Projects Shaping a More Sustainable Future: Plico Future Fund

At Plico, we believe the transition to clean energy should create benefits that extend well beyond the homes and businesses generating renewable power.

Through the Plico Future Fund, we're investing in the people, organisations and ideas helping build stronger, more resilient and more sustainable communities across Australia. Following an incredibly competitive funding round, seven community projects across Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria received support through the first round of Plico Future Fund grants for 2026.

From wildlife conservation and community resilience to environmental education and innovative sustainability programs, these projects demonstrate the power of local communities driving meaningful change.

Here's a look at the projects funded in Round 1.

Regen Sydney: Building Resilient Communities from the Ground Up

The largest grant awarded in Round 1 went to Regen Sydney, which received the Fund's sole Innovation ("Bright Idea") Grant of $20,000 to launch the Ku-ring-gai Community Resilience Pilot. The Innovation Grant is limited to one full recipient per calendar year, recognising projects that foster new ways of thinking and problem-solving through science, technology and community collaboration.

The year-long pilot will bring together existing sustainability and energy groups across Sydney's North Shore to create a coordinated vision for a more resilient future. Working alongside established organisations including Net Zero KRG, EnergyZE North Shore, Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment (FOKE) and Ku-ring-gai Council, the program will map existing sustainability initiatives, host community workshops and help develop practical pathways for local climate and energy action.

Led by Dr Kiran Kashyap and the Regen Sydney team, the project builds on earlier successful pilots in Waverley and Sydney's Inner West, where the organisation established cross-sector "communities of practice" connecting residents, local government and businesses around a shared vision for change.

A key goal of the program is helping people move from being passive observers of climate action to active participants in shaping their communities. The pilot will include workshops, walking tours and co-design sessions, ultimately culminating in a collaborative "Live Model Game" designed to support ongoing coordination and shared leadership across participating groups.

Importantly, the project recognises that community resilience extends beyond energy alone. By bringing together conversations around housing, mobility, green space and sustainability, Regen Sydney hopes to help residents see these challenges as interconnected opportunities for positive change. The initiative also forms part of the organisation's broader Civic Neighbourhoods program, which aims to create a replicable model that can eventually be adopted by councils and communities across Greater Sydney.

For a small, largely volunteer-driven organisation, support from the Plico Future Fund will directly enable the staff time, community engagement activities and program delivery required to bring the project to life.

In 2025, the Innovation Grant was awarded to Murdoch University for their Pocket Forests program. Read more about this project here. 

Regen Synergy Champions

Preserving Critical Seabird Records

The WA Seabird Conservation Network received funding to digitise historical seabird colony records from Penguin and Carnac Islands, helping preserve valuable ecological information and making it more accessible for future conservation and research efforts.

Supporting Wildlife Care with Sustainable Transport

WA Wildlife (Native ARC Inc) secured funding to install an outdoor EV charging station at the WA Wildlife Hospital. The project will support the organisation's transition toward lower-emissions transport while assisting its wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations.

Protecting Native Habitat in Victoria

Through support for the Nangana Landcare Network, the Plico Future Fund is helping expand conservation efforts focused on the critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater. The project will contribute to habitat restoration and connectivity along the Yellingbo-Cockatoo Creek corridor.

Growing Resilient Conservation Infrastructure

At The Wetlands Centre, funding will support the installation of solar and battery backup systems for irrigation at its Conservation Nursery. The project will increase operational resilience while supporting the propagation of native plants used in restoration and conservation projects. This project is currently under technical review.

Inspiring Future Environmental Leaders

Murdoch University received support to create educational resources exploring blue-banded bees, Noongar seasons and language. Designed for young learners, the project will help foster environmental awareness and cultural understanding through engaging educational materials.

Reducing Waste and Supporting Communities

Feed One Feed All received funding for a food rescue and community meals initiative that aims to reduce food waste while supporting people experiencing food insecurity. The project demonstrates how environmental and social outcomes can be achieved together through grassroots community action.

Creating Community Impact Through Clean Energy

While each project is unique, together they demonstrate the wide-ranging impact community-led sustainability initiatives can have. From protecting wildlife and preserving biodiversity to strengthening local resilience and reducing waste, these organisations are helping create a more sustainable future for their communities.

The Plico Future Fund exists to ensure that the benefits of clean energy flow back into the communities that make the transition possible. We're proud to support these inspiring organisations and look forward to following their progress and impact throughout 2026 and beyond.

Round 2 of Plico Future Fund grants is now closed. Successful applicants will be announced in the coming weeks.

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