Designing, facilitating & training people in collaborative processes for gathering people in meaningful ways.
Online, in person and hybrid.
Over 20 years, I have utilised facilitation and participatory design processes, working with arts organisations, artists, charities, social enterprises, large networks of national and international organisations and in community development. These practices and skills have catalysed community farms, youth climate activism, creative practices, successful projects, international networks, new beginnings, good endings and everything in between.
For 12 years I have been an Art of Hosting and Harvesting meaningful conversations practitioner. This body of work includes a living systems approach and utilises tools like: Open Space Technology, World Cafe, Appreciative Inquiry, Circle and other participatory tools. With friends and colleagues, we have designed trainings and events that have cultivated the conditions for unexpected conversations and outcomes.
In 2023 I primarily work in digital and hybrid spaces, and have experience and a passion for creating embodied, creative and inspiring online experiences. What I bring to any team is process design, systemic perspective and listening and an ability to get to the heart of any issues in a perceptive and curious manner.
I work with multiple tech platforms, with a preference for keeping things as simple as possible. As a facilitator my practice is to be neutral in client engagements, and I am a committed social, racial and environmental justice led and love orientated practitioner and learner.
Another key component of the work I can deliver is as a harvester of learning and wisdom through the role of Listener Poet.
This involves listening, disseminating or speaking to the deeper layer of what is being expressed and feeding back to the group. I listen to conversations, meetings, conferences or other types of gatherings and I translate this into a personal and systemic overview, through poetry.
Past Projects:
Technical / Hybrid / Process Design / Facilitation
Below are some descriptions of past work and recommendations written by clients. An simple overview of variety would include
Unconferences/Participatory Gatherings - Using tools like Open Space Technology, World Cafe, Appreciative Inquiry and other participatory design tools.
Technical hosting of gatherings utilising platforms including; Zoom, Howspace, Qiqochat, Discord and similar technologies - Designing, building and maintaining technical platforms, data and communication.
Using Design thinking to curate the gathering process - Who is attending? What is most important that everyone leaves with? How will they feel when they leave? What new skills/processes might we offer people that can be used in future gatherings?
Hybrid meetings design and hosting - How do we connect on site and online attendees effectively? How do we ensure good participation and welcome critical feedback? What are the simple technical processes and tools needed on site and online that support connection and working well together? How do we prepare participants before attending to ensure success?
Training for speakers and moderators - How do we move beyond the traditional speaker - audience format towards a more participatory and dynamic way of doing things? How do we deliver a consistently high quality facilitation process? What skills, e.g; speaking and listening processes, feedback tools, knowledge sharing, are needed to expand the quality of participation and engagement?