Welcome to the World
of Becky Hirst.
A multipotentialite. An innovator. An entrepreneur. A creative strategist. The energy your organisation needs.
As I've gotten older, I've realised I don't fit into neat boxes—and this website is no exception. I'm proud to be a multipotentialite with many things on the go at once.
My online presence reflects that complexity. I don't fit into one corporate website with a headshot. I am a plethora of things. And as outlined below—and as you'll see across all my projects—there's a navigation toolbar to help you keep up with where I'm at.
What Ties It All Together
Training, consultancy, speaking, a podcast, two books, a photography project on community halls — on paper, it looks like a lot of different things. It is a lot of different things. But underneath every project on this site sits the same belief, learned over almost 30 years of doing this work: be led by the people.
Whether I'm in a boardroom helping a government team plan a strategy, on a stage talking about community engagement, behind a mic with Dan on the podcast, or out photographing a stone hall on the Yorke Peninsula — I'm doing the same work. I'm making the case that people and communities aren't a box to check or a risk to manage. They're the asset. The insight. The reason any of this matters.
Four things guide how I show up in every one of these spaces:
Pushing new frontiers.
Real & human leadership.
Nothing gets decided about people, without people.
People and communities are a valuable asset, not a risk to be managed.
Training
I founded HeyEngage as a passionate advocate for community engagement and effective communication. With over two and a half decades of experience, I've worked with hundreds of government clients, involving over 50,000 people in meaningful discussions about issues that matter.
A breast cancer diagnosis in 2024 shifted my focus towards scaling my impact globally. Now, HeyEngage is a space where I share my methodologies, provide leadership in valuing community, and build a global network of skilled practitioners.
Explore HeyEngage →Strategic Planning & Consultancy
I work with organisations to craft bold, forward-thinking strategies that aren't laminated on a shelf. Strategic planning that's alive, responsive, and rooted in real community engagement. Let's build something that lasts.
Work With Me as Consultant →
Keynote Speaking
I deliver keynote presentations at conferences and events around the world. Drawing on 27 years of community engagement expertise, I now focus on themes including my personal breast cancer journey, flat living, migration, entrepreneurialism, and the power of multipotentialism. No Everest, No Medal, No Problem.
Book Becky to Speak →For the Love of Community Engagement Podcast
Season 6 now live with co-host Dan Ferguson. Stories, insights, and conversations with changemakers about community engagement, creativity, and doing things differently.
Listen Now →
Books
My second book—a personal reckoning with public participation. Nearly 65,000 words exploring community planning, the Whyalla story, and what it means to truly have your say in shaping the world around you.
Discover the Book →Community Halls
I'm passionate about documenting South Australian community halls. This project celebrates the spaces and moments where real community happens at a local level.
Explore Community Halls →
Global Community Engagement Day
I'm co-instigator of Global Community Engagement Day. A dedicated day to celebrate and advocate for the importance of community engagement across the globe.
Explore GCED →