About Vaere Social
Our name, Vaere (pronounced VAIR), is drawn from the Norwegian word to be — reflecting our commitment to presence, purpose, and people. It also echoes velvære, meaning wellbeing — a guiding principle in all we do.
Vaere Social exists to help governments, communities, and purpose-driven organisations embed social value and resilience into the way we plan, build, and live together.
Founded by Liesl Codrington, a strategic social and environmental planner with over 23 years of experience, Vaere Social is a boutique practice dedicated to advancing social sustainability in a changing world. Our work spans urban and regional development, climate adaptation, infrastructure, renewable energy, and social policy — always focused on long-term public good.
Our approach
At Vaere Social, we believe social impact isn’t something to add on at the end — it is the foundation for creating resilient, inclusive communities. We bring:
Strategic clarity – turning complex systems and policies into practical, accessible pathways forward.
People-first insight – ensuring projects are grounded in lived experience, trust, and genuine participation.
Future-focused thinking – embedding resilience, equity, and wellbeing into planning and investment decisions.
Our experience
At Vaere Social, we bring together two strengths: a deep social lens that ensures communities and equity are at the centre of change, and a strategic perspective that connects local needs with long-term systems transformation.
Our Social Expertise
We work across the full spectrum of social planning, ensuring that projects, policies, and investments deliver outcomes that matter for people and place:
Social impact assessment – Rigorous, evidence-based analysis that makes social outcomes visible and actionable.
Social infrastructure planning – Strategies for the facilities, services, and spaces communities need to thrive.
Community and wellbeing – Engagement approaches that build trust and reflect lived experience.
Social value and equity – Frameworks that measure, communicate, and embed long-term social value.
Our Strategic Advisory
We support governments, industry, and communities to navigate complexity and plan for the future:
Climate adaptation and resilience – Embedding long-term social and environmental resilience into planning, infrastructure, and policy.
Systems thinking – Connecting policy, place, and lived experience to design solutions that are practical, inclusive, and future-ready.
Reform and policy advice – Advising on transformative agendas, from climate disclosure and renewable energy to planning system reform.
Independent insight – Partnering as a trusted advisor to agencies such as ARENA, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, and the ACT Government.
