Australia’s Place-based Innovation Partners

Turning transition into thriving — for people and place.

Imagine if regional areas could use the transitions ahead to shape a thriving future. We help you find out how and then build the future with you.

The transitions ahead may seem daunting, but they also present exciting opportunities for thriving and resilience–if shaped properly. Through primary research, co-design, strategy and capability building, we show you the opportunities ahead and how best to seize them to create places that prosper.

Adaptation managed defensively just delays decline — done as transformation, it seizes new opportunities. Regen Labs shows regional cohorts what’s possible and then helps them build the types of connections and enterprises a changing world demands — from food security to clean energy to circular industry — backed by the research and capital that support a future-ready regional economy take shape.

Partnering with communities to adapt and transform

What we offer

For now:

Business transformation diagnostics
Risk/vulnerability mapping for exposed enterprises and regions

As a bridge:

Multi-region learning collaborations
Capability-building cohorts

In shaping the future:

Comparative research and catalytic investment vehicle design (Regen Community Investment Fund) for long-horizon transformation

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Renewable energy infrastructure and major data centre proposals are converging on the regional communities — asking a lot of a place (energy, water, land, roads, character). Communities are usually brought in late with little room left to shape what's protected or how benefits flow.

There's consultation, and then there's real participation. A durable social licence isn't granted by a single round of consultation — it's earned over time, through genuine participation, demonstrated performance, shared value and ongoing accountability.

Regen Labs helps protect what communities still rely on, whilst innovating benefit-sharing models that prove a fairer energy and data economy is commercially real, meaning communities get to the table early enough to secure full ownership and negotiating power.

Shepherding the new energy and data frontier

What we offer

For now:

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As a bridge:

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In shaping the future:

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Core team

Reece Proudfoot

Co-founder and Director - 
Regenerative Innovation

Reece is the former Head of Innovation and Impact Investment with WWF-Australia and founder of Panda Labs. Capability areas include: Strategic Design, Partnerships, Business Model Innovaiton & Impact Investing, Engagement and Community Organising

Dr Dimity Podger

Co-founder and Director - 
Regenerative Enterprise Programs

Dimity is the former Regenerative Communities Lead with WWF-Australia, following 10 years leading her own purpose-driven business advisory firm. Capability areas include: regenerative business and leadership, capability building program design and delivery, community engagement, sustainability, and impact measurement.

Phil Freeman

Co-founder and Director - 
Regenerative Finance

Phil is the Co-founder & Director of Impact Venture OpenSC. He has a background in corporate law and climate advocacy (building alliances). He is a board member of social venture Grow Your Mind and Montessori East School.

Partners in place