In this interview, Berkeley Wilde highlights key challenges and lessons in stakeholder engagement relevant to community-focused organisations.

A central theme is that many organisations struggle to engage stakeholders authentically because they prioritise messaging over meaningful listening. Effective engagement requires shifting from delivering information to centring the lived experiences of communities, particularly those directly affected by services or policies.

Berkeley emphasises that trust is fundamental but takes time to build, requiring consistency, transparency, and genuine commitment. Short-term or transactional approaches risk undermining credibility and weakening relationships with communities.

The interview also highlights the importance of co-creation, working with stakeholders rather than designing services for them. By combining research, advocacy, and direct community input, organisations can ensure their work is relevant, inclusive, and impactful.

Overall, the key message is that authentic stakeholder engagement is not a one-off activity but an ongoing process, rooted in trust, inclusion, and continuous dialogue. Organisations that embed these principles are better positioned to deliver meaningful, community-led outcomes.

To listen to the interview use this link https://cosaris.com/insights/community-building/stakeholder-engagement-challenges/

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