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AI for Agricultural RD&E Community of Practice

Founding member pilot

You’ve attended the workshop. Now let’s put AI into practice!

Over the past year, more than 50 professionals from across Australia and New Zealand’s agricultural research, development and extension system have participated in Enablers of Change Academy workshops exploring the practical application of artificial intelligence.

Many left excited by the possibilities.

Some immediately began using AI to draft reports, analyse data, develop workshop activities, prepare communication materials and save valuable time.

Others found themselves returning to busy workloads, competing priorities and the challenge of translating new knowledge into everyday practice.

This is entirely normal.

Attending a workshop can spark new ideas.

Embedding those ideas into our day-to-day work is where the real value lies.

That’s why we’re launching the AI for Agricultural RD&E Community of Practice.

Rather than focusing on learning more about AI, this six-month Founding Member Pilot has been designed to help participants apply AI more confidently, more effectively and more consistently in their professional work.

Whether you’re a researcher, extension practitioner, farm advisor, consultant, project manager or industry development professional, this Community of Practice will help you move beyond experimentation and start using AI in practical, real-world situations.

Why join?

Artificial intelligence is evolving at an extraordinary pace.

New tools emerge almost weekly. Existing tools gain new capabilities. Advice that was relevant six months ago may already be outdated.

At the same time, many professionals working across agricultural RD&E are asking practical questions such as:

  • How are others using AI in their work?
  • Which tools are genuinely useful?
  • How can AI help me save time?
  • How can I improve the quality of my outputs?
  • What are the limitations and risks?
  • How do I move beyond occasional experimentation?
  • What are other researchers, advisors and project managers doing successfully?


The answers are rarely found in another webinar.

They are more often found through ongoing conversations with peers who are experimenting, reflecting and learning together.

That is the purpose of this Community of Practice.

A community focused on implementation

Most professional development focuses on transferring information.

This Community of Practice focuses on implementation.

Each month, Founding Members will be encouraged to trial practical AI applications in their own work and then share what they learned with others.

Examples might include:

  • Developing extension plans
  • Designing workshops
  • Creating communication materials
  • Analysing survey responses
  • Coding interview transcripts
  • Preparing project reports
  • Creating evaluation frameworks
  • Developing farmer personas
  • Summarising research findings
  • Improving stakeholder engagement


The goal is not perfection.

The goal is experimentation, reflection and continuous improvement.

Some approaches will work brilliantly. Others won’t.

Both outcomes create valuable learning opportunities for the entire community.

By sharing our experiences, successes and challenges, we accelerate learning for everyone.

Learn from professionals facing similar challenges

This is not a generic AI community.

It has been designed specifically for professionals working across agricultural research, development and extension.

Founding Members may include:

  • Researchers
  • Extension practitioners
  • Farm advisors
  • Consultants
  • Industry development officers
  • Project managers
  • Evaluation specialists
  • Innovation brokers
  • Adoption specialists
  • RDC staff


Because members operate within similar environments, discussions remain practical, relevant and immediately applicable.

What you’ll receive

1. Private community access

Founding Members will receive access to a dedicated online community hosted on the Sutra platform.

The community will provide a central place to:

  • Connect with peers
  • Share experiences
  • Ask questions
  • Explore new tools
  • Discuss emerging opportunities
  • Access resources and recordings
  • Learn from implementation stories

 

2. Monthly implementation clinics

Founding Members will be invited to participate in monthly 45-minute Zoom implementation clinics.

These sessions will focus on practical application rather than theory.

Topics may include:

  • New developments in AI
  • Member success stories
  • Lessons learned from implementation
  • Tool demonstrations
  • Practical problem-solving
  • Group discussion


Recordings will be available for members who are unable to attend live.

3. Monthly implementation challenges

Each month, Founding Members will be encouraged to participate in a practical implementation challenge.

These activities are designed to help members move beyond learning and into action.

The focus is not on completing homework.

The focus is on creating opportunities to trial AI in real-world situations and learn from the experience.

4. Direct access to experienced facilitators

Unlike many online communities, this pilot will be actively facilitated.

John James and Denise Bewsell will participate in discussions, respond to questions, provide feedback and help maintain momentum throughout the pilot period.

Our goal is to create a vibrant learning environment rather than simply another online discussion forum.

Is this community right for you?

This pilot is designed for people who want to actively explore how AI can support their professional practice.

It is likely to be valuable if you:

  • Are curious about AI
  • Want to improve your confidence using AI tools
  • Are willing to experiment with new approaches
  • Enjoy learning from peers
  • Are prepared to contribute your experiences to the community


It may be less suitable if you are simply looking for access to resources without participating in discussions or implementation activities.

The success of a Community of Practice depends on members learning together.


What makes this different?

Many online communities struggle because members consume information but rarely contribute.

We want to test a different model.

This pilot has been designed around the idea that learning occurs through action, reflection and shared experience.

Founding Members will be encouraged to:

  • Trial new approaches
  • Share successes and failures
  • Ask questions
  • Contribute ideas
  • Support fellow members
  • Reflect on their implementation experiences


In short, this is intended to be a community of practitioners, not spectators.

The Founding Member Pilot

The AI for Agricultural RD&E Community of Practice is being launched as a Founding Member Pilot running through to 31 December 2026.

Members may join at any time during the pilot period.

The pilot will help us test and refine the model while providing Founding Members with the opportunity to shape the future direction of the Enablers of Change Academy Community of Practice.

Insights gained during this pilot will inform the development of broader Communities of Practice within the Academy from 2027 onwards.

Investment

Founding Member Pilot

A$99 + GST

Your investment includes:

  • Access to the community until 31 December 2026
  • Monthly implementation clinics
  • Access to recordings
  • Participation in implementation challenges
  • Peer networking and support
  • Active facilitation by John James and Denise Bewsell

 

Looking ahead

This pilot represents the first step towards a broader Enablers of Change Academy Community of Practice.

From 2027, we anticipate expanding the Academy to include additional communities focused on various EoC Academy course topics, such as:

  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Behavioural science
  • Extension planning
  • Facilitation
  • Building trust and rapport
  • Co-design
  • Peer-to-peer learning


Our vision is to create a professional learning environment where capability continues to develop long after a workshop has finished.

Rather than viewing professional development as a one-off event, we see it as an ongoing process of learning, experimentation, reflection and improvement.

Because attending a workshop creates awareness.

Putting ideas into practice creates change.

Join the founding cohort

Places in the Founding Member Pilot are limited.

If you would like to continue your AI journey alongside a group of like-minded professionals who are actively exploring how AI can improve their work, we’d love you to join us.

Become a Founding Member today and help shape the future of the Enablers of Change Academy Community of Practice.