Courage & Renewal with Kirsty McGeoch | 5:30PM | Monday 17 June

What would you do with more courage? What might it take to cultivate it? This experiential workshop is a taster of the Circle of Trust ® approach developed by writer, educator and activist, Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage &Renewal. Together we will co-create a space for honest dialogue and non-judgmental listening, practicing particular ways of relating that will help us be more present with ourselves and others. Prompted by evocative texts, there will be time for individual reflection and journaling as well as large and small-group dialogues in which our own stories can be shared. These processes offer the opportunity to gain clarity around the questions we are holding in relation to our lives and leadership. They also deepen the self- knowledge that begets trust (in ourselves and others), which in turn begets the courage to act on what matters most. About Kirsty McGeoch Kirsty has been an educator for over 20 years and currently wears a few hats. When not teaching at the University of Sydney, she facilitates digital storytelling projects in the education, community, social entrepreneurship and disability sectors. Recently, she also joined the team at 4C Transformative Learning, working with schools and organisations to embed creativity, collaboration, communication and critical reflection in their practices and processes. She also has a deep interest in reflective practice, which led her to the Circle of Trust ® approach. Now as an accredited Courage & Renewal facilitator, she offers weekend and day retreats open to people of all professional backgrounds, as well as programs for school leadership teams and organisations more broadly. What enlivens her about this work is offering people the safe and welcoming space to tune into their own wisdom for living and leading well.

Venue: University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Building 10 (cnr Jones & Thomas St), Level 5, Room 5.580 Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580 on your right. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5 Contact: www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com Eoin Higgins  eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com : 0407 411 684 July 08th Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) with Martin Samson August 12th Non-violent communication with Kate Raffin

The Authentic Facilitator with Michelle Howard | 5:30PM | 13 May 2019

Your strength, capacity and flexibility to work with a group grows from three important elements: your skills, your experience and your essence. These elements combine to give you your unique style and edge, your point of difference. It is only when you understand and develop each of these elements that you can be at your best with clients and groups. The Authentic Facilitator provides a framework to identify and craft the particular attributes that YOU bring to working with groups. Using storytelling and dialogue, we will reflect on our collective experience and build our capacity to work effectively in diverse and challenging situations. About Michelle Howard Michelle Howard (B.Ed, M Soc Sci, FPIA, CPF) is the co-convenor of the Victorian Facilitators Network and has been working with groups across government, private sector and not-for-profit organisations for over 30 years. She has run professional development for facilitators in Australia, India, Singapore and the US and is renowned for her practical and inclusive approach to working with diverse groups.

Venue: University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Building 10 (cnr Jones & Thomas St), Level 5, Room 5.580 Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580 on your right. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5 Contact: www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com Eoin Higgins  eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com : 0407 411 684 June 17th Courage and Renewal with Kirsty McGeogh July 08th Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) with Martin Samson The 2019 AFN Conference will be in Brisbane from 24-26 July 2019.  Join AFN at The Greek Club, South Brisbane for the unique event you won’t want to miss. Share Tweet Forward Share Join the SFN mailing list

"Hope in a Time of Global Despair" with Eoin Higgins | 5:30PM | 08 Apr 2019

"Hope in a Time of Global Despair"  - Kaethe Weingarten

What is hope? Where does it come from? Is hope something we have or something we do?  In a world beset by wicked problems in our cultural, political and environmental spheres, hope will be needed to be drawn from deeper and deeper wells in order to to summon the collective will to carry on. This VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex & ambiguous) world, where change comes at an ever-faster rate and pace, demands the capacity to remain hopeful if we are to thrive. The Reasonable Hope framework, developed by Kaethe Weingarten, is a relational practice-based approach to facilitate engagement with hope in groups. Originating in the field of family therapy, the model has broader applications in a range of organisational settings. In this session participants will unpack and discuss common notions of hope leading to a shared understanding of the phenomenon. This will provide a foundation for exploring the Reasonable Hope framework before considering ideas for practical applications.   This highly interactive and experiential workshop will be helpful for anyone working with groups who experience turbulence and uncertainty. Weingarten, K., (2007), Hope in a Time of Global Despair, In C. Flaskas, I. McCarthy J. Sheehan (Eds). Hope and Despair in Narrative and Family Therapy, pp 13 - 23, Routledge, NY. About Eoin Higgins Eoin is an organisational development consultant with Veldhoen+Company, helping organisations transform the way they work through activity-based working. Previously he has succeeded in a diverse range of leadership roles across pharmaceutical manufacturing and commercial operations, leveraging his abilities as a top-class facilitator, trainer & project manager. Eoin has delivered lasting positive change across such area as cultural engagement and plant closure. linkedin.com/eoinhiggins

Venue: University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Building 10 (cnr Jones & Thomas St), Level 5, Room 5.580 Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580 on your right. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5 Contact: www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com Eoin Higgins  eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com : 0407 411 684 May 13th The Authentic Facilitator with Michelle Howard June 17th Courage and Renewal with Kirsty McGeogh

Facilitating a 'Soulful Organisation' - Good for People & Organisations! | Monday March 11, 2019 | 5:30PM

There is a Zeitgeist; organisations around the world are embracing ideas like self management [no boss], wholeness and evolutionary purpose. Where is Australia in that journey? In this session, Stephen Hanman and Ian George will play, demonstrate and articulate how to facilitate “From Me to We” in organisational life; a sustainable alternative to the traditional, top-down hierarchical organisation. It is a mindset change to a Values Based Organisation that Aligns System and People. You will experience some of what transformed the design and construction team. This includes the ‘Fruit’ presentation that the client used to explain the change in the organisational system, and the ‘Red Blue collaboration simulation’. Come and join us for an interactive session. Stephen has been facilitating organisational development for more than 20 years and Ian was the CEO of the integrated property development company that underwent this cultural and organisational transformation. For more information about Stephen and Ian and to get a free download of the book please go to www.CollaborativeEnquiry.com or www.stephenhanman.com/ About Stephen Hanman & Ian George Stephen is a national thought leader in the collaborative conversation, first deepened in the Supply Chain Industry and then in Construction. His experience provides a proven new way to deliver projects where ‘Everyone Wins’. Stephen has supported the Dulux Group Supply Chain for over 20 years assisting Dulux to become a world class Supply Chain performer in the 90s which they have, like very few, maintained to this day. Recently Stephen led a project with Dulux Group and Linfox to create ten-year contract for a collaboratively designed and managed co-sourced relationship, a first in this space in Australia, which was announced to the Australian Stock Exchange in March 2015. Stephen took the role of strategic collaboration facilitator between the two organisations. Stephens experience in the Construction Industry, documented in his book “From ME to WE; Design and Build Collaborative Workplaces”, outlines his strategic collaborative capability in design and construction which supports the team to create end to end business processes that add value to stakeholders. Recently Stephen has joined the Two Hands team; a technology based supply chain start up who plan to distribute the primary products supply chain with direct delivery to top end restaurants via blockchain technology. Stephen also has experience at senior levels in managing organisations and is currently Chair of the Dyson Group of Companies, the largest family owned bus company in Victoria with revenues exceeding $150m. The organisation has grown dramatically over the past 6 years with Stephen in this role, culturally and strategically, with strong family values at its core.   Ian was a founding director of Melbourne integrated property company CGA Bryson where he was responsible for finance and construction. The CGA Bryson Group specialised in funds management and commercial development which at its peak had 5 divisions, 50+ staff and $250 million in projects in a spread of private equity, Joint Ventures and Funds Management. In his construction business, Ian forged a new collaborative approach to working with staff, contractors and consultants which was later identified as also occurring in Europe and America by Frederic Laloux in his bestselling book ‘Reinventing Organisations’, suggesting a ‘global zeitgeist’, a new mood to ‘human’ approaches in business. Until recently, Ian was a director of Bryson Funds Management Ltd which was relaunched as SupraCapital Ltd, a real estate debt and equity manager, providing Ian an opportunity to focus on his core interest as a director of Collaborative Enquiry Pty Ltd. A patron of the arts, Ian George has a particular interest in contemporary Australian and International art and has supported numerous artists and art exhibitions. He was responsible for bringing the exhibition 'Joseph Beuys & Rudolf Steiner Imagination, Inspiration, intuition' to the National Gallery of Victoria in 2007. Ian is interested in practical approaches to Beuys’ Social Sculpture and how these can create impulses in society to transform it, in freedom, in an open and humane way. Since 2009 Ian has been working with RMIT University on a project titled “Every Human Being is an Artist: The Art of Changing One's Mindset”; an exploration into Social Sculpture.

Venue: University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Building 10 (cnr Jones & Thomas St), Level 5, Room 5.580 Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580 on your right. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5 Contact: www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com Eoin Higgins  eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com : 0407 411 684 April 08th Hope in a Time of Global Despair with Eoin Higgins May 13th The Authentic Facilitator with Michelle Howard

Facilitating Creativiy with Phil Cross & Kerry Boys | Monday February 11, 2019 | 5:30PM

Creativity is a vital skill for every individual. In fact it may be the last skill we humans give up to AI and automation. It facilitates problem solving, creates new ideas, improves organisations and changes the world. It’s the difference between leading the way and simply following. As facilitators, our role is to help groups solve problems of one kind or another. As part of this process, we almost always seek the most diverse and unique set of ideas possible. Why? Because diversity, when skillfully facilitated, is an incubator for creativity   This fully interactive session focuses on providing the processes and techniques to enable facilitation of creative problem solving, pulling from schools of thought such as design thinking and human centric design.   We will take a specific challenge and work through solving it creatively it as a group.   Importantly, we bring effectiveness to the forefront. How can we ensure that when driving creativity we are also considering the needs of all stakeholders. About Phil Cross & Kerry Boys Phil is a digital consultant and strategist with over 12 years of experience helping businesses grow, implement change and navigate disruption across Europe and APAC. Combining a background in digital strategy, marketing, facilitation and coaching, and with a passion for human and organisational development, Phil has led consulting and transformation initiatives for some of the worlds most notable brands. Kerry is a passionate strategic problem-solver, utilising these skills to accelerate the growth of individuals and organisations from start-ups to global clients. Her experience spans business & marketing strategy, people development, organisational design and operational efficiency.  Kerry is happiest when bringing people together to solve problems they previously thought were impossible. Venue: University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Building 10 (cnr Jones & Thomas St), Level 5, Room 5.580 Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580 on your right. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5 Contact: www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com Eoin Higgins  eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com : 0407 411 684 March 11th Facilitating the 'Soulful' Organisation with Stephen Hanman April 08th Non-violent Communication with Kate Raffin

Its Wildcard Night! Monday December 10, 2018 | 5.30pm

Do you have a new idea to try out with a receptive audience?
Do you have a short process that you want to practice before you do it live with a client?
Have you been considering taking a guest facilitator spot but want to get some experience with the group first?
Do you have a short process that is energizing and fun?

All these and more are what wildcard is for. You can be guest facilitator on the night for between 5 and 20 minutes.
Typically there is time for around 6 short sessions.

 
Wildcards are for everyone no matter what the experience level. They are unpredictable, engaging and always fun.
Wildcards are a great way to experience a range of ideas and tools from a variety of different experiences.

Wildcard sessions are organized dynamically on the night. Just turn up with your idea.

Everyone else just turn up to learn from the experience and have fun.

Xmas Social

Please join us for networking, conversation and laughter afterwards at the nearby, very economical Pho Mumum Vietnamese Restaurant, No 16 Broadway, Chippendale (opposite the Big UTS Tower). Average meal cost only$10. 


Venue: [We will be at UTS]

University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.

Time:

From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5

Enquiries | Eoin Higgins  eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com ; 0407 411 684

Call for Guest Facilitators:

If you have an idea or know someone who has an idea for a session at a Facilitators Network meeting in please contact 
Eoin Higgins 0407 411 684 eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com

 

Facilitating DOORS to Deep Learning with Dr Eugene Fernandez | Monday November 12, 2018 | 5.30pm

As problems we deal with become more complex and critical, we need leaders who are able to transcend those limitations by evolving solutions, which are at least one step above the thinking that created those problems.

Drawing on frameworks and applied research within organisations my aim is to facilitate understandings and conversations about how we could open Doors to Deep learning within organizations that shift and address sticky problems.

I expect that we will journey through a process, sometimes didactic, and propositional and at others experiential and if the journey and time permit we will co-creatively explore what I have termed ‘4 Frames of learning’, which encourages Facilitators and Leaders to adopt a more holistic, context bound and qualitative frame to their interventions.

About Dr Eugene Fernandez

Eugene has over 25 years experience as a consultant, facilitator, coach and senior manager spanning various industries and sectors globally. He has held senior roles as a Company Director and Program Director for Australia’s leading Business Schools, MBS, AGSM, MGSM and AIM. In many of his projects he works as a partner embedded within the business to impact on and resolve more complex and sticky problems.

Over 10000 managers have participated in his interventions and programs. Eugene has consulted to prominent organizations such as: AMP, AbbVie, Americold, BHPBilliton, Bunnings, Mars, Pfizer, Roche, Rabo Bank, Reserve Bank, Sun Microsystems, Thomas Cook, Transgrid, Guild Group and many government and community organisations.

Recent Projects include:

• Worked with the MD to improve the Leadership, decision making and strategic capacity/capability building of the Executive team for an electrical utility for 2.5 years, culminating in a privatisation of 10.2 billion dollars over a 99 year lease to an international consortium.
• Designed and implemented leadership strategies and leadership development for over 40 organisations.
• Enabled, advised and facilitated over 200 Strategic Business improvement projects within a range of industries with direct KPI and business impact.
• Facilitated Executive/ Senior teams /Boards with visioning/futures strategic/operational planning and  relationship building.
• Facilitator, Centre for Creative Leadership for their senior programs in Australia for the last 10 years.

Venue: [We will be at UTS]

University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.

Time:

From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5

Enquiries | Eoin Higgins  eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com ; 0407 411 684

Call for Guest Facilitators:

If you have an idea or know someone who has an idea for a session at a Facilitators Network meeting in please contact 
Eoin Higgins 0407 411 684 eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com