Who we are

Michelle Feenan

Michelle has over 20 years experience in community engagement including facilitation, planning, team development and community development.

Her broad career has seen her involved in the design and delivery of community engagement strategies, community planning, practitionertraining and capability building, facilitation and mediation services, strategic planning, the review of community based services and policy development.

Prior to launching Engagement Plus in 2006, Michelle worked in a number of different roles within State and Local Government including Manager of Community & Cultural Development for Thuringowa City Council. Michelle’s work experiences have included management, senior policy development, significant community development and capacity building in rural, remote and indigenous communities as well as special projects services for emerging social policy in Queensland and New South Wales contexts.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Behavioural Sciences and has undertaken post-graduate studies in Social Policy, Local Government Administration, Workplace Training and Human Resources. She is a trainer in the internationally accredited International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Certificate in Public Participation and currently holds the position of Queensland Coordinator of the Australasian Chapter for IAP2.

Michelle is accredited in the Mercer CED Job Evaluation Methodology, Zing Enabled Technologies, the “The Art of Facilitation”, TMS Network’s Team Management Systems and in mediation through Queensland’s Dispute Resolution Centre.

 

Mark Upson

Mark has worked in the local government community and leisure services industry for over 38 years. Specialising in venue management and community services, marketing and staff training systems. Since 1978, he has held senior management roles within State and Local Governments including Manager, Venue Management with the Queensland State Government, Department of Sport and Recreation.

His professional experience also include responsibility for community and leisure services with Eltham Shire Council (Vic), Warringah Shire Council (NSW), City of Greater Geelong (Vic) and Noosa Shire Council (Qld). Some of these roles included responsibility for, youth services, older adults, professional lifeguard services, caravan parks and holiday programs. He has personally commissioned nine community aquatic and/or leisure facilities venues with a combined value of over $200 million including the $22.0 million redeveloped Tallebudgera Outdoor Recreation Centre in 2003.

Based on his knowledge and experience in developing and delivering quality customer service systems in the community services sector, he was appointed Group Manager of one of Australia’s first Local Government Marketing and Training departments in 1984. Since 2004, he has been a successful consultant and community facilitator working with clients throughout Australia.

Mark has a Graduate Certificate in Business (Marketing) and is a highly regarded and experienced consultant and community engagement facilitator, having completed over 120 community and commercial feasibilities and consultancies throughout Australia since 2004.

 

Kathryn Tabone

Kathryn is a community engagement practitioner specialising in facilitation, and design and delivery community engagement strategies. With over ten years experience working in local government in Victoria and Queensland, Kathryn is skilled in the design and delivery of strategy development and engagement projects.

Kathryn’s work experience includes the development and implementation of the Community Capacity Building projects, community planning and social policy development.

In addition Kathryn has comprehensive knowledge and experience in implementing of a wide variety of engagement methods and social research techniques.

Prior to joining Engagement Plus, Kathryn worked in a number of different roles within local government including Social Research Analyst, Community Development Officer and Co-ordinator of Community Policy and Programs.

Kathryn has Bachelor of Arts with honours undergraduate degree and has also completed a Masters of Public Policy at the University of Melbourne. In addition to the tertiary qualification Kathryn has also completed a number of IAP2 certificates and social research training.