Giving employees a voice to inspire authentic direction for a brand

When we first met with the team at Willana, their website and collateral was front of mind for them. We’d been asked to come in and talk about our approach and what we could do to help them improve these key pieces of communications for the company.

What we realised as we chatted, was that the motivation behind these changes had come from a general concern from employees that the current identity didn’t reflect the substance of the company. What they were really crying out for was for Willana to have an outward voice that was as strong as their outcomes and experience.

Underneath all of that was a desire to be a part of, and grow, something meaningful, it wasn’t just about a visual identity and a new website. These were the outward expressions of a deeper need.

Armed with that insight we were able to tailor a workshop with the whole team at Willana to uncover the collective values and vision and give every team member an opportunity to connect to a future direction and brand. An individual vision exercise revealed common desires around having a strong voice in the industry and reliable presence, and positive social impact with an activist spirit.

Building empathy maps and customer journey maps with the team opened up the opportunity for everyone to share stories of current and past clients and reflect on the experiences from their perspectives. Together we were able to identify some of the key attributes and differentiators of Willana that had prompted their clients to engage with them.

At the bottom of it all was resilience

Resilience was living in all of the data – it flowed through their why, how and what. It was implanted in their DNA, it was the reason clients were drawn to them, and it reflected their vision for their industry and the planet.

Fast forward to today, as Willana Urban, they come together as a collective of smart thinkers, intuitive to the needs of the community and draw together for a common purpose – to boldly elevate humanity through resilient people, planning, and planet.

Uncovering the real Willana and supporting them to make it a reality has been an absolute privilege. We love helping companies come alive, inside and out.

Meeting them today sounds a little like this:

Communities across Australia and the world must face the challenges of globalisation, urbanisation and a changing climate.

As planners, we have a responsibility to ensure our communities not only survive, but adapt and thrive in a changing world.

At Willana Urban, we’re forging paths to a resilient future. It begins with who we are and extends to the impact we bring to communities and the people within them. Together, we have the courage and the know-how to anticipate, plan and prevail through any urban challenge.

We embolden the property and development industry, government and institutions, to overcome obstacles and plan for a better tomorrow. Our collective expertise enables us to advise and deliver robust outcomes across a broad range of projects, from complex developments in community consultation, court disputes and project management.

Case Studies
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An educational journey that serves and endures for the whole of life

St Philip's Christian Education
Discover how a visionary educational institution transformed its brand to reflect a lifelong commitment to learning and community engagement. This case study reveals the journey of aligning purpose with practice, inspiring students and educators to embrace the whole of life.
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Where ambition meets architecture

Fabritecture
Redefining an establish international brand with purpose and vision. A blend of innovation, sustainability, and humanity—empowering connection, iconic structures, and limitless possibilities to reshape the future of architecture.
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Empowering connection through clarity and transformation

Top Blokes Foundation
A bold, purpose-driven identity inspiring young men, strengthening connections, and empowering communities to lead cultural change and transform futures across Australia.
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It is all possible in regional Australia

Think Regional
Redefining the future of regional careers, it breaks barriers and bridges communities, proving that opportunity thrives far beyond the city limits—where vibrant industries, innovative talent, and meaningful connections come together to create a new narrative for regional Australia.
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Putting energy into action with differentiated value

Smart Energy Council
After 65 years the Smart Energy Council recognised that while their people were progressive and bold advocates within the industry, the perceptions being reinforced by their brand were preventing them from growing and scaling their voice and influence within the industry.
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Society is strengthened through strategic investment in women and girls

Australians Investing in Women
‘Australians Investing in Women’ invite all funders and investors across our country who believe in the importance of empowering women and girls to join them in empowering giving for a fairer future.
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Changing industry perceptions

Business Sales
‘Business Sales’ vision for the future of the Australian small business industry was ambitious, but so are they.
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Helping a business redefine and reinforce its potential

Leah Jay
Leah Jay is the Hunter’s leading property management company and were the first to pioneer as a specialist property management service in Australia over 20 years ago.
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Establishing brand trust to support organisational growth

Prelude Australia
What do you do when you’ve been delivering best-practice, high quality services to the community for over 40 years, but your brand is creating uncertainty for potential employees and clients from the outside-in?
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Establishing a connected brand for a new era in retirement living

Teman Communities
Working with people who really care about what they do and the people they serve is so important to us. When we saw Jamie, the Managing Director of Teman, taking the bins out for a resident at one of his communities, we knew we’d get along well.