Engagement Meets AI 2026 Benchmarking Study
Are You Leading or Lagging in AI Adoption?
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing how engagement practitioners work. But across the sector, many professionals are asking the same questions.
SenateSHJ has partnered with The Engagement Institute, a leading professional body dedicated to advancing the practice of engagement, to discover how you and your organisation compare to others.
Where do I stand compared to others in the field?
The Engagement Meets AI 2026 Benchmarking Study creates the first credible snapshot of how AI is understood, adopted and applied within the engagement profession in Australia and New Zealand. It helps shape the sector’s future while giving you a clear view of where you stand within it.
The Study reveals a profession embracing AI, but one still in transition. While AI adoption is widespread, governance, confidence and capability are not keeping pace, leaving many organisations in a ‘messy middle’ between experimentation and mature practice. This Study presents the opportunities, challenges and priorities shaping the future of AI in engagement.
AI adoption is already widespread across Australia and New Zealand
80%
use AI sometimes and 44% use it often or always
AI could make engagement more inclusive
45%
say AI is more likely to improve inclusivity
What does it mean for you?
The Study allows you to:
- Benchmark your AI capability against other engagement practitioners
- Gain early insight into emerging trends across the sector
- Contribute to the first industry-wide AI benchmark
- Understand how engagement practice is evolving
What does the study explore?
The Study will provide insights into:
- Levels of understanding of AI
- Awareness of AI tools and platforms
- Barriers to uptake and capability gaps
- Likelihood of adoption and use
- Examples of AI in engagement practice
- Predictions for the future of the profession
Why does this matter?
AI is transforming industries globally. For engagement practitioners, understanding how the profession is responding is essential.
This Study provides the first credible, industry-wide evidence base on AI in engagement practice.
The findings will help practitioners understand:
- Where they sit relative to their peers
- How AI is being adopted across the sector
- What capabilities will matter most in the future
A snapshot of AI in engagement practice across Australia and New Zealand
78%
of respondents report reduced administrative workloads
45%
of respondents use AI to synthesise large consultation datasets
44%
of respondents have a formal AI policy or governance framework
66%
of respondents are concerned about how information is protected
How do I access the findings?
Dive deeper into the data, benchmarks and insights to understand how your organisation compares and where the biggest opportunities lie. Download the full Study via the form below.
