We’re not here to tick boxes. We’re here to shift culture — for real.
We’re a strategy and research studio that helps organisations do the deep, relational work real change requires — grounded in community, culture, and context.
KŌTA exists because too often, the people most affected by change are the last to be heard.
We believe leadership should be relational, not transactional. That systems change should be led with empathy, not ego. And that deep listening is the most radical strategy of all.
We’re not consultants who parachute in with templates. We’re your partners in co-designing impact that actually lands — grounded in community, backed by evidence, and delivered with clarity.
Who We Work With
We work with people building better futures:
→ Social impact orgs
→ Government leaders
→ First Nations communities
→ Research institutions
→ Brave teams tired of doing things the old way
Get to know the people, principles, and practices shaping how we show up across Australia.
From the way we listen to the impact we leave behind — this is the heart of KŌTA.
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You can’t transform systems without transforming relationships.
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Data becomes power when it reflects lived experience.
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Our job isn’t to have all the answers. It’s to ask better questions.
Our Philosophy
Meet Renée Gardiner
Founder. Archaeologist. Systems thinker. Story collector.
Some people collect stamps. Renée collects stories, experiences — and the occasional curveball from the universe. Like unearthing a Bronze Age ceremonial axe in Bulgaria. Or surviving open-heart surgery. Both taught her that hidden treasures and unexpected strength often lie just below the surface.
She grew up in Queensland, where a waterfall waited at the end of the road and a 360° view across country revealed the interconnectedness of all things. That early connection to land, story, and the sacred web of life still fuels how she works today — with depth, integrity, and fierce care.
With two decades across social research, strategy, and community leadership, Renée weaves together social science, systems thinking, and cultural insight to help teams design change that actually sticks. Her work lives at the intersection of nature, culture, and behaviour — creating spaces where communities can thrive.
She’s:
Designed spaces that feed hearts, minds, and bellies
Published a weekly newspaper column reaching 200K+ readers
Led wellbeing programs and cultural transformations for hundreds
Navigated business breakdowns and personal plot twists (often in heels)
Renée has been recognised in the Australian Parliament for her work in sustainability and community transformation, and named a 40Under40 Business News Award winner for social enterprise leadership.
Today, she speaks, writes, and leads with a simple truth:
Real change is human. And humans need more than data — they need to be seen.