Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre (HBNC) CEO, Tanya Stevenson, has returned from a transformative three-month sabbatical as part of the prestigious Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) program. During her time away, Tanya visited Dubai, Amsterdam, London, Iceland, Toronto, and Nepal, engaging with global changemakers and exploring best practices in community innovation and social impact.

Reflecting on her time away, Tanya expressed heartfelt gratitude to the HBNC team for their dedication and commitment in her absence.

“I would like to thank Maureen and the HBNC team for the incredible work they have done during my sabbatical. Knowing the organisation was in such capable, caring hands gave me great peace of mind while I explored best practices around the world. I am deeply grateful for the way HBNC upheld our values, maintained momentum, and continued to support our community with such dedication and heart, especially during the flood,” Tanya said.

The SILA program provided Tanya with the opportunity to witness firsthand how communities around the world are addressing complex social challenges in innovative ways. From inclusive neighbourhood hubs to youth centres, social enterprises, and reimagined aged care villages, her experiences have provided valuable inspiration for the future of HBNC.

 
Tanya Stevenson: Working Women Community Centre, Toronto 

“I would also like to say thank you to SILA (Social Impact Leadership Australia) for the opportunity to participate in their leadership program. Over the past three months, I’ve had the privilege of visiting Dubai, Amsterdam, London, Iceland, Toronto, and Nepal—meeting with and learning from inspiring services and communities tackling complex social challenges in innovative ways,” she said.

Tanya is eager to share her learnings with the HBNC community and looks forward to working together to implement fresh ideas.

“In the coming weeks, as I collate all my learnings, I will release a summary to share the key themes from my journey. I look forward to reconnecting with you all, sharing these insights, and most importantly, dreaming up what we can do next—together,” she concluded.

HBNC is excited to welcome Tanya back and looks forward to the insights and innovations her experiences will bring to the organisation and the broader community.