Thirty years since I first got involved with sustainability, our home is literally on fire. Climate change is accelerating, natural systems are collapsing and society seems to be unravelling.
Yet there’s a weird paradox:
A big part of our work as changemakers used to be raising awareness among politicians, business leaders, civic society and the general population.
But today, despite powerful, well resourced networks pushing their own twisted agendas, the great majority of people across the world now believe the climate and nature emergency is real and urgent.
Less why, more how
That means, for us as changemakers, the focus is now less raising awareness of why change is necessary, and more about how we work with this suppressed support to create meaningful change – fast.
Deliver and adapt
Another new challenge is how do you enable your team, organisation and stakeholders to not only deliver projects and programmes right now, but also ensure these activities and future developments are effective and resilient in a time of extraordinary uncertainty – from global climate change and geopolitical conflict, to shifting national and local political and funding landscapes?
Succeed despite the system
“We can’t wait for government” is something I’ve been hearing a lot recently from people in start ups and community groups, in NGOs, in corporates, in academia and even in the public sector itself.
This is where my energy is today. Helping changemakers succeed despite the system, and by doing so, not only inspiring others but also starting to shift the system itself.
Efficient, effective and engaging
I focus on helping you and your colleagues to communicate and collaborate more efficiently and effectively – and in ways that are more engaging.
By the way, “engaging” is another way of saying “intrinsically motivating”. In plain English: enjoyable, fun and even joyful. This "serious fun" is crucial, not just because it actually supports efficiency and effectiveness, but also because in times like these we need fun and joy so bad!
Address your challenges and build your capacity
Whether you ask me to facilitate a strategy session for you, you join a facilitation workshop, or you simply listen to my podcast, the skills and insights you gain will help you address immediate challenges right now, and build your capacity to work with others for positive change in a time of crisis and uncertainty.
Get years of experience and fresh insights
I have over 30 years experience in sustainability including NGO leadership, consulting, training, education and facilitation. I've supported changemakers and organisations across sectors and scale, including public agencies, development trusts, community groups, universities, research projects and multi-stakeholder networks.
Over this time I’ve increasingly come to believe that while specialist knowledge can be crucial, the real potential for personal, professional and organisational development – and ultimately social and environmental change – lies in helping people communicate, engage and collaborate better, by drawing on and leveraging their existing skills, expertise and connections.
Unexpectedly, what started as purely a hobby, improvisational theatre, has turned out to have significant parallels to my approach as a facilitator – from active listening and building trust, to accepting the current situation while also stepping into uncertainty. I continue to bring insights from improv into my facilitation practice as a professional member of the Applied Improvisation Network.
Contact me
If you're interested in exploring how I might be able help you, please get in touch…