Linda was made an Associate of the Institute of Place Management (IPM), a UK based international professional body. The membership was honorarily conferred in acknowledgement of her writing about place, particularly the Placing project. The Institute of Place Management is the international professional body that supports people committed to developing, managing and making places better. It aims to support and develop the profession of place management.

The IPM website describes place management as involving “community development, regeneration, management, marketing, economic development or any permutation of these but the aim is the same – to improve a distinct area or destination for the benefit of its users. This is the essence of place management – the process of making places better.”

More information about place management and the Institute of Place Management online at:
http://www.placemanagement.org

Harbinger Consultants was successful in securing a project to plan and develop e-retailing within the art and creative industry sector in the central and south west regions of Queensland.  The objective is to develop a series of product lines that can be resourced from a pool of regional arts workers and marketed worldwide through web based platforms.

We will be working with the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) which covers an area of 36% of the state, the central west and south west regions of Queensland. The area is over 516,000 square kilometres and includes 40 communities within 11 Local Government Areas – Barcaldine Regional Council, Barcoo Shire Council, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Boulia Shire Council, Bulloo Shire Council, Diamantina Shire Council, Longreach Regional Council, Murweh Shire Council, Paroo Shire Council, Quilpie Shire Council and Winton Shire Council.

We will be working closely with the creative communities of the area to:

• Produce a direction/vision for e-retailing of ‘creative industries’ in the central west region
• Identify a model or structure for artisans and groups to work collaboratively to enhance ‘creative industries’
• Develop a business plan to target further business/industry development.

Harbinger Consultants’ methodologies and inclusive, collaborative approach will ensure that the unique characteristics of the place and the people are integrated and reflected in the eventual direction, vision, structure and plan for this exciting new venture.

Harbinger Consultants has commenced an association with Bang The Table, an online community engagement platform. Through this relationship we hope to encourage the uptake of Bang The Table services in Queensland while also enhancing our own service offer. Bang the Table is an independently moderated space for discussing public policy and hosts discussions for organisations that recognise the value of community input to their decisions. Bang The Table was founded by Crispin Butteriss and Matt Crozier who have worked in the Australian and UK public sectors for about 30 years collectively. Bang The Table responds to the need of attracting and engaging a larger audience in discussions about public policy.

Linda had completed training in online engagement with Bang The Table last year and has just spent two days with the new team of associates – representing most Australian states – receiving training and induction. The platform is easy-to-use for users (both clients and audiences) while also providing an opportunity to consult with more people. We know from our own experience that community consultation is increasingly difficult with many people experiencing either consultation fatigue or being too time poor to provide their views. Bang The Table is more convenient and, from our own experiencing of using the forums, is as easy as making a flight booking.

We will be including updates about Bang The Table’s projects and products on our website.  Examples of consultations include:

• The BEMP coalition has prepared Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities and is currently soliciting views on this consultation document
• The Federal Government’s National Cultural Policy which will remain open until 6 pm (EST) on Monday 1 February 2010.

More information about Bang The Table:
http://bangthetable.com