The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) is the world’s largest and premier coral reef adaptation program, focused on strengthening the climate resilience of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Alongside research and pilot deployments, RRAP engages Traditional Owners and stakeholders through surveys, community panels, and other mechanisms to co‑design pathways for scaled adaptation in the GBR. Our presentation discusses the engagement mechanism of the Stakeholder and Traditional Owner Engagement Advisory Group (Advisory Group), and their recommendations to RRAP over the years. Comprised of GBR community members from aquaculture, tourism, robotics, natural resource management, and civil society, policy, and Traditional Owner-led environmental stewardship, the Advisory Group has provided RRAP with input on the social, economic, cultural and ethical implications of-, and best practices and opportunities for greater community involvement in adaptation delivery. We overview some of the Group-identified barriers to community involvement in GBR intervention delivery and their call to strengthen institutional deployment capacities (and thereby rapidly scaled adaptation) through community expertise, labour, and infrastructure. The Group considers shared leadership, inclusive funding, and innovative responses to permitting and regulatory challenges as critical to inclusive adaptation delivery. We highlight some of their proposed strategies to strengthen these elements in the GBR.