The Potato Economy of Connection with Kelly Hopkins

In this episode, Kerrie sits down with the much-mentioned (and very busy) Kelly Hopkins – a natural connector, community-builder and champion of collaboration.Fresh from being a finalist at the Prime Minister’s Awards, Kelly shares what it’s like to be recognised for work that she describes as “just what we do organically” – the kind of behind-the-scenes, people-first impact that rarely makes headlines, but changes lives.Together, Kerrie and Kelly explore what it means to build an ecosystem – not an exclusive group, but a growing network where people feel welcomed, seen, and supported across industries and states. Kelly also shares the deeply personal moment that reshaped how she wants to live: the realisation, after her dad’s funeral, that kindness is the legacy that lasts.You’ll also hear stories of:how Defence Industry Networking (DIN) became a “base in every state”the magic of collaboration without competitionwhy Kelly sends bags of potatoes as encouragementand yes – the unexpectedly powerful and amusing rise of CrocsIf you’ve been craving a reminder that connection can be simple, spacious, and genuinely human – this conversation will feel like an encouraging boost. Listen in for: courage, community, empathy, and a few laugh-out-loud moments.Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by buying our producer a coffee - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bmc.link/kerriephipps⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Kelly here -LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyhopkinshays/⁠Find Kerrie here -Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kerriephipps.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook public page - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter / X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps⁠⁠⁠