Gallery

Agbiz Congress 2024 | Dr Alan Hardacre Co-founder of Advocacy Strategy and Advocacy Academy

Dr. Alan Hardacre was a guest speaker at the 2024 Agbiz Congress, held at Sun City, on the topic: Bridging the Agricultural Industry and Activism. On 7 June, Dr. Alan Hardacre addressed the challenges and strategies for harmonising the agricultural industry with activist movements at the Agbiz Congress in Sun City. Dr. Hardacre, an expert with over 25 years in public affairs, underscores the importance of moving beyond comfort zones to foster meaningful relationships and common ground. He outlines the fundamental differences between industry operations and activist methodologies, urging stakeholders to understand and bridge these gaps. In his presentation, he outlined the concept of a “bridging playbook," which emphasises identifying key stakeholders, initiating dialogue, active listening, addressing concerns, and maintaining transparency. Dr. Hardacre also discussed internal and external obstacles such as leadership buy-in and trust issues that can hinder progress. He advocates for engaging grassroots movements and adapting to political changes to avoid exclusion from critical dialogues. The ultimate goal is to shift from zero-sum perspectives to collaborative, win-win solutions, thereby enhancing stakeholder relations and achieving sustainable influence.

Published: 31 July 2024