Regional Stakeholder Forum 2025
This free annual forum brings together staff and volunteers from regional and Western Sydney museums and galleries to network, share stories, and engage with current topics relevant to the regions.
This year, the forum will explore the longevity of the sector at large, from the organisations we run, the collections we care for, the communities we serve and the legacies we leave.
Ten bursaries of up to $500 will be offered by Powerhouse to support travel costs for attendees from regional NSW, apply via emilyc@mgnsw.org.au.
Presented in partnership with Powerhouse, Museums & Galleries of NSW and Regional Arts NSW. The Regional Stakeholder Forum is an in-person event at Powerhouse Castle Hill.
Program
Welcome to Country and Opening Remarks
10am Delivered by Rhiannon Wright, Dharug knowledge-holder, Powerhouse and Museum and Galleries NSW.
Programming for Future Generations and New Audiences | Woodford Academy
10.15am Kate O’Neill, Chair of Woodford Academy, and Annie Stevens, NSW National Trust Senior Properties Manager, will share how their programs are fostering community-building and intergenerational audience growth to support long-term community involvement.
Building Long-Term Resilience through Collaboration | Southern NSW Regional Heritage Group
10.45am Geoffrey Burch, Group Facilitator and Mark Christison, Chairperson and Facilitator, will share key learnings from their experience of establishing a regional collective of professionals and volunteers across Southern NSW.
Recognition of Significance | The Royal Flying Doctor Service Outback Heritage Experience Broken Hill
11.45am Lyn Penson, Tourism Specialist, will share the story of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Outback Heritage Broken Hill achieving Significance Certification. Hear about the application journey, the value of this recognition and the impact it has had on community pride and future planning.
Sharing Stories from Collections | Extending Storyplace
12.15pm Dr Kate Gahan, Storyplace Project Manager, will present the work undertaken as part of the Extending Storyplace project, fostering regional collaboration and cultural inclusion.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1.45pm Participants will need to book one of the below breakout sessions to attend at checkout.
- Lifelong Friends of the Museum (Select Volunteer)
Hear from Powerhouse Program Manager Cate Purcell on fostering supportive environments and creating lasting connections. This session will introduce evidence-based positive psychology approaches to strengthen resilience and focus on volunteers’ unique capabilities. - Collection Storage and Object Handling (Select Storage)
Gain insights around storage solutions, including the challenges of open storage, material suitability and low-cost collection care with Charm Watts, Powerhouse Manager, Collection Logistics. - Conservation Caring for Objects (Select from Textiles, Paper or Metal)
Discover practical conservation tools and resources with Kate Chidlow, Powerhouse Lead Conservator. In this in-depth session, conservation experts will guide participants through best-practice approaches to object care. Participants choose one of three specialist focus areas: textiles, paper or metal.
Featuring
Presented in Partnership with
