In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Dean Cracknell, Co-Founder of Doing Co and Creator of Placemaking Education, about community-led placemaking, belonging and the leadership shifts needed to create places where people feel connected, welcome and able to contribute. Dean shares why placemaking is more than murals, events or physical design. At its best, it is a mindset and process that helps people connect, contribute, lead and feel proud of the places they call home. The conversation explores how leaders can move from doing things for communities to working with communities, why trust and collaboration matter, and how reframing risk can help institutions become braver in involving people.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging and Doing Co

02:04 Defining Belonging: A Personal Journey

04:11 Shifts in Placemaking: From Design to Connection

06:10 Understanding Community Engagement in Placemaking

09:00 Successful Community-Led Projects: A Case Study

12:24 Barriers to Progress: Misunderstandings in Placemaking

15:16 Practical Steps for Leaders in Community-Led Placemaking

17:40 The Broader Vision of Placemaking

21:14 Key Shifts for Leaders in Placemaking

Dean’s advice for leaders and practitioners for #BelongingShift

Shift 1: Start small, but start

Shift 2: Collaborate instead of trying to do it all yourself

Shift 3: Trust communities to contribute, shape and lead

Shift 4: See placemaking as a journey of learning, not a fixed destination

Shift 5: Build cultures where more leaders can emerge

Guest Bio

Dean Cracknell is Co-Founder of Doing Co and Creator of Placemaking Education. Dean loves helping people to create positive civic, social, economic, environmental or organisational change. He shifted from being an urban planner working in local government and local doer volunteering in my local neighbourhood to being a Doer, Dreamer, Enabler and Connector of people and ideas. He works in the gaps in between: people and places, local governments and local communities, community organising and action, social, economic and environmental improvement and top-down and bottom-up.

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Belonging Co, a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney with a belonging lens. Belonging Co helps leaders drive participation, trust and engagement. The consultancy delivers strategies, engagement, and programs for organisations and leaders wanting genuine impact across cultural inclusion, community participation and social cohesion.

He founded Belonging Co in 2025 to enhance the capability, confidence, and understanding of leaders and organisations regarding inclusion and community participation. Mantej has over 20 years of experience across community engagement, placemaking, and inclusion, emphasizing that belonging is foundational to thriving communities and effective institutions. For more information on Belonging Co visit www.belongingco.com.au and www.linkedin.com/in/mantejs

Make the #Belonging Shift

Lets grow the conversation

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast, for more such conversations. Podcast link The Belonging Shift – Conversations about community, place, leadership and the future of belonging — Belonging Co

In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, about how Australia can strengthen belonging and social cohesion through trust, dignity, reciprocity and everyday local action. Anthea explains why belonging is not a single destination, why labels can limit people’s agency, and why leaders should avoid patronising, paternalism and pity. The conversation moves from research and public debate to very practical actions: listen respectfully, focus on the real issue, activate neighbourhood connections, support local participation and start with a smile.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging and Community Leadership

02:55 Understanding Personal Belonging

05:57 Defining Belonging Beyond the Term

07:38 Economic Pressures and Belonging

09:10 Cultural Inclusion and Terminology

12:50 Avoiding Labels and Fostering Agency

13:59 Addressing Deficit Models in Organizations

15:49 Community Engagement and Local Action

20:50 Navigating Cultural Debates

23:44 Shifts for Leaders in Promoting Belonging

26:34 Encouraging Community Action for Belonging

Anthea Hancocks’ advice for leaders and practitioners for making the #BelongingShift

Shift 1: Move from labels to the real issue people are experiencing.

Shift 2: Move from deficit thinking to dignity, agency and contribution.

Shift 3: Move from pity, paternalism and patronising behaviour to respectful peer-to-peer listening.

Shift 4: Move from national debate alone to practical neighbourhood connection and local participation.

Shift 5: Move from waiting for belonging to be created for us to starting with small everyday gestures — even a smile.

Guest Bio

Anthea Hancocks is the CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute. The Institute is dedicated to making research into social cohesion accessible and understandable while maintaining the highest levels of research expertise and integrity. She has a background in leadership positions in government, professional services, academia, philanthropy and not for profit organisations.

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Belonging Co, a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney with a belonging lens.

Belonging Co helps leaders drive participation, trust and engagement. The consultancy delivers strategies, engagement, and programs for organisations and leaders wanting genuine impact across cultural inclusion, community participation and social cohesion.

He founded Belonging Co in 2025 to enhance the capability, confidence, and understanding of leaders and organisations regarding inclusion and community participation. Mantej has over 20 years of experience across community engagement, placemaking, and inclusion, emphasizing that belonging is foundational to thriving communities and effective institutions. For more information on Belonging Co visit www.belongingco.com.au and www.linkedin.com/in/mantejs

Make the #Belonging Shift

Lets grow the conversation

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast, for more such conversations. Podcast link The Belonging Shift – Conversations about community, place, leadership and the future of belonging — Belonging Co

In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Dr Varina Michaels, CEO and Founder of Paisley Group about the importance of focusing on systems and structural work across policies, processes, strategies, and leadership rather than performative and tokenistic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work in order to improve the conditions that are essential for performance to occur. Dr Varina says this structural shift is more than just advocacy. DEI shouldn't even be a thing that we have to actively seek and advocate for. It should be something that's embedded in the core way that the business functions, in the core strategy of the organization and in the culture of the organization.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging and Inclusion

02:30 Personal Insights on Belonging

05:15 Current Shifts in Diversity and Inclusion

08:32 Understanding Systems Work vs. Performative Inclusion

13:53 Misconceptions About Belonging and Inclusion

17:04 Barriers to Championing Inclusion

17:57 Successful Approaches in Inclusion Practices

21:25 Final Thoughts on Building an Inclusive Infrastructure

Shift 1: Move from performative diversity and inclusion (D&I) to systems and structural work

Shift 2: Don’t rely on marginalized people to carry the change; leaders and systems must take responsibility.

Shift 3: Simplify overlapping policies and build one coherent approach

Shift 4: Replace assumption with consultation and genuine and regular listening

Shift 5: Treat belonging and inclusion as infrastructure, not atmosphere

Guest Bio

Dr Varina Michaels is a globally recognised expert in intersectional DEI, culture, leadership, and ethical community engagement. Dr Michaels holds a Ph.D. in Intersectional Identities at Work, is Founder and CEO of Paisley Group, Director of the Women of Colour Safety and Work (WoCSAW) Research Institute and Head of Programs and Impact at Women of Colour Australia.

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Belonging Co, a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney with a belonging lens. He founded Belonging Co in 2025 to enhance the capability, confidence, and understanding of leaders and organisations regarding inclusion and community participation. Mantej has over 20 years of experience in community engagement, placemaking, and inclusion, emphasizing that belonging is foundational to thriving communities and effective institutions. For more information on Belonging Co visit www.belongingco.com.au and www.linkedin.com/in/mantejs .

Lets grow the conversation

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast, for more such conversations. Podcast link The Belonging Shift – Conversations about community, place, leadership and the future of belonging — Belonging Co

In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Joseph Santana, Chairman, CDO Powercircle from the United States. Joseph shares his journey from a business executive to a diversity and inclusion advocate, emphasizing the importance of aligning diversity and inclusion initiatives with business impact. Mantej and Joseph discuss that leaders must modernise policies, embrace flexibility, listen intently, and translate inclusion into tangible organisational gains, making impact sustainable and meaningful. Joseph talks about aligning inclusion initiatives with the first principles approach of any organisation - and the first principle can be revenue, customer service, event operations. Listen to the podcast to discover practical strategies for leaders to embed belonging into organizational systems, overcome misconceptions, and drive meaningful change.

Connect with Belonging Co

Belonging Co is a social and cultural inclusion consultancy helping executive leaders and organisations to strengthen inclusion, engagement, and participation outcomes across workplaces and communities — grounded in a unique belonging approach and a community perspective.

Chapter list

00:00 Introduction to the Belonging Shift Podcast

01:57 The Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion

06:12 Understanding Belonging: Perspectives and Definitions

11:38 Shifts in Diversity and Inclusion Practices

17:05 Common Misunderstandings in Leadership

21:06 Barriers in Organizational Structures

24:31 Advice for Leaders on Inclusion and Belonging

Key points

• The critical importance of framing diversity and inclusion as a business impact
• How to shift from talking about moral correctness to embedding D&I into organizational strategies
• The intersection of belonging, perception, and organizational networks
• Systemic barriers rooted in outdated policies, and how to modernize them
• The role of leadership mindset in fostering flexible, inclusive structures
• Practical steps leaders can take to support diverse workforce needs
• Balancing organizational values with real-world business benefits
• How to communicate intentionally and close the trust gap with teams
• The importance of listening, acting, and closing the loop with inclusion initiatives

For more information, see links below

·  Belonging Co - www.belongingco.com.au

·  Book a discovery call to discuss your needs - www.belongingco.com.au/contact

·  Follow and connect Mantej on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/mantejs

·  Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift Podcast - www.belongingco.com.au/belongingshift

In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh explores a daring approach to transforming workplace inclusion by shifting from conventional models to a systemic, belonging-centred design. He presents five innovative shifts that actively embed belonging into organisational culture, decision-making, and community engagement. Mantej challenges leaders and organisations to move beyond surface-level diversity efforts and embrace systemic, belonging-centric reforms that influence societal cohesion and belonging. Rethink how you assess, embed, and report on belonging—because the future of inclusive workplaces depends on it.

He asks the podcast listeners to think about what would we change or shift if we had the power to redesign workplace inclusion from scratch and were asked to be daring. What would we stop? What would we start? And what would we do differently? That is where the real belonging shift begins.

Chapters list

00:00 Reimagining workplace inclusion from a belonging lens

01:17 Who decides what is fair?

04:26 Belonging interview round for leaders

09:10 Belonging section in executive briefings

10:46 Belonging community days for all employees

13:02 Belonging risk register

15:04 Belonging section in every annual report

17:54 How would you reimagine workplace inclusion if you are allowed to be daring

Connect with Belonging Co

Belonging Co is a social and cultural inclusion consultancy helping executive leaders and organisations to strengthen inclusion, engagement, and participation outcomes across workplaces and communities — grounded in a unique belonging approach and a community perspective.

For more information, see links below

·       Belonging Co services and approach

·       Book a FREE discovery call to discuss your needs.

·       Follow and connect with Mantej on LinkedIn

·       Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift Podcast

In this episode of The Belonging Shift podcast, host Mantej Singh speaks with Aleem Ali, CEO, Welcoming Australia on social cohesion and belonging. Aleem says that at its core, it's about the strength of relationships within a society. So how well people trust each other, how much they feel like they belong, how much they can participate meaningfully, and how much they can interact effectively. The conversation delves into the impact of economic strain on belonging and the role of leaders and institutions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging and Community

00:54 Aleem Ali's Journey and Background

04:33 Understanding Belonging: A Complex Concept

07:13 The Spectrum of Belonging

14:28 Challenges of Belonging in Diverse Spaces

17:42 Misunderstandings in Leadership and Belonging

19:58 Micro practices: Simple Acts of Kindness

23:46 Constraints to Belonging: Systems and Status Quo

24:55 Shifts Leaders Need to Make for Belonging

26:32 Final Advice for Leaders on Belonging

Aleem’s advice for leaders and practitioners for making the #BelongingShift

Shift 1: Accept diversity as the community reality

Shift 2: Move from fear and assumption to listening, learning and genuine relationship-building.

Shift 3: Prioritise micropractices - simple acts of welcome, respect and kindness that build trust daily.

Shift 4: Question inherited systems and redesign them for todays context

Shift 5: Understand your own inherent biases and prejudices

Guest Bio

Aleem Ali is CEO, Welcoming Australia. Aleem has spent more than two decades seeding and mentoring the development of leading initiatives and social enterprises that advance inclusion, belonging and justice for diverse communities. He is the Deputy Chair of Oxfam Australia and a mentor and advisor to various startups, community enterprises and government agencies. As the CEO of Welcoming Australia, Aleem is working with leaders and organisations across the country to cultivate a culture of welcome and advance communities where people of all backgrounds belong, contribute and thrive. For more information on Welcoming Australia visit https://welcoming.org.au . For more information on Aleem visit linked https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleemshaun/  and his personal website https://aleemshaun.com

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Belonging Co, a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney with a belonging lens. He founded Belonging Co in 2025 to enhance the capability, confidence, and understanding of leaders and organisations regarding inclusion and community participation. Mantej has over 20 years of experience in community engagement, placemaking, and inclusion, emphasizing that belonging is foundational to thriving communities and effective institutions. For more information on Belonging Co visit www.belongingco.com.au and www.linkedin.com/in/mantejs .

Lets grow the conversation

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast, for more such conversations. Podcast link https://www.belongingco.com.au/belongingshift

In this episode of The Belonging Shift podcast, host Mantej Singh speaks with Melissa Monteiro about belonging, migration, and settlement. Melissa Monteiro is Chief Executive Officer of the Community Migrant Resource Centre and Chair of the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA). The conversation delves into the foundational importance of belonging for migrant and refugee communities in Australia. It explores personal experiences of belonging, shifts in migration, misunderstandings and barriers to belonging, leadership's role in fostering belonging, and solutions and advice for leaders to address these barriers.

Takeaways

• Belonging is foundational and essential for migrant and refugee communities to thrive in Australia.
• Belonging cannot be demanded or given; it exists in the space between the two.

Melissa’s advice for leaders and practitioners for making the #BelongingShift

Shift 1: Co-design with communities

Shift 2: Build long-term partnerships

Shift 3: Harness the potential of shared spaces

Shift 4: Create environments where everyone feels heard

Shift 5:Start with a genuine motive and intention and don’t be defensive if you get it wrong.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging Shift Podcast

02:31 The Importance of Belonging in Settlement

04:58 Personal Journeys of Belonging

07:22 Shifts in Migration and Belonging

09:25 Understanding Belonging: Misconceptions & Realities

13:58 Barriers to Belonging in Leadership

20:20 Solutions for Leaders to Foster Belonging

23:22 Final Thoughts on Belonging

Guest Bio

Melissa Monteiro is Chief Executive Officer of the Community Migrant Resource Centre and Chair of the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA), representing approximately 180 organisations across Australia’s settlement sector. She is also Member, Women Peace and Security Coalition of Australia about Belonging in the settlement sector. She is a qualified social worker with over 27 years’ experience. Her work work is grounded in an intersectional approach, addressing the layered impacts of gender, migration, race, and socio-economic inequality. She has led the design and delivery of prevention and early intervention initiatives that respond to the strengths and needs of diverse communities. She has been recognised as a Pro Bono Australia IMPACT 21 award recipient and appointed as a The Salvation Army Multicultural Ambassador. She serves on multiple national and state advisory bodies.

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Belonging Co, a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney with a belonging lens. He founded Belonging Co in 2025 to enhance the capability, confidence, and understanding of leaders and organizations regarding inclusion and community participation. Mantej has over 20 years of experience in community engagement, placemaking, and inclusion, emphasizing that belonging is foundational to thriving communities and effective institutions. For more information visit www.belongingco.com.au

Lets grow the conversation

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast, for more such conversations. Podcast link https://www.belongingco.com.au/belongingshift

In this episode of The Belonging Shift podcast, host Mantej Singh speaks with Zizi Charida, Founder, Zahia Pty Ltd., about belonging, community development, and going past surface-level tokenistic approaches. Zizi shares her insights on community development, the concept of belonging, and the practical steps needed to create a culture of belonging in workplaces and communities. She emphasizes the importance of understanding belonging as a verb and the need for authentic, genuine interactions to foster a sense of belonging. Zizi also highlights shifts and misconceptions in the belonging space, offering practical advice for leaders and individuals to foster belonging.

Takeaways

Zizi’s advice for leaders and practitioners on making the #BelongingShift

1. Move beyond tokenistic actions and build a genuine culture of belonging.
2. Look at systemic issues, not just individual experiences.
3. Treat belonging as a continuous journey, not a one-off initiative.
4. Build connections before jumping to solutions.
5. Belonging is created with people, not delivered from the top down.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Zizi Charida
• 05:17 Understanding Belonging
• 13:26 Shifts in the Belonging Space
• 19:27 Leadership and Belonging
• 30:06 Practical Steps for Belonging

Guest Bio

With over three decades of international and local community development experience, Zizi Charida focuses on strengthening capacity and forging genuine

belonging. As the founder of Zahia Pty Ltd and the creator of the Community Minded Kids initiative, Zizi champions innovative, asset-based approaches. She specialises

in creating platforms for inclusion and social equity, working directly with communities for practical, citizen-driven initiatives. For more info see zahia.com.au or connect with Zizi on on linkedin

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is founder of Belonging Co - a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney Austarlia. He has 20+ years experience across community outcomes and engagement, placemaking, diversity and inclusion. Collaborate with Belonging Co to strengthen trust, meaningful engagement, and participation across your workplace and community outcomes — grounded in a unique belonging approach. For more info see www.belongingco.com.au or connect with Mantej on linkedin

In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Lucy Cole Edelstein, founder of Kadima Training, about what it takes to build genuine belonging through community engagement. She shares practical shifts for leaders: get on the ground, listen firsthand, treat engagement as risk management done early. Lucy reflects on three decades in the field and shares why engagement must move beyond spin and transactional consultation toward real relationships, time with communities, and humility - especially in a diverse Australia.

Key points

• Belonging brings a new mindset to engagement and should shape practice.
• Technology can speed work up, but it can also become something we hide behind.
• Straight communication builds trust more than polished messaging and “spin”.
• Engagement takes time - like a snowball, it grows as it rolls.
• The relationship shift and the humility shift are essential for enagging diverse communities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging & Community Engagement

02:58 Lucy’s Journey in Community Engagement

07:44 Evolution of Community Engagement Over 30 Years

13:08 Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in Engagement

17:05 Barriers to Progress in Community Engagement

21:43 The Relationship Shift & the Humility Shift for belonging in engagement

Guest Bio

Lucy Cole Edelstein is a long-time community engagement practitioner, with 30 years experience across government, consultancy, and training. During this time she built and led teams, founded and onsold her own agency. She was a founding member of IAP2 Australasia and won multiple national and international awards for her engagement and facilitation.

Lucy established Kadima-training that sticks! - after a 30 year career as a consultant. She is passionate about engagement and supporting emerging and mid-career professionals to have the success she has had. Importantly, she is passionate about great practice, challenging work and achieving success at work while maintaining a balanced and rewarding personal life.

Links / resources

• Kadima Training website

• Lucy Cole Edelstein LinkedIn

About the host

Mantej Singh is the founder of Belonging Co - a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney. He brings 20+ years’ experience in community engagement, placemaking and inclusion, focused on systemic change and community led outcomes. Mantej emphasizes systemic change, leadership accountability to foster genuine belonging and cultural inclusion.

Links / resources

• Belonging Co Website
• Mantej Singh LinkedIn

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast for future conversations.

Connect with Mantej or Lucy if you want help with your community and stakeholder engagement projects or initiatives.

In this inaugural episode of The Belonging Shift podcast, host Mantej Singh highlights why Belonging is the new standard for communities, businesses, and leaders. He explores why cultivating a mindset of belonging is essential — not just for inclusion’s sake, but for tangible impacts on community engagement, organisational performance, and social cohesion. Mantej emphasises that belonging is a universal need that intersects with diversity, equity, and systemic change, urging leaders to rethink how they embed belonging into their work - and use the language of belonging to connect to people.

Mantej Singh is the founder of Belonging Co - a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney. He brings 20+ years’ experience in community engagement, placemaking and inclusion, focused on systemic change and community led outcomes. Mantej emphasizes systemic change, leadership accountability to foster genuine belonging. Read about Belonging Co services and approach or book a FREE discovery call to discuss your needs.

Key points in this episode

• The true meaning of belonging: feeling welcome, safe, respected, and able to influence

• Challenging myth: belonging is only about minorities

• Challenging myth:  belonging is not about business

• Challenging myth: belonging is extra work

• Five belonging shifts needed to create systemic change

• Expand belonging beyond HR and organizational silos

• Design for intersectional dignity and accessibility

• Listen early and value lived experience

• Focus on systemic and structural changes

• Hold leaders accountable with visible responsibility

• Practical ways to embed belonging

• Individual differences while creating shared belonging

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging

01:55 The language of Belonging

03:57 Barriers to Belonging

04:23 Barrier 1: belonging is about minorities

06:15 Barrier 2: belonging is not about revenue

08:50 Barrier 3: Belonging is extra work

11:25 Solutions for Belonging

11:49 Shift 1: Think not just about workplace belonging

12:44 Shift 2: Belonging is about dignity and intersectionality

14:05 Shift 3: Listen early, listen genuinely

14:53 Shift 4: Focus on changing systems and structures

15:49 Shift 5: Accountability has to sit with leadership

16:37 Belonging is the new standard

17:50 Conclusion and Future Conversations