For our very first interview on Making a Ruckus, I’m joined by someone who has shaped the thinking of volunteer engagement professionals around the world for more than 30 years — Rob Jackson.

In this wide-ranging and deeply energising conversation, we look back at three decades of volunteer engagement:
what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what still desperately needs a rethink.

Rob reflects on the biggest shifts he’s seen — the hopeful ones and the uncomfortable ones — and together we unpack some of the assumptions, biases, and long-running debates that continue to hold our sector back.

We dive into:

• The myths and mental models that refuse to die

• Why some conversations from the 90s are still happening today

• What volunteer involvement could look like if we stopped trying to fit people into outdated boxes

• The risks and possibilities of AI for our field

Rob also reads his powerful reflection Stewards of Hope — a moment that will stay with you long after the episode ends.

And we debut the Ruckus Round, a rapid-fire set of questions that invites Rob to share what he’s rethinking, what he’s wrestling with, and the one ruckus he believes we must still make.

If you’re ready for a conversation that honours where we’ve been and challenges where we’re heading, this episode is for you.

Stay bold, stay curious — and keep making a ruckus.

Mention:

• Rob Jackson Consulting website
• Rob Jackson's podcast; Advancing the Profession
• Rob Jackson Consulting's blog
• Rob's LinkedIn reflection; Stewards of Hope
• Rob's blog post: Three reasons why it's time to stop talking about amateurs and professionals
• Engage Journal
• Rahim Hirji's newsletter, Box of Amazing

Connect:

• Learn more: ⁠⁠⁠www.traceyoneillconsulting.com.au⁠⁠⁠
• Join the conversation on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠@traceyoneillcva⁠⁠⁠
• Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@tracey.oneill.cva⁠⁠⁠
• Follow on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠Tracey O'Neill Consulting