure and renewable energy projects. She is a skilled facilitator of valuable conversations with state and federal members of parliament, councils, industry, peak bodies, community action groups, residents and business owners.
Rhana’s work with Cobalt Engagement provides strategic overview of community engagement through an experienced lens of industry best-practice.
Morgan Hannan
Resilience, Design and Engagement
Morgan is an urban and regional planner and designer with a background in research, design, community development and social data management. He has worked with and within government agencies, local community organisations and the private sector in regional, Western Sydney and urban settings.
He is passionate about creating just and equitable communities and projects that amplify agents for change and capacity development.
Tina Hakim
Planning and Engagement
Tina is an urban and regional planner and designer who believes in using design as a constructive conversation to create a more inclusive built environment.
Her expertise lies in bridging the gap between vulnerable communities, particularly refugees and host communities.
Tina has facilitated numerous participatory workshops, including co-designing spaces with local communities and conducting regional capacity-building workshops for government bodies, ensuring the transfer of knowledge for long-term sustainable planning.