End of Year Celebration - Botany View Hotel, Newtown: 9 December 6pm

 

End of Year Celebration Monday 9 December at 6pm | Botany View Hotel Newtown

9 December at 6pm at Botany View Hotel in Newtown  597 King St, Newtown

Come and gather for our end of year celebration at the Botany View Hotel in Newtown! Let's gather to reflect on the year and meet each other in person. 

Bring a plate of food to share!  (The pub kitchen is closed that night, but they are letting us do our own thing).

After a year of mostly zoom meetings, it will be nice to catch up in person. So if you are in or near Sydney come along (Apologies to our interstate and international participants).

Depending on what the venue allows, we might try and do some wildcard facilitations. 

So if you've got a short activity you'd like to showcase or test out, come and do it. If we cant make it work, we shall just eat and chat. 

The Suited Monk: How to be Successful Without Meditation November 11

 

The Suited Monk: How to be Successful Without Meditation  Monday 11 November at 5pm | UTS Startups @ Central with Raf Adams

11 November at 5pm at UTS Startups @ Central  3 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007   The Suit is your external self, your success, your achievements, your job title, and how you project yourself to the world. The Monk is your internal self, your purpose, your values, your intuition and how confident you feel within. Most people (leaders) ONLY focus on their Suit in their career and disconnect from their Monk. So they create a gap within themselves between what they focus on and what they really want in life. This gap causes anxiety, stress and a lack of fulfilment in life and work. During our presentation you will learn how the gap is created in your life and 3 practical strategies to bridge this gap so you can live with more fulfillment aligned with career success. About Raf Adams Hi, I’m Raf Adams from Belgium, author, founder of The Suited Monk Philosophy, and executive coach. I lived 12+ years in China and Hong Kong, I lived in Spain for 6 years, and now reside in Sydney, Australia.  My career began in corporate shipping and logistics. In 2008 in China, I shifted my focus to helping leaders discover their 'Why' and pursue purpose and fulfilment.  That’s when The Suited Monk books, models and methodology was born. Over the past 15 years, The Suited Monk has been integrated in companies such as Philips, Carrefour, Henkel, BP, BASF, Bayer, GAP, IHG, Barco, Mead Johnson, Disney, NTT Data and more. My books have been translated in Spanish, English and Chinese. You can read more at www.suitedmonk.com  I look forward to seeing you for an engaging session. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafadams/

Change for October 14 - Balancing Reciprosity and Connection

Balancing reciprocity with connection

SFN Zoom session |  Monday 14 October at 5.30pm (Sydney time)

Apologies on behalf of Johanna de Ruyter who couldn't present tonight due to unforeseen circumstances. Johanna's session will be rescheduled soon. 

Zoom Session
Click above or go to:

https://zoom.uts.edu.au/j/85880392707

A wise friend once told me that the opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety; it’s connection.

Connection is a fundamental driver of our spirit and experiences, shaping the choices we make and the environments we engage with.

While this source of connection is abundant and rejuvenating, some of us may find ourselves overextending or experiencing burnout in certain situations.

Reciprocity offers a balance where connection can thrive sustainably. In this session, we’ll explore the concepts of reciprocity, giving, and receiving, as well as what it truly means to be connected. We’ll also examine how, despite the countless forms of connection available today, we often struggle to harness their full potential for the betterment of our planet and humanity.

Bio

Vanessa (Ness) Song is a creator of ecosystems, community, and multi-modality creative expression. She works as a freelance creator; applying her gifts and talents to empower those who wish to positively impact our planet. Her experiences working in systems development, high level executive roles in Federal and State politics as well as National organising directives in the Union movement have lent themselves into the culmination of her work today.

She is a founding member of the youth organisation, YEmpower, a community geared towards the empowerment of young people. Currently undergoing development and transformation to encompass a broader understanding of community, connection, expression and creativity.

Vanessa is a passionate deep ecologist, with a fire and deep drive for advocacy and the protection of our Earth and it’s systems. This ethos deeply guides all the work she undertakes. A lifelong learner of life, she is currently studying Traditional Chinese Medicine, a practice that guides her deeper into her unfaltering love and respect for our Earth and it’s natural remedies and medicines.

You can find more of her work on instagram @create_with_ness

Vitalise your Ecosystems with Stories October 14

 

Vitalise your Ecosystems with Stories   SFN Zoom session |  Monday 14 October at 5.30pm (Sydney time) with the joyful Johanna de Ruyter

14 October at 5:30pm Sydney time (join earlier to test your AV equipment and chat with colleagues)   Zoom Session Click above or go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84780714052 You are invited to come together as part of the SFN network and metaphorically gather around a fireplace of stories. Using the power of storytelling and story listening, the intention of this session is to both strengthen our relationships and offer insight. It is through stories that we can speak in the languages of complexity and connection. These languages are the principal threads we often follow as facilitators. Come to learn more about each other and our work as facilitators and to lean into the richness of storytelling and story listening as a method for inquiry. About Johanna De Ruyter Johanna worked as an improviser, facilitator and trainer at Playback Theatre Sydney for over 30 years. Playback Theatre is a dynamic communication forum that uses improvisation and personal storytelling to generate large group dialogue and connection. In addition, she facilitates Leadership Presence training programs including Storytelling for Business Communication throughout the Asia Pacific region. More recently she has focused on systems change and completed training with The Bateson Institute as a Warm Data lab host. Applying systems approach to change she and a group of facilitators have initiated a cooperative called Wicked Elephants, exploring how we connect, communicate and collaborate more effectively within the dynamics of wicked problems.

Emotions as a catalyst for learning: Practical insights for facilitators September 9

 

Emotions as a catalyst for learning: Practical insights for facilitators   SFN Zoom session |  Monday 9 September at 5.30pm (Sydney time) with Dr. Sandris Zeivots

9 September at 5:30pm Sydney time (join earlier to test your AV equipment and chat with colleagues)   Zoom Session Click above or go to: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/83260596262 What if the key to deeper engagement in your workshops and trainings lies not just in what you do, but in how emotions are woven into every interaction? Emotional experiences, far from being just fleeting feelings, are powerful forces that shape learning environments. By understanding emotions as practices – through what we do, say and how we relate – we can transform the way we facilitate learning and change. This session introduces a practical approach to harnessing emotions as dynamic, relational and distributed phenomena, using the Theory of Practice Architectures. Ideal for facilitators looking to design impactful learning experiences, this session will offer actionable insights that can be applied to better understand your participants and enhance group dynamics. About Dr. Sandris Zeivots Dr. Sandris Zeivots is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School, who specialises in transformative educational development that is designed to be purposeful, engaging and meaningful. His professional background is in experiential education where he has designed and facilitated adult learning courses across various European countries. In the past decade, Sandris has leveraged his expertise to explore the role of co-design practice, learning spaces and emotional engagement in creating impactful learning events in higher education. Sandris is an editorial board member for Active Learning in Higher Education. He is also a Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA, UK) and a member of several professional bodies including Pedagogy, Education, Praxis International network, Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) and Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE).

Navigating Ethical Challenges in Facilitation August 12

 

Navigating Ethical Challenges in Facilitation   SFN Zoom session |  Monday August 12 at 5.30pm (Sydney time) with the delightful Dr. Dewa Wardak

12 August at 5:30pm Sydney time (join earlier to test your AV equipment and chat with colleagues)   Zoom Session Click above or go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84780714052 Ethics in facilitation is crucial for creating an environment of trust, respect, and inclusivity. By upholding ethical principles such as impartiality, transparency, and respect for all participants, facilitators should ensure that discussions are fair and balanced, fostering meaningful and productive dialogue. This session will invite you to collaboratively explore these ethical dilemmas, sharing experiences and insights to better navigate the complexities of facilitation. Through interactive activities and reflective discussions, we will collectively explore two main aspects, 1) group autonomy, and 2) the principles of respect, equity and trust. I look forward to your participation! About Dr. Dewa Wardak Dr Dewa Wardak is a Senior Lecturer in Business Education at the University of Sydney Business School. Dewa is a Sydney Horizon Educator and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). She has a background in Learning Sciences and Technologies and is interested in educational design for active and authentic learning. She was a member of the University of Sydney’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC 1) for nearly three years.

Conflict Cafe with Mel Geltch and Jane O'Brien SFN postponed until July 8

This session was rescheduled from June due to technical difficulties tonight. Apologies to all, see you on July 8, 2024

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84780714052

Conflict Cafe |  SFN Zoom session |  Monday July 17 at 5.30pm (Sydney time)

Join us for Conflict Café (La Chicanerie): a restaurant for fostering healthy relationships and collaboration

You will be able to choose from two set menus featuring practices and exercises to develop greater awareness of self and others in situations of conflict and collaboration.

Whether in professional, personal or community circles, we face complex challenges. Normalising conflict and bridging differences are essential to building a healthier, equitable and sustainable society.
 
How can we adapt our facilitation and wellbeing practices into spaces beyond workshops and make them more accessible to all?
 
Percolab created Conflict Cafe as an experiment during COVID in Montreal Canada, and have been iterating for several years. The Canadian team now host weekly public cafes at the Montreal studio, and are just finishing a season as a public program at the Museum of Civilisation in Quebec City.
 
We’re launching in-person cafes in Australia this year, so we are still sensing into what works in the Australian context.
 
Come and join us as we experiment with hosting this online!

What you’ll leave with

• Inspiration to bring your practices and processes out of workshops, and into the world as a way to bring more peace and wellbeing :)
• At least 3 potentially new practices you can use in your work, community or social life
• PDF resources of the above!
• Hopefully a full and warm belly of calm and confidence in being with conflict

  

Mel Geltch 

I’m a passionate and skilled collaborative process designer and host, immersed in creating the kind of workplaces, communities and systems we dream of.
I’m committed to the socio-ecological transition, working with courageous organisations and people who also believe that our shared future depends on us working together like never before, for all life.
You’ll find me in Narooma on the South Coast of NSW, the home of the Djirriganj language speaking peoples on Yuin country, and wherever meaningful participatory practice is invited.

Jane O’Brien

I’m a practitioner and co-creator of the future of healthy and meaningful work and community. I bring authenticity and intuition to my work designing and hosting regenerative and transformative spaces, and a deep commitment to practising this in my work and all of my relationships.
You’ll find me in my garden at Inverell, in New England North West of NSW, home to the Jukumbal speaking people on Gamilaraay country, whenever I have a chance.
 
Formerly Campfire Coop, we are 2 members of the Australian ‘island’ of the international Percolab archipelago - also in France, Canada and an emerging team in Vietnam. We’re a not-for-profit coop with horizontal shared leadership, the commons and the Art of Hosting as our foundations.

We’re still transitioning so our Campfire Coop website is still active

• Join our free online Listen For… community game for Asia-Pacific, the first Tuesday of each month. Next one is on 6 August. Sign up here

Connect on LinkedIn to get notifications


Mel Geltch 
mel@percolab.coop 0400 412 498
 
Jane O’Brien
jane@percolab.coop 0458 255 232

Check out the Percolab website for downloadable tools you can use to support collaboration - part of the Commons.

Join one of our capacity building events. Coming soon, an 8 week online Going Horizontal lab for courageous collaborators - in organisations or communities wanting to bring more horizontal ways.  

In Brisbane? Join us for the in-person launch of Conflict Cafe there - Thursday 27 June. Join us for an hour… Register here

  

The Facilitator client tango: an experiment. With Jacinta Cubis May 13

 Facilitator Client Tango |  SFN Zoom session |  Monday May 13 at 5.30pm (Sydney time)

Join HERE or go to 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82992546841

Have you ever:

 Felt frustrated after a conversation with a client?

 Sensed you’re ‘at odds’ with a client or a colleague or manager about a workshop’s purpose or plan?

 Had a difference of opinion during a workshop?

You’re not alone. A facilitator’s relationship with their clients (or colleagues, managers and sponsors) can be like dancing tango. Reading or misreading each other, the shifts between leading and following, connection and disconnection, and yes, even stepping on toes.

What you need

Relax – you don’t need any tango shoes or moves. You do need to bring a ‘not-so-great’ story to share - like the ones above - and the curiosity to see how your peers might replay and rework them. Your story can be from the past, one you’re living through or one that you might see coming.
 

What you’ll leave with

You will get to watch your stories unfold as your peers play ‘you’ and your ‘client’. Your fellow facilitators bring their own experience and fresh perspective to your story. You’ll get insights that may help you:

 Shift and progress the conversation you’re having with your client, right now

 Learn from how you might have done it differently in the past

 Imagine how you could do it differently in the future

Don’t forget to bring a ‘not-so-great’ story from working with your clients when designing, delivering and debriefing workshops.

The experiment bit

Jacinta avoids role plays at any cost, so it takes a bit of courage to lean into this one, but she figures that SFN is a compassionate space that welcomes trying new things.

Jacinta has co-facilitated this session twice with Ewen Le Bourge and is doing it solo, with his blessing. Each time, people have left wanting more so she knows it works and thinks it could be done even better. She’s playing with the activity to see how it works with a larger group, in less time. Come and join the experiment.

 

About Jacinta   Jacinta is a creative master facilitator who loves guiding groups to connect, make decisions, generate ideas and solve problems. Specialising in visual thinking, Jacinta creates captivating cartoons that simplify complex issues. With 28 years of experience, Jacinta is the go-to facilitator, trainer and mentor for clients in government, universities and community organisations, as well as consultants and facilitators. Jacinta believes that facilitation is an essential skill for life and work and loves building facilitation capability. She shares compelling content that shows the impact of facilitation and tips to help you be a (fl)awesome facilitator. Because if you’re (fl)awesome, you create real engagement. When Jacinta is not facilitating, or helping you learn how, you can find her on her yoga mat, in her art studio, on the tennis court or the tango dance floor.

April 8th FACILITATING WITH IMAGES: A digital exploration with Cathryn Lloyd and Leonie Cutts

 Facilitating with Images |  SFN Zoom session |  Monday April 8 at 5.30pm (Sydney time)

Download the cards before the session (see below)

Zoom Link HERE

Unlock the power of imagery in facilitation with Dr. Cathryn Lloyd from Maverick Minds and Leonie Cutts from CCS Corporation. Bring to life the voices and collective wisdom of the group. Discover how to foster meaningful connections, creativity, and learning using digital image cards. 

 

In this session, we'll delve into:

 

·      Connecting and engaging participants from the outset

·      Igniting creativity, roasting an idea, and transforming perspectives

·      Gaining fresh insights through collaborative image-based activities

 

Experience the innovative CCS Card Virtual Facilitation Environment (VFE) and Maverick Minds' unique Shift Your Thinking Digital Facilitation cards firsthand. Whether you're a trainer, educator, coach, or facilitator, this session is essential for enhancing your toolkit and creating generative spaces both online and in-person.

About Leonie and Cathryn

Leonie Cutts is a co-founding director of CCS Corporation, the developers of the Compatibility Communication System (CCS Cards). She is principal coach, facilitator and creator of products that bring people together for meaningful connection. The CCS is a communication tool that helps create open and honest communication, and has been used by thousands of trainers, coaches and learning experts around the world.

Leonie has designed and delivered customised programs for leadership, team-building, personal development, presentation skills, communication skills and integrating corporate values across a variety of industries.

As a coach (PCC) with a background in education and psychology and over 25 years of building and delivering programs for managers and leaders, Leonie is passionate about drawing out people's strengths to help them grow personally and to contribute to organisational intelligence.

Cathryn Lloyd is a facilitator, educator, creativity coach, author and creative practitioner. She is the Founder/Director of Maverick Minds, a creative human development consultancy that designs powerful and flexible learning experiences to people shift their thinking, gain new perspectives, and create positive change. 

Cathryn has extensive experience across creative industries, arts, business, management, and education. With a visual arts and design background Cathryn brings a unique multi-disciplinary learning approach to her work. She draws on a range of experiential, arts-based and action learning methodologies, theories, and processes to create purposeful and engaging learning environments that invite people to explore and innovate in areas such as leadership, wellbeing, culture, and team dynamics.

More information HERE

Getting Ready

To join in the session, please take a moment to install the FREE CCS VFE Cards App on either an Apple or Android mobile device.

The app won’t connect to our session yet, you will get a Session ID when we meet. I

In the meantime, if you would like to know more, try clicking on the app’s “Learn” button and look around, or visit the app’s how-to webpage https://ccs.cards/virtual/mobile-apps-help/