Communities and Thrival through Vision

Maroochy 2025 - a project managed jointly by Maroochy Shire and the Community Taskforce developing shared visions and action plans for the next 20 years.. A fine example of applied futures studies orientated practices in public participation, visioning and community advocacy. Maroochy 2025 has created an empowering and community owned responses to similar local, regional and global challenges facing Maroochy Shire, South East Queensland and Australian communities.  

This project has created opportunities for Maroochy Shire residents to own a preferred future and is creating a deeper humanity amongst the local residents. The capacity to think more critically about the future and the creation of a community focussed desire to be responsible for their future are the hallmarks of success derived from this innovative futures project. It is has created the opportunity to move Maroochy Shire from survival to thrival

Bio: Once described as an ideational, Steve Gould has pursued a life of possibilities and a belief that success in business can be enhanced through humanistic and relational approaches. Initially from a military career, which literally led to a desire to explore other cultures and knowledge. Steve has gained immense foresight through his journeys into different organisations both (public & private) from many perspectives.

Steve has acquired extensive experience in organisation change and learning as a result of consultancy and employment opportunities, both within the private and public sectors of the Australian context. A former guest lecturer at the University of Queensland , he has delivered seminars on leadership, interpersonal communications, people management and more recently facilitation of futures studies workshops.

In 2003, Steve participated in a successful team competing within the Local Government Leadership Challenge, whereby this team won the state titles and went on to represent Queensland at the national finals. Teams competed to produce contemporary solutions to issues such as Sustainability, Environment, Social Policy and Community Capacity Building .

Steve is currently studying his Masters in Futures Studies and writing a thesis on the use of futures studies within context of Australian Local Government planning systems and community planning.