In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, about how Australia can strengthen belonging and social cohesion through trust, dignity, reciprocity and everyday local action. Anthea explains why belonging is not a single destination, why labels can limit people’s agency, and why leaders should avoid patronising, paternalism and pity. The conversation moves from research and public debate to very practical actions: listen respectfully, focus on the real issue, activate neighbourhood connections, support local participation and start with a smile.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging and Community Leadership

02:55 Understanding Personal Belonging

05:57 Defining Belonging Beyond the Term

07:38 Economic Pressures and Belonging

09:10 Cultural Inclusion and Terminology

12:50 Avoiding Labels and Fostering Agency

13:59 Addressing Deficit Models in Organizations

15:49 Community Engagement and Local Action

20:50 Navigating Cultural Debates

23:44 Shifts for Leaders in Promoting Belonging

26:34 Encouraging Community Action for Belonging

Anthea Hancocks’ advice for leaders and practitioners for making the #BelongingShift

Shift 1: Move from labels to the real issue people are experiencing.

Shift 2: Move from deficit thinking to dignity, agency and contribution.

Shift 3: Move from pity, paternalism and patronising behaviour to respectful peer-to-peer listening.

Shift 4: Move from national debate alone to practical neighbourhood connection and local participation.

Shift 5: Move from waiting for belonging to be created for us to starting with small everyday gestures — even a smile.

Guest Bio

Anthea Hancocks is the CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute. The Institute is dedicated to making research into social cohesion accessible and understandable while maintaining the highest levels of research expertise and integrity. She has a background in leadership positions in government, professional services, academia, philanthropy and not for profit organisations.

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

Lets grow the conversation

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast, for more such conversations. Podcast link The Belonging Shift – Conversations about community, place, leadership and the future of belonging — Belonging Co

In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Dr Varina Michaels, CEO and Founder of Paisley Group about the importance of focusing on systems and structural work across policies, processes, strategies, and leadership rather than performative and tokenistic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work in order to improve the conditions that are essential for performance to occur. Dr Varina says this structural shift is more than just advocacy. DEI shouldn't even be a thing that we have to actively seek and advocate for. It should be something that's embedded in the core way that the business functions, in the core strategy of the organization and in the culture of the organization.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Belonging and Inclusion

02:30 Personal Insights on Belonging

05:15 Current Shifts in Diversity and Inclusion

08:32 Understanding Systems Work vs. Performative Inclusion

13:53 Misconceptions About Belonging and Inclusion

17:04 Barriers to Championing Inclusion

17:57 Successful Approaches in Inclusion Practices

21:25 Final Thoughts on Building an Inclusive Infrastructure

Shift 1: Move from performative diversity and inclusion (D&I) to systems and structural work

Shift 2: Don’t rely on marginalized people to carry the change; leaders and systems must take responsibility.

Shift 3: Simplify overlapping policies and build one coherent approach

Shift 4: Replace assumption with consultation and genuine and regular listening

Shift 5: Treat belonging and inclusion as infrastructure, not atmosphere

Guest Bio

Dr Varina Michaels is a globally recognised expert in intersectional DEI, culture, leadership, and ethical community engagement. Dr Michaels holds a Ph.D. in Intersectional Identities at Work, is Founder and CEO of Paisley Group, Director of the Women of Colour Safety and Work (WoCSAW) Research Institute and Head of Programs and Impact at Women of Colour Australia.

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. 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 in 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 .

Lets grow the conversation

If this episode sparked a new idea, challenge, or possibility, share it with someone who’ll benefit. Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift podcast, for more such conversations. Podcast link The Belonging Shift – Conversations about community, place, leadership and the future of belonging — Belonging Co

In this episode of The Belonging Shift, host Mantej Singh speaks with Joseph Santana, Chairman, CDO Powercircle from the United States. Joseph shares his journey from a business executive to a diversity and inclusion advocate, emphasizing the importance of aligning diversity and inclusion initiatives with business impact. Mantej and Joseph discuss that leaders must modernise policies, embrace flexibility, listen intently, and translate inclusion into tangible organisational gains, making impact sustainable and meaningful. Joseph talks about aligning inclusion initiatives with the first principles approach of any organisation - and the first principle can be revenue, customer service, event operations. Listen to the podcast to discover practical strategies for leaders to embed belonging into organizational systems, overcome misconceptions, and drive meaningful change.

Connect with Belonging Co

Belonging Co is a social and cultural inclusion consultancy helping executive leaders and organisations to strengthen inclusion, engagement, and participation outcomes across workplaces and communities — grounded in a unique belonging approach and a community perspective.

Chapter list

00:00 Introduction to the Belonging Shift Podcast

01:57 The Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion

06:12 Understanding Belonging: Perspectives and Definitions

11:38 Shifts in Diversity and Inclusion Practices

17:05 Common Misunderstandings in Leadership

21:06 Barriers in Organizational Structures

24:31 Advice for Leaders on Inclusion and Belonging

Key points

• The critical importance of framing diversity and inclusion as a business impact
• How to shift from talking about moral correctness to embedding D&I into organizational strategies
• The intersection of belonging, perception, and organizational networks
• Systemic barriers rooted in outdated policies, and how to modernize them
• The role of leadership mindset in fostering flexible, inclusive structures
• Practical steps leaders can take to support diverse workforce needs
• Balancing organizational values with real-world business benefits
• How to communicate intentionally and close the trust gap with teams
• The importance of listening, acting, and closing the loop with inclusion initiatives

For more information, see links below

· Belonging Co - www.belongingco.com.au

· Book a discovery call to discuss your needs - www.belongingco.com.au/contact

· Follow and connect Mantej on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/mantejs

· Follow and subscribe to The Belonging Shift Podcast - www.belongingco.com.au/belongingshift