Gretel Van-Lane

For over 15 years I've partnered with purpose-led organisations, government teams, and nonprofits to help communities tackle complex social issues. I bring a direct, human approach to every project, and I'm just as comfortable working with a CEO as I am with a frontline worker or a community member who's never been in a workshop before.

By day, I'm the Communications and Engagement Manager at ACSO, a nonprofit working across Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales to support people in, or at risk of entering, the justice system.

Outside of ACSO, I work as a facilitator, event conversation partner, and personal coach. I also run Dinners with a Difference, a community event that brings people together over shared meals and conversations that actually matter.

I live in Wollongong, NSW, and work with people in Melbourne, Sydney, and across Australia.

Past Projects

• Designed and facilitated a community visioning and engagement workshop for Good for the Gong, bringing together over 70 Illawarra community members and four expert speakers. This first event in a series of conversations sparked new collaborations and helped shape a shared vision for renewable energy in the region.

• Successfully developed and implemented a national digital marketing strategy for the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District, resulting in attracting more candidates for nursing and midwifery roles.

• Presented "Creating Clickable Content" for the School of Social Entrepreneurs, teaching entrepreneurs the skills needed to create social change through social media platforms, analytics, content creation, and marketing strategy.

• Delivered a presentation on "Social Media for Early Intervention" to over 100 clinical specialists online for the Renal Society of Australasia.

• Launched the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District Facebook page within 48-hours of commencing my role and successfully grew the following to 20,000+ within an 18-month period.

• Led the development and execution of the marketing and communications strategy for an internal innovation challenge, resulting in successful engagement and participation.

• Developed and delivered in-house social media training for CUFA, an Australian-based charity, for local and international staff, resulting in a better understanding of social media for the organisation.

• Successfully developed and implemented content creation strategies with limited budgets for multiple organisations, resulting in effective communications and engagement campaigns.

• Conducted various research activities such as focus groups, workshops, and interviews to capture feedback and insights from industry professionals, resulting in valuable information for clients.

• Co-wrote and facilitated a program supporting young people to develop the skills to successfully keep a job, resulting in increased attendance and positive outcomes for program participants.