Never Give Up: Why Context Changes Everything
| Thursday, November 6, 2025 |
| 9:20 AM - 9:50 AM |
Overview
Chris Wheatcroft, Chief Executive Officer and Tamara Diver, Chief Operating Officer, Rural West
Presenter
Tamara Diver
Chief Operating Officer
Rural West
Never Give Up: Why Context Changes Everything
Presentation Overview
Never Give Up: Why Context Changes Everything explores how financial stability, mental health, and community resilience intersect—and why context is the key to unlocking meaningful, lasting change.
This session takes a multi-disciplinary approach, blending business principles with counselling and ethical frameworks to demonstrate how tailored, values-based strategies can support individuals, families, and small enterprises under pressure. Through real-world case studies, the presentation walks through a sequence of situation, challenge, and response—highlighting how context shapes both the experience of hardship and the effectiveness of support.
The presentation expands this lens to a shared challenge: the systemic gaps in assistance for those facing financial and emotional distress, particularly in rural and regional communities. It then encourages a shared response—one that is collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in lived experience.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how preparedness and resilience-building efforts can be strengthened through cross-sector collaboration, and how understanding context can foster engagement, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.
This session takes a multi-disciplinary approach, blending business principles with counselling and ethical frameworks to demonstrate how tailored, values-based strategies can support individuals, families, and small enterprises under pressure. Through real-world case studies, the presentation walks through a sequence of situation, challenge, and response—highlighting how context shapes both the experience of hardship and the effectiveness of support.
The presentation expands this lens to a shared challenge: the systemic gaps in assistance for those facing financial and emotional distress, particularly in rural and regional communities. It then encourages a shared response—one that is collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in lived experience.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how preparedness and resilience-building efforts can be strengthened through cross-sector collaboration, and how understanding context can foster engagement, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.
Biography
Tamara is a experienced COO with over 20 years’ experience leading national and state-level operations. Her strategic leadership spans finance, HR, marketing, and IT.
Raised in a generational farming family and living regionally, her leadership is grounded in both corporate expertise and deep personal experience. She has navigated personal financial hardship following relationship breakdown, the suicide of a sibling, and supported her partner through small business financial distress — fuelling her passion for resilience, reform, and compassionate leadership. Tamara is also a qualified Health and Relationship Coach, known for her inclusive approach and ability to lead with both strategy and empathy.
Chris Wheatcroft
Chief Executive Officer
Rural West
Never Give Up: Why Context Changes Everything
Presentation Overview
Never Give Up: Why Context Changes Everything explores how financial stability, mental health, and community resilience intersect—and why context is the key to unlocking meaningful, lasting change.
This session takes a multi-disciplinary approach, blending business principles with counselling and ethical frameworks to demonstrate how tailored, values-based strategies can support individuals, families, and small enterprises under pressure. Through real-world case studies, the presentation walks through a sequence of situation, challenge, and response—highlighting how context shapes both the experience of hardship and the effectiveness of support.
The presentation expands this lens to a shared challenge: the systemic gaps in assistance for those facing financial and emotional distress, particularly in rural and regional communities. It then encourages a shared response—one that is collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in lived experience.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how preparedness and resilience-building efforts can be strengthened through cross-sector collaboration, and how understanding context can foster engagement, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.
This session takes a multi-disciplinary approach, blending business principles with counselling and ethical frameworks to demonstrate how tailored, values-based strategies can support individuals, families, and small enterprises under pressure. Through real-world case studies, the presentation walks through a sequence of situation, challenge, and response—highlighting how context shapes both the experience of hardship and the effectiveness of support.
The presentation expands this lens to a shared challenge: the systemic gaps in assistance for those facing financial and emotional distress, particularly in rural and regional communities. It then encourages a shared response—one that is collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in lived experience.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how preparedness and resilience-building efforts can be strengthened through cross-sector collaboration, and how understanding context can foster engagement, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.
Biography
Chris brings a unique blend of lived experience and academic depth to his leadership. A fifth-generation farmer turned community advocate, he has worked with at-risk youth, served as a Rural Financial Counsellor, and now leads Rural West initiatives supporting rural resilience.
