I’m Kimberley Crofts and I’m a researcher and strategic designer. I started working with Hunter Renewal in 2021 as part of my PhD which was exploring how the community could be more involved with planning their coal-free future.

This was just ahead of the Mining Act changes. Hunter Renewal asked me to help them plan a series of community workshops in the Upper Hunter which led to the publication of the Future-proofing the Hunter report. I was also a key team member for the Restoration Blueprint report released in 2022.

Working with Hunter Renewal was the highlight of my PhD experience. Being able to work on projects with real-world impact, alongside people who are deeply committed to their communities and the planet was inspiring. I learned a lot over these three years, especially about how much knowledge resides in communities about what works, what won’t work, and how change can happen in ways that will benefit everyone if everyone is involved.