An In Good Company podcast with Edmund McCombs, Head of Social Impact at Lendlease and Roger Nielsen from Impact.
How Lendlease and Impact built a programme that creates lasting change: A conversation with Edmund McCombs and Roger Nielsen
How do you inspire thousands of employees across the globe to create meaningful impact - in their communities, in their roles, and in themselves? And if you did decide to embark on something so bold - how would you measure the outcomes?
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In this episode Dan is joined by Edmund McCombs, Head of Social Impact at Lendlease, and Roger Nielsen from Impact, to explore the story behind this unique learning partnership. Springboard: a multi-award-winning development programme that’s been redefining personal growth and community engagement for over 15 years. It has engaged over 2,500 Lendlease employees and contributed $32.7m of verified social value.
We have shared videos, case studies, business results and awards about this much-loved programme over the years. But never before have we sat down with two of the key players to discuss what the programme means to Lendlease, to the participants, to the communities that it touches and the people that delivered it. Tune in to our podcast for all this and more. We’ll cover:
- What is Springboard?
- Why it matters
- How it drives the sustainability agenda
- Top tips for anyone starting a similar journey
What is Springboard?
Lendlease is an international property and infrastructure group, founded in 1958 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Lendlease and Impact's partnership began in 2008 when Impact was chosen to redesign Springboard, Lendlease Foundation’s flagship program that invests in the wellbeing of people, planet and community. Impact’s design re-developed a much-loved global program to incorporate health and wellbeing, personal development, and community involvement. Springboard brings employees from all around the world together for a five-day intensive development program designed around three pillars of sustainability:
- Environmental sustainability – connecting participants with nature, learning about the country and connecting with traditional owners, scientists and experts.
- Social sustainability – building deep connections with colleagues and local communities through hands-on projects.
- Personal sustainability – giving participants space to reflect, learn, and grow beyond the everyday demands of work.
Measuring success
Springboard ran 81 times, over 16 years, in five locations from Far North Queensland to the Tasman Peninsula and engaged over 2,500 Lendlease employees. Each programme blended virtual touchpoints with a five-day residential experience that combined learning, collaboration, and real-world impact. Springboard became much more than a development initiative. “Lendlease's founder believed in a triple bottom line - financial, environmental, and social impact. Springboard brings that culture to life.”
The programme delivered measurable outcomes too. Over the years, Springboard has been recognised with many awards and has helped to contribute to Lendlease’s target to create $250m of social value by 2025. Springboard contributed $32.7m of verified social value to this total, measured through wellbeing improvements, community resilience, and environmental projects.
The magic of Springboard
Tune in to this podcast and it’s obvious Edmund and Roger agree that Springboard is unique. Participants form bonds that last years, creating a global network of colleagues united by shared values and experiences.
“You can't go on Springboard and not be affected by it. Whether you’re a participant from Lendlease or a facilitator from Impact – what continues to amaze me after 16 years, is just how passionately people talk about their Springboard experience. And it's hard to quantify, but people know what that Springboard magic is when they've experienced it."
Top tips for starting a project like Springboard
Roger has been involved in this programme since 2008. Here are his top tips:
- Align values – ensure the programme reflects what your organisation stands for. It’s easier to do this if you have a delivery partner who aligns with your values too.
- Start small and iterate – experiment, learn, and evolve.
- Invest in relationships – trust and collaboration are the foundation of success.
Listen to the episode on Spotify
Find out more about Springboard and our 16-year partnership
Listen again
Head to our YouTube / Spotify channels to catch up on previous episodes, including…