Strategic Partnerships · Public Sector

Blueprinting a strategic industry partnership to increase truck driver wellbeing and road safety

To address emerging challenges, the client, a national agency responsible for transport safety, launched several strategic initiatives. Central to these efforts was a partnership model designed to align stakeholders and drive system-wide safety improvements.

Opportunity

The client identified the need for a more structured and collaborative approach to working with key partners. Existing efforts lacked coordination and clarity. They sought to design a strategic partnership model that would align stakeholders, foster shared accountability, and link strategic goals to operational delivery. This involved co-developing a blueprint outlining the partnership’s vision, outcomes, principles, key actors, and mechanisms, supported by a strong narrative to drive sector-wide engagement.

Outcome

Through collaboration with a complex network of stakeholders, a strategic partnership model was co-designed, supported by a visual blueprint and narrative. These elements conveyed the partnership’s purpose, values, and operating approach. The outputs helped build shared understanding, generate stakeholder buy-in, and improve communication across the sector. They also guided the practical implementation of the model, ensuring alignment between high-level strategy and day-to-day action. The collaborative process was instrumental in refining the model to meet real-world needs.

Impact

The partnership model is now actively shaping collaboration across the transport safety system. It has helped align diverse stakeholders around a common strategy and created a stronger connection between national goals and operational delivery. The clear narrative and visual design have improved communication and stakeholder engagement. By building broad support and a shared understanding, the client has positioned the model as a foundation for ongoing reform. It now serves as a reference point for structured collaboration in complex system-wide initiatives.

My role

As the lead designer, I collaborated within a cross-functional team and partnered closely with senior analysts, directors, and the client’s leadership to design and refine a strategic partnership model. I led client meetings to align priorities, gather feedback, and guide key design decisions. I helped design and facilitate two co-design workshops that brought diverse stakeholders together, fostering collaboration and insight. By analysing workshop outputs, I shaped the partnership narrative and final report. I also developed and refined the visual blueprint, incorporating stakeholder input through iterative improvements. Additionally, I supported project management tasks, ensuring smooth review processes and maintaining risk and quality controls.

Process

* Please note that the images have been intentionally blurred to protect client confidentiality.


Mapping the network of influence

Early on, the focus was on understanding the ecosystem’s key players. Collaborating closely with the client, the team identified and mapped stakeholders across internal teams and external partners. This ensured representation from strategic decision-makers, operational leaders, and policy experts. Capturing this wide spectrum of perspectives was essential to understand how each actor influences or is impacted by the partnership, setting a foundation for meaningful collaboration.

Co-creating the future together

Two co-design workshops formed the heart of the engagement. These sessions brought together a diverse group of stakeholders with varying priorities and expertise. Through visioning exercises, participants aligned around a shared purpose. Scenario planning allowed the group to explore potential strategies and outcomes, while role mapping clarified responsibilities and the connections between partners. These workshops created a dynamic space for collaboration, fostering trust and collective ownership of the partnership model.

Workshops with client and industry stakeholders

Shaping insights into a practical model

Following the workshops, the wealth of insights and feedback was carefully synthesised to refine the partnership model. This refinement balanced aspirational goals with practical considerations, resulting in a robust framework. The model detailed core principles, essential enablers such as governance structures and data-sharing arrangements, and clear pathways that linked strategic intent with operational delivery. The outcome was a balanced, actionable model ready for implementation.

Crafting and visualising the partnership story

A clear narrative was developed to convey the partnership’s purpose, value, and alignment with broader reforms, building stakeholder engagement and commitment. Alongside this, the model was transformed into a visual blueprint illustrating its structure, roles, and outcomes. This accessible tool supports ongoing communication and alignment, making complex ideas easy to understand and helping maintain momentum throughout implementation.

Set of three deliverables, including a visual narrative, industry initiatives mapping and group architecture