Strategy - Social Impact - Resilience
Vaere SocialPeople-first planning for a changing world.
Vaere Social brings deep expertise in strategic & social planning, research, and policy advisory to help shape more inclusive, resilient, and connected communities.
Founded by Liesl Codrington, Vaere Social brings over 20 years of experience in social impact, urban planning, and demographic analysis—helping shape communities that are resilient, inclusive, and ready for change. We work with governments, councils, developers, and organisations to ensure people and place remain central as we respond to climate, demographic, and social shifts.
Our expertise spans assessing future social infrastructure needs, conducting robust social impact assessments, advising on social sustainability and climate adaptation, and designing neurodivergent-inclusive public spaces.
We connect high-level policy with the lived experience of communities—grounding development in real-world insight to support places that endure and thrive.
What we do
We help shape sustainable cities and places that are inclusive, resilient, and ready for change. Our work spans social impact assessment, policy advice, research, and inclusive planning—ensuring people are not just considered, but prioritised in the way we plan, design and govern places.
From navigating complex developments to advising on climate adaptation and social infrastructure, we bring deep expertise in delivering strategic, evidence-based insights that inform both planning approvals and long-term investment decisions.
Who we work with
We partner with government agencies, local councils, infrastructure providers, developers, and planning firms who are committed to delivering places that support wellbeing, equity, and long-term resilience.
Whether embedded in multi-disciplinary project teams or providing independent advice, we bring a collaborative, strategic mindset and a proven ability to facilitate alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
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Social impact isn’t a box to tick—it’s a lever for better places. We help clients go beyond compliance to embed long-term social value into every stage of a project. Whether through strategic planning, community insights or inclusive design advice, we ensure places are socially functional, future-proofed, and fit for real lives.
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We bring a social lens to resilience planning—ensuring people, not just systems, are ready for change. From policy and precinct design to infrastructure delivery, we help embed long-term resilience into the DNA of projects. Grounded in wellbeing frameworks and social sustainability principles, our work supports communities to thrive under pressure, adapt with dignity, and recover without losing cohesion.
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Understanding people is the foundation of good planning. Our demographic and social analysis goes beyond the numbers to reveal how people live, what they need, and where systems are falling short. We help clients interpret complex population trends—across age, ability, identity and place—to design better services and stronger communities.
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Good policy and advice starts with understanding people. We bring deep research and strategic thinking to social policy development—from ageing well and inclusive housing to place-based planning. Our advice helps clients turn evidence into impact, shaping policies that are aligned, adaptive, and genuinely fit for purpose.
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Inclusion starts with understanding how different minds navigate the world. We specialise in neurodiversity-informed planning and engagement—helping you create spaces, policies and participation processes that work for a wider range of people. Our advice is grounded in research and lived experience, and tailored to your project’s needs.
Why choose Vaere Social?
We navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.
Vaere Social thrives in high-stakes, multi-stakeholder environments—where government, industry, and community perspectives must align to enable progress. We broker trusted relationships and facilitate strategic dialogue, unlocking momentum on socially and politically sensitive projects through empathy, rigour, and negotiation skill.
We turn evidence into strategic foresight.
Our work is grounded in data but guided by purpose. We analyse social risk, climate resilience, and demographic change to inform decisions that don’t just tick regulatory boxes—but anticipate emerging challenges, shape investment priorities, and strengthen long-term outcomes for communities.
We design for equity, wellbeing, and resilience.
We embed inclusive design principles that go beyond physical accessibility—ensuring public spaces and infrastructure work for diverse populations under real-world conditions. Our approach builds systems that support human wellbeing and social cohesion in a changing climate.
We bring systems thinking to social sustainability.
With deep expertise across planning, policy, and governance, we connect the dots between lived experience, regulatory frameworks, and urban systems. Our advice helps clients make smarter, more integrated decisions—grounded in real-world evidence and oriented to future resilience.
We bridge policy and people.
At the heart of our work is a commitment to social value. We embed community voices—not as an afterthought, but as a foundation for sustainable outcomes. Our approach ensures that strategies are not only technically robust, but deeply grounded in the realities of those they affect.
Recent insights
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What a lone tree can teach us about social sustainability
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The future of sustainable cities is social—here’s why
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The challenge of measuring what truly matters
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Another late diagnosis story - neurodiversity as a female leader
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Creating better places for people with neurodiversity
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Understanding the social impacts of climate change
