Theorising a governance framework such as the Triangle of Trust is an important step, but the consultation deficit in a world of low trust and high tension is truly a wicked problem, requiring a multi-sectoral engagement-based solution (Roper & Hurst, 2019). To put the Triangle of Trust into practice, we also present a methodological contribution: the Catalyst process, as applied by the Development Partner Institute (DPI) globally. Originally introduced by the Kellogg Innovation Network (KIN) based on principles of adaptive leadership (Heifetz, Grashow, & Linsky, 2009) and British Design Council double diamond methodology (Design Council, 2003), the Catalyst process uses divergent thinking to define the problem and convergent thinking to identify solutions, combined with adaptive leadership principles designed for complex, multi-stakeholder environments and intractable challenges. Key design features of a Catalyst include: ● Neutral convening platform with no policy agenda and no positional advocacy from the convener ● All levels of stakeholders invited, with clearly defined roles for each stakeholder group before dialogue begins ● Equal representation across groups as a structural requirement, enforced by design ● Radical transparency as a condition of participation, providing freedom and protection for participants to express views openly ● Prevention of any single group dominating the conversation or entering with a prescriptive solution ● Government-established "sandbox" guardrails that honour jurisdictional specificity while adhering to co-created principles ● Divergent-then-convergent structure: multiple questions before problem definition, multiple options before solution selection ● Time-bounded but iterative: sprint intensity creates momentum; the three-stage model prevents premature closure These features are not incidental to the methodology; they are purposefully designed responses to the structural reasons consultation fails. Where consultation allows dominant voices to set the agenda, the Catalyst equalises representation. Where consultation begins after a plan exists, the Catalyst begins before one does. Where consultation is a one-time event, the Catalyst is iterative. The Catalyst process is more than just design theory: it has been implemented and refined on a global scale with successful outcomes. The Catalyst is designed as the foundational stage of the Triangle of Trust, establishing shared purpose and creating the conditions for co-ownership. It does not, by itself, produce equity agreements or governance structures; it produces the trust and alignment without which those structures cannot be negotiated. The cases that follow illustrate this entry-stage function. Evidence of what that foundation enables can be seen in the equity partnership models and governance mechanisms documented by Bryant and Eagle (2025b, 2025c) – built on the kind of trust-building the Catalyst is designed to achieve. 44
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