In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Gilbert Rochecouste, CEO and Founder of Village Well – a placemaking consultancy on belonging and healthy people, places and planet. Gilbert talks about a world facing a polycrisis of climate, economic, and social challenges and how shifting our approach to place, culture, and storytelling can transform societies. Gilbert dives into how our old stories of growth and consumption are breaking down and how a ‘new local’ movement is surfacing that emphasizes the importance of community-led, place-based initiatives that embrace diversity and foster belonging.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging Shift Podcast

00:55 Understanding Placemaking and Belonging

01:50 Gilbert's Journey and the Concept of Belonging

06:31 Personal Definition of Belonging

08:23 Shifts in Placemaking and Community Engagement

13:03 Cultural Diversity and Community Spaces

16:10 Embracing Diversity in Placemaking

17:23 Defining Placemaking and Its Importance

20:06 Shifts Needed in Government and Development

24:01 Empowering Communities for Change

25:56 Messages for Developers and Government Leaders

Gilbert’s advice for leaders and practitioners for making the #BelongingShift

Shift 1: Create power with communities, not power over them.

Shift 2: Become place-led and people-led, not planning-led, design-led or finance-led

Shift 3: Create places where people can live, work, gather and connect

Shift 4: Move beyond sustainability towards regeneration.

Shift 5: Make the personal shift to belonging, self-organising and being community-led

Guest Bio

Gilbert is a globally recognised placemaking expert, known for creating vibrant and resilient places. Over the past 35 years, he has collaborated with more than 2,500 cities and communities worldwide. A sought-after speaker and master facilitator, he is skilled at unlocking potential and engaging stakeholders. Previously, the General Manager of Chadstone Shopping Centre - he pioneered the application of shopping centre management principles to main streets and went on to found Village Well, Australia’s first placemaking consultancy, and now its first Regenerative Placemaking consultancy.

Host Bio

Mantej Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Belonging Co, a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney with a belonging lens.

Belonging Co helps leaders drive participation, trust and engagement. The consultancy delivers strategies, engagement, and programs for organisations and leaders wanting genuine impact across cultural inclusion, community participation and social cohesion.

He founded Belonging Co in 2025 to enhance the capability, confidence, and understanding of leaders and organisations regarding inclusion and community participation. Mantej has over 20 years of experience across community engagement, placemaking, and inclusion, emphasizing that belonging is foundational to thriving communities and effective institutions. For more information on Belonging Co visit www.belongingco.com.au and www.linkedin.com/in/mantejs

Make the #Belonging Shift

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