The SEC 2027 Industry Report
The practice of stakeholder engagement from 12 practitioner voices
We asked Stakeholder Engagement Community (SEC) practitioners across six continents what they've learned doing this work, not what a textbook says they should have learned. The answers, from people in energy, infrastructure, mining, government, and more, tell an honest story of the work engagement practitioners do.
The Stakeholder Engagement Community (SEC)
Stakeholder engagement rarely gets talked about the way it should. It's the meetings that don't make headlines, the trust built one conversation at a time, the work that goes unnoticed when it's done well. We started this community so the people doing that work would have somewhere to compare notes, ask honest questions, and feel less alone in it.
Who is this community for?
It's for the people who do consultation and engagement as their actual job. If you're accountable for proving consultation happened, you're in the right place
Stakeholder engagement practitioners
Community and public engagement professionals
Indigenous, Aboriginal, First Nation and Tribal consultation or engagement practitioners
Public affairs and government relations professionals
Communications and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leads
Regulatory and compliance professionals
Why we exist
Demand for stakeholder engagement and consultation is growing worldwide, and organizations face rising pressure from the public and from government agencies to demonstrate adequate consultation. Failing to consult carries real risk: negative media coverage, financial loss, delays to plans or operations, lost approvals, and legal consequences.
The Stakeholder Engagement Community gives practitioners an online space of their own, a place to share news, resources, job opportunities, and ideas in this evolving field, and to support each other in improving their practice.
Over the past few months, we asked 12 seasoned stakeholder engagement practitioners across sectors and regions to put aside the jargon and share the truth about their work. Backed by qualitative data visualizations, this report answers these questions:
• How do engagement practitioners describe their profession?• What are the most common lessons learned?
• What challenges dominate, and how do practitioners navigate them?
• How does AI feature in engagement work, and how is it framed?
• What advice do experienced practitioners pass forward?
Complete the form and your copy of the 2027 Stakeholder Engagement Community (SEC) Industry Report: The practice of stakeholder engagement from 12 practitioner voices will download straight to your device.
A PRACTITIONER VIEWPOINT
"Make relationship-building your default tactic: show up where people are, listen first, and follow through every time. Small, authentic interactions compound into trust. Trust is the currency that opens doors when you need advocates in a room."
SEC Member, Utilities - North America
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Our partner
This report was made possible in partnership with Jambo, Stakeholder Relationship Management (SRM) software built for consultation and engagement teams. We're grateful for their support in bringing these practitioner voices together.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the Stakeholder Engagement Community for?
It's for the people who do consultation and engagement as their actual job, not as a line item. That includes stakeholder engagement practitioners, community and public engagement professionals, Indigenous, Aboriginal, and First Nation consultation and engagement practitioners, public affairs and government relations professionals, communications and ESG leads, and regulatory and compliance professionals. If you're accountable for proving consultation happened, you're in the right place.
Why does a community like this exist?
Demand for stakeholder engagement and consultation is growing worldwide, and organizations face rising pressure from the public and from government agencies to show they consulted properly. Getting it wrong carries real cost: negative media coverage, financial risk, delays to plans or operations, lost approvals, and legal consequences. Until now there hasn't been an online space that belongs to practitioners themselves. We built one, so people doing this work can share news, resources, job opportunities, and ideas, and support each other in getting better at it.
What is the 2027 SEC industry report about?
We asked practitioners across six continents what they've actually learned doing this work, not what a textbook says they should have learned. Twelve anonymized voices from energy, government, mining, infrastructure, and other sectors answered honestly. The result is a more grounded picture of the practice than most industry reports give you. You can download it above.
How much does it cost to join?
Nothing. The community is free to join.
Where does the community run?
On LinkedIn, so you can join and take part from where you already spend your working day.
What will I get out of it?
Shared resources, job opportunities, spotlight features, and connecting with a group of peers who do the same work you do.
Who is behind the 2027 SEC Industry report?
Twelve anonymized practitioners across six continents and seven sectors, including energy, government, mining, and infrastructure, brought together by the community in partnership with Jambo.
Do I have to pay to access the report?
No. The report is free. All you have to do is download it.
