Over the past two months, Meshpoints proudly supported seven dedicated local ecosystem builders from Western Australia to join The Community Collective’s 8-week cohort-based program. This initiative not only equipped participants with new skills and connections but also highlighted the incredible drive of WA’s community leaders to foster growth, collaboration, and innovation across our state.
As part of our mission to support local innovation, Meshpoints is committed to empowering individuals who play a vital role in shaping their communities. Through their participation in The Community Collective, these seven leaders gained tools, strategies, and global perspectives to drive change within their sectors.
Participants of the program included:
- Michael Hillam, Youth Program Leader at Bloom
- Michelle Wong, Innovation and Operations Manager at Creative Tech Village
- Sarah Kahle, Manager of Entrepreneurship (Programs and Community) at Curtin
- Tim Sondalini, Innovation Lead at WADSIH
- Emma O'Neil, Director of CyberWest Hub
- Juliette Lucas, Programs and Community Coordinator at Spacecubed
- Cameron Thorn, Director of YEAWA
The program’s comprehensive curriculum spanned topics such as business-aligned community strategies, public speaking, operational efficiency, and measuring return on investment. Led by Jess Walker and Paz Pisarski, the cohort collaborated with peers from around the world, ensuring their learning was both local and global in impact.
Reflecting on their time in the program, Tim Sondalini and Cameron Thorn shared their thoughts below.
“This course has been a turning point for me and I've made some deliberate commitments to enable me to step into my community building role in a more permanent manner in 2025. I really enjoyed both the theory and practical experience of the course. It was very powerful to realise that techniques we were learning about were actually being applied to us too,” shared Tim.
Cameron added, “For me, the best part was being connected with a cohort from WA, doing similar but different things. It was great to have joint study sessions, working on our community strategies together, as it enabled us to help and learn from each other.”
“I loved seeing beneath the hood on how other programs and individuals are using tech and engaging with their communities. This case study element was also powerful and a highlight for me.” Cameron added.
The participants, representing organisations across diverse industries including education, creative tech, and youth engagement, have already begun implementing their newfound knowledge. From crafting long-term community strategies to sparking cross-sector partnerships, their contributions are already enriching the WA ecosystem.
The Community Collective program had an impressive impact, with 102 members joining Cohort #5 and reaching participants across 10 countries. Together, the entire cohort developed 47 tailored community strategies, showcasing the program's practical value. Feedback from our seven local community leaders was overwhelmingly positive.
As part of their journey, participants shared their insights at the 2024 WA Innovation Leaders Congress on October 11th, held at The Hub, Bentley Technology Park. The event brought together over 120 individuals from startups, corporates, and government, united in their commitment to building a resilient innovation ecosystem in WA. The panel discussion, including the Community Collective cohort highlighted their unique experience through the program, showcasing the positive impact of community-led innovation.
This experience reaffirmed Meshpoints’ belief in the importance of investing in people. By supporting our local leaders, we can accelerate the development of WA’s innovation ecosystem, ensuring it remains vibrant, inclusive, and globally connected.
Curious to learn more about Meshpoints? Visit our website here to discover how we're supporting WA's journey toward a thriving, resilient innovation ecosystem. Explore news, opportunities and find out how you can contribute to driving this transformation forward by signing up as a Meshpoints partner for free.
