Brad Webb is an experienced and strategic Senior Executive, with a commitment to delivering equitable access to economic and social participation for all members of society. He views the work of Embrace People and Place as a vehicle to drive innovation in community services and equity.

Brad is currently the CEO of Castle, an NDIS and Inclusive Employment Australia provider operating across the Hunter and Central Coast. He has previously held leadership positions in professional services, health and medical research, and the community services and disability sector.

Brad holds a Masters Degree in Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a Director of the Committee for the Hunter.

1. What drew you to become involved with Embrace People & Place?

Many community services organisations are bound to funding and service models that do not have any scope for innovation. In a sector where service demand is continuously increasing, but the funding available is not keeping pace with demand, we need to explore new ways of doing things. The opportunity to be involved in an organisation where there is an appetite for innovation, appropriate risk-taking, and the resources to try new ways of working was too good to pass up.

Coupled with this, Embrace People & Place is a values-driven organisation that actively discusses, practices and embeds those values. This is incredibly appealing to me.

2. What do you love most about the work Embrace People & Place does?

There are two things that stand out for me.

Firstly, lived experience is valued and intentionally built into the service model. It moves beyond advisory roles for lived experience and into employment of people who bring their unique and critical perspectives to service design and delivery.

Secondly, Embrace People & Place is working to build the broader capacity of the sector. 437 Hunter and its practice model create a framework for growing the way in which the sector works together, shifting the dial on collaboration and support. In a sector that can be both resource-strapped and lonely, this is a unique opportunity to really build sector capital.

3. How do your personal or professional experiences shape your contribution as a Board Member?

There are experiences in my own life where the crossroads could have taken me in a very different direction. The opportunity to give back to a sector that has the potential to change the trajectory of a life is what drives me personally and professionally. I believe that the experience I bring from across corporate and NGO roles in my career will be useful to Embrace People & Place.

4. Is there something specific that you’ve been involved in at Embrace People & Place that’s especially meaningful to you? Why?

The continued evolution of the Women in Community Program from concept, to service model, to the early stages of implementation has been a lesson in vision, tenacity, listening, and acting. The opportunity to be involved in a venture like this, which is both innovative and desperately needed, has been extraordinary.

5. What does community mean to you—and how do you see Embrace People & Place helping it to thrive?

In the context of the community services sector, community should mean working together and focusing on the outcomes to those accessing services. The increasing requirements of funding providers, the intense competition for funds that has been built into procurement, and the lack of time to focus on sector development has eroded this over time. Spaces like 437 Hunter allow us to refine models of collocation and collaboration that may play an important role in supporting the sector.

6. What have you learned from your time on the Board so far?

The diversity of background and experience in the Board members has meant that every meeting is an opportunity to learn. Listening respectfully and thoughtful debate has been the mainstay of the Board since day one, so the learning curve has been steep. From that comes more robust decision-making and clarity.

7. In your view, what makes Embrace People & Place different from other organisations?

Of our four values, the value of Being COURAGEOUS is a key difference with Embrace People & Place. I have mentioned before that we have the appetite for innovation, appropriate risk-taking, and the resources to try new ways of working. It means we can express the value of courage and live up to the action of being willing to do something difficult even when there’s risk.

8. What gives you hope when thinking about the future of our communities?

History has taught us that in times of adversity, people turn to each other. Community is about connection and I believe that this will ultimately triumph. After all, if we don’t believe that is possible then what is the point?

9. Outside of your role on the Board, what do you enjoy doing or feel passionate about?

While there is a strong relationship between my personal passions and my work passions for a better society, we still need time out for ourselves. My partner and our life together is a priority for me. However, you still must nurture your own soul and for me, that comes from singing in a choir.

One day, I hope to see that joy of singing in a group spread into the practice model at 437 Hunter. I am working on that!

10. If you could share one message with the Embrace People & Place community, what would it be?

We are in the privileged position to challenge mediocrity and support systemic change through the work we do. Let’s not squander that opportunity.