I have been consulting for over 17 years. It hasn’t felt like 17 years though! Here are a few of the things I have delivered or been involved with during that period. I have been very fortunate with the opportunities I have had so far. I can’t wait to see what happens over the next 17 years!
Delivered Course in Florence, Italy, on Appreciative Inquiry and Democracy, 2014
I have the privilege of delivering this course for a fabulous range of participants from across Italy, through AIP2 (the Italian chapter of IAP2). Apart from really enjoying the experience of working with the participants, the venue was amazing. Just check out the fresco!
Co-designed process for Aboriginal Summit in Northern Sydney, Mana Allawah, 2014
Working behind the scenes with a fabulous team, I co-designed this Summit in Northern Sydney. The day involved a combination of yarning circles, presentations, information booths/market place stalls, and time for breaking bread together and enjoying conversations. The you-tube clip is definitely worth a viewing!
Designed and Co-facilitated the Brisbane and Mackay Summits for the 30 year Queensland Plan
These summits, with about 700 and 400 participants respectively, involved state MPs, Mayors of Local Government, representatives from peak organisations, and citizens across every electorate in Queensland. The Mackay Summit, held in May 2013, was a rather unique event which saw 400 participants frame the questions for the process and explore how all Queenslanders could be given the opportunity to be involved. The Brisbane Summit saw 700 participants draw upon the analysis of input from 78,000 submissions to identify priorities and strategies to guide the future of Queensland.
Lots of useful information about this process is here if you’re interested!
Listen to the interview Max did for ABC Brisbane just prior to day one of the Summit!
Facilitated world cafe session at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Sydney Opera House, 2011.
A thrilling event where several hundred attendees heard from 4 brilliant speakers before deliberating over the question, ‘Is Politics Killing our Democracy?’ and then put forward a range of ideas about restoring trust in our democratic system.
Co-facilitated Australia’s First Citizens Parliament at Old Parliament House in 2009.
This was a fabulous experience for me, working alongside people I respect enormously like co-facilitator Prof Janette Hartz-Karp, Prof Lyn Carson, Prof John Dryzek and co-chairs Lowitja O’Donoghue and Fred Chaney. The event was sponsored by newDemocracy Foundation and a randomly selected citizens from each electorate across Australia worked together to make recommendations about how our democratic system can better service all Australian citizens.
You may find this video about the process inspiring!
Co-delivered Training Academies for the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada 2005, and Edinburgh, UK, 2008.
Some of the best experiences I have ever had; working with two other Master Trainers for IAP2; very brilliant people, Pat Van Gorp from Madison Wisconsin, and Barbara Lewis, Denver Colorado. The intensive 3-4 day events involved working with terrific candidates who became licensed trainers for IAP2. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and I believe that all candidates benefited from this intensive learning experience.
Community and consumer engagement to improve health outcomes, 2009-2015
I have been fortunate to work with many health organisations, mostly to build their capacity to engage their consumers and communities to change the way services are delivered, and to improve decisions in relation to complex and controversial matters. These projects have also involved using Appreciative Inquiry to generate and sustain change; enquiring into what we want to see more in communities. Apart from delivering courses and facilitating workshops I am increasingly being given the privilege of coaching key health professionals in their work with other organisations, consumers and communities. It’s all about tapping into the collective wisdom that is right before us, giving it room to breathe and undertaking innovative experiments to address the most complex issues.
Designed and facilitated various citizens’ juries, 1999-2015
Since 1999 I have been designing and facilitated deliberative processes such as citizens’ juries. The topics have varied from local government social plans, to masterplans for airports, contentious land use plans, to complex health policy issues.
‘Results through collaboration’