Building Kinda.forward
I will be honest with you. When I started planning Kinda.forward, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I knew the vision. I knew the values. I knew that Kanamaluka/Launceston deserved a gathering that celebrated the extraordinary people already doing the work of building a more sustainable community. What I did not fully appreciate was just how many of those people there were, and how willing they would be to show up.
This event has been months in the making. It has been built across late nights, spreadsheets, emails, phone calls, coffee catchups, and more than a few moments of wondering whether it would all come together. And somehow, it has.
The people who said yes
More than 45 contributors are joining us this Saturday. Forty-five. When I say that out loud it still surprises me, because every single one of them came on board because they believed in what we are trying to do.
There is Jenn Heggarty from OzHarvest Tasmania, who will be delivering our keynote and whose story of knowing why before knowing how has stayed with me since I first heard it. There is Adam Mostogl, who brings an infectious energy for social enterprise and community impact and who will be both speaking and moderating one of our panels. There is Kirsty Máté from The ReDress Hub, who repairs clothes with the same care most of us reserve for things far more precious. There is Frank Strie, who will be firing up a Kon-Tiki kiln in the community garden and teaching anyone who will listen about biochar and soil regeneration. There is Tom Miller from Florage Tasmania, who left a career in banking to build Tasmania's only fully accredited sustainable florist, and whose story is one of the most compelling I have heard.
Jenn Heggarty
Our Keynote Speaker and an inspiration.
There is Kim from InterWEave ARTS, who will be leading a procession of upcycled wearables through the event space and running hands-on woolly making in the Fix-It Foundry. There is Sean Dooley, whose fabric installation will anchor our Small Steps Wall all day. There is Ben, who will be playing acoustic music in the Maker's Yard and whose presence on the day means more to me than I can properly say. It is pretty special having your brother play music at an event you organised.
There is David Warrener, who will be opening the day with a Welcome to Country at the Riawunna Gardens, and whose willingness to be part of this has grounded the event in something real and important from the very beginning.
And there is Taz and Em from Futures Isle, who have been extraordinary partners throughout this whole process and who will be holding the energy of the day with a warmth and skill I could not replicate.
What nobody tells you
Nobody tells you that producing an event like this is essentially running a small organisation from scratch, in parallel with everything else you are already doing. The logistics alone, the venue negotiations, the run plans, the volunteer briefs, the contributor schedules, the signage, the AV setup, the emergency management plans, have occupied more of my brain than I care to admit.
Nobody tells you that the emails never stop. That every week brings new questions, new changes, new things to figure out. That you will spend hours on details the audience will never notice, and that is completely fine, because the details are what make the experience feel effortless for everyone else.
And nobody tells you how much it means when someone replies to your email and says yes. Just yes. When a business sends through their logo and bio without being chased. When a volunteer turns up for a site visit on a cold morning because they want to understand the space. When a contributor offers to come down early on the day just in case you need a hand.
Those moments are what this has been built on.
Why I started Kinda.
I started Kinda. because I have a great passion for helping others. I am combining my double degree in Design and Science (Major in Sustainability) into something I hope will make a real difference to this community. Kinda.forward is the first public expression of that, and it is only the beginning.
FutureFwd Tasmania, a two-day circular economy event planned for Albert Hall in February 2027, is already in development. The community gathering series runs through to June 2027. There is a lot still to come.
But first, Saturday.
I cannot wait to see this event come alive. I cannot wait to see the Small Steps Wall fill up with pledges. I cannot wait to look around the room and see the faces of the people who made this possible.
Small steps. Big ripples. Indeed.
The people and organisations who made it possible
None of this happens without support, and I want to acknowledge that plainly. Aurora Energy came on board as our Presenting Partner and their belief in what we are building has meant a great deal. The City of Launceston, TasRail, the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board, Gastronomy Northern Tasmania, Weeding Hire and West Tamar Council have all contributed to making this event a reality. UTAS has provided the venue in kind, and Flying Colours Group has supported our print and signage.
The City of Launceston Small Events Grant gave us an early foundation to build from, and the Great Regional City Challenge grant has opened the door to a full year of community gatherings that will follow Kinda.forward through to June 2027. Watch this space.
To every organisation and individual who said yes to being part of this, thank you. You are not just sponsors or grant providers. You are partners in something that is only just beginning.
Saturday 27 June 2026, 10am to 4pm, UTAS Inveresk Campus, Kanamaluka/Launceston. Free entry.
Register at wearekinda.com.au/kindaforward.
Kinda. acknowledges the palawa/pakana people as the traditional custodians of Lutruwita/Tasmania.
