Everyone at the 2019 will form part of the conference. With opportunities to present through open space, we believe that everyone is a contributor. See below for who is attending and offering their creative energy to the conference.

Ross Allen Ross is a creative and collaborative facilitator and strategist, living and working on Wurundjeri-willam clan (Woiwurrung) Country in Melbourne. Ross combines empathy and intuition with diverse knowledge and networks to enhance the effectiveness of multi-organisational groups working to transforming urban places and systems. His background and interests are in urban water management and sustainable communities.
Jan Anderson-Muir I'm a leadership development facilitator and coach with managers in the Australian public service. I have a particular passion for supporting people to work productively with conflict and difference.
Rachel Apelt I am a graphic facilitator and graphic recorder based in Brisbane. My formation as a facilitator has three foundational pillars - visual arts, Gestalt and IAP2
Rika Asaoka Intercultural facilitation, Intercultural Readiness, Intercultural Business Solution, Harmony and Stillness
Diana Barnett
Meredith Baylis
Paul Bishop Paul Bishop is a husband, father, actor, facilitator, MC, social innovator, ecological entrepreneur, elected Redland City Councillor and agent for civic, commercial, community change toward the common interest.
Lee Birch My background is around developing people. This has included organisational/workforce development, L&D, career development, teaching. I look forward to connecting and being inspired by new ideas from attendance at this timely event. Gratitude.
Pam Blamey I have facilitated a few workshops on fairy tales, which are my passion, and more recently writing workshops, which I want to get into more.
Dee Brooks Dee is an Intentional Nomad who has travelled and worked in over 20 countries. Based on two decades of grassroots work, Dee’s background is in youth work, community-based research and community-university outreach and she is a firm believer in the power of tapping into the collective wisdom of a community to strengthen and build on what’s already there.
Hedy Bryant I am an organisational change and learning facilitator, facilitating learning in leadership for Masters students and university female staff. My passion is working with groups to facilitate change and new/emergent possibilities.
Sonya Bubnij I am an Improvement Advisor for South East Sydney Mental Health Services. My role involves training, facilitation and coaching to support staff and team development in improvement science, leadership and consumer centered projects.
Martin Butcher I attended the 1998 AFN conference and have been learning ever since. I still find creating spaces for people to discuss the things that are important to them both rewarding and challenging.
Vida Carlino I’m Vida a seeker of wisdom and lover of life. I am known for my focus and commitment to authentic being and conscious success. I’m a published author , speaker, facilitator, founder of Inspiration Source offering a variety of unique retreats, workshops, sacred circles and conscious coaching programs for evolving entrepreneurs, professionals and leaders.
Fiona Chandler I'm a natural resource manager of 20+ years experience with a love of the reef, ocean and all thing water and environment. My focus and growing interest lies in in how I (and my organistion) can genuinely engage with First Australians, community and stakeholders in what are often complex natural resource management issues, think Great Barrier Reef, Murray Darling Basin, water security, environmental protection ...
Jill Chivers Jill Chivers is a speaker, writer, coach, creator, designer, MC, professional facilitator and workshop leader. She works with individual and groups, designing and delivering work that inspires real and lasting change in how people think, feel and behave.
Robin Clayfield Robin has been facilitating for over three decades using creative, interactive processes and has developed the ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ Methodology which pieces together all the elements that create a dynamic, effective and cohesive group and satisfied, engaged people. Her practice is grounded in and grown up through Permaculture, Nonviolent Communication, Heart Politics, Sociocracy, Deep Ecology and her ‘Dynamic Groups’ work.
Gillian Cochrane I'm practising to be an invisible facilitator! I work primarily in prevention of avoidable blindness and in low resource settings and countries. I am reveling in my new found skills as a facilitator (thanks to Ed and the wider AFN community!) that enable diverse folk to realise their individual and collective potential ... especially that they can be independent of foreign aid to drive their own outcomes.
Ian Colley I facilitate change and learning projects. These mostly deal with ‘tricky’ issues – building common ground between diverse interests, solving problems, hosting difficult conversations, creating clarity about uncertain futures (isn’t it all uncertain). And I’ve been doing this full time since 1996.
Linda Conyard My mission is to eliminate all UNnecessary trauma from the world through education and training in Trauma Informed Care & Practice.
Renata Cumming I enjoy doing work that connects people and allows for transfer of knowledge. My background is in agriculture and event management and I enjoy applying my organisational skills to projects for clients to help take their events, systems and projects to the next level.
Bob Dick I'm avidly interested in consultancy and facilitation work that's stimulating, worthwhile, and helps to make the world a better place. I very much prefer highly participative assignments, with wide involvement of those people who have a stake in what's happening. I prefer to work in ways that help the people I work with to acquire my skills and processes by working with me.
Kay Edwards Working as an internal consultant, I support people in their growth and development. I love working with groups and people to build and strengthen relationships as the basis for delivering outcomes.
Erin Evans My focus is facilitating leaders to navigate complexity and think more systemically. I work in Australia and internationally facilitating groups, coaching and delivering consulting. Facilitation skills are central to my work on a number of Boards.
Piet Filet Engagement & collaboration role born out of post 2011 flood events for professionals wanting collaborative opportunities to better learn & plan. Now guide engagement platforms on water issues in Australia, Myanmar & Indonesia
Liz Franzmann Liz is an Associate Trainer and Facilitator with Groupwork Centre in Melbourne. Liz is deeply committed to ‘learning by doing’ and assisting groups to unlock their own wisdom through thoughtful and practical processes. She is inspired by strengths-based, collaborative approaches to change and believes there is much we can accomplish when we’re guided by hope, compassion and love. Liz has a particular passion for helping women and young people do good things for the planet and its people.
Laurel Freeland Earth Elder Portfolio: Social Ecologist, Elders Wisdom Programs, Zenergy Global Australia Facilitation Trainer and Coach
Mel Geltch I'm deeply committed to more conscious and peaceful ways of working, whether designing and hosting participatory conversations, or working with organisations to build capacity for self-organisation (including our own). My core practice is the Art of Hosting, I'm also a Flow Game host and practitioner. It's my first AFN conference, and curious to meet, connect with and learn from fellow practitioners.
Christine Hall I am the Founder of Big Day In adventures Inc., a socio-education venture designed for engaging communities.
Penelope Hamilton Penny works with participatory processes to engage people in creative ways to meet, think together, ignite leadership, make collective decisions, innovate and find solutions that move groups towards their vision. She works with leadership, community members, people with disability and teams to unlock their collective wisdom and step into their personal leadership.
Emma Hart Emma is a creative and future-focused change agent with over 18 year’s experience as a professional coach, facilitator and HR organisational development specialist. With a passion for creating ‘future ready’ education her mission is to help people to thrive in an uncertain and rapidly changing world. Emma partners with organisations and individuals to consciously adapt and optimise human performance.
Jarra Hicks I support communities across Australia who are setting up their own renewable energy projects. I have a background in social enterprise, cooperatives, community development, activism and energy.
Geof Hill Geof Hill is the Principal Consultant for The Investigative Practitioner. He supports professionals undertaking practice-led inquiry.
Dale Hunter Group facilitation is an important part of who I am. Many of my facilitator mates will be at the conference so it it a must.
John James As an enabler of change, I enjoy managing a training and development program for the Queensland Government, building the skills and capabilities of those working to enable greater practice change in the Great Barrier Reef catchments. Keen facilitator and passionate learner.
Louise Kelly Highly experienced Learning and development specialist and professional facilitator, coach, mentor, trainer, speaker and presenter. Primary specialities are in psychology of high performing teams and developing organisational capabilities.
Jamie Kruusmaa Relatively new to the facilitation space, Jaime currently works in the space of team and youth development, where she is passionate about connecting people and facilitating conversations around solutions to environmental issues.
Deborah Lange For the last 30 years I have worked and partnered with a diverse array of stakeholders as an enabler of change and custodian of transformation. I believe that facilitative leadership can be a beacon of possibility, for organisations and communities, as we listen and engage with all voices to create unique ways of working together. Deb Lange, Elder
Helen Lawless I am an experienced change manager and I work with groups to develop change resilience.
Cathryn Lloyd "Creativity lies at the heart of everything we do” I’m Cathryn Lloyd Founder/Director of Maverick Minds, a creative consultancy that designs meaningful learning experiences for leaders, managers, teams and professional individuals to realise their creative confidence. I have over 20 years experience across the creative industries and am Australia’s first certified creativity coach with the Creativity Coaching Association.
Matthew Magain Matthew Magain is the founder and CEO of Melbourne-based visual consultancy Sketch Group; Graphic Gear, the official supplier of Neuland markers for Australia and New Zealand, and VizConf, Australia's annual conference for visual thinkers and doers, Matthew’s work has been featured in several books, and he is a regular guest on podcasts about visual thinking.
Ramon Marmolejos I am a learning designer, facilitator and strategy consultant with a passion for developing people and organizations. My purpose is to help people, teams, and organisations build the capability to become fuller and more vibrant versions of themselves—so they can constantly transform, and have a positive impact in the world.
Marie Martin I try to live every day from a position of facilitating. I do not think of myself as an “Elder” but have been given this title since Alice Springs. I have so much to learn!
Simone Maus I am an independent facilitator, facilitation skills trainer and facilitation mentor. I have been working in partnership with Zenergy Global for 7 years who has been a leader in cooperative technology and offers a diploma in facilitation since 1993.
Ashley McCole Hello, I'm Ashley from Perth. Currently studying wellness coaching. I've just started a personal development meet up group about Greek philosophy. I have run workshops in the past on human connection.
Ed McKinley My first AFN conference was in Brisbane in 2001. Looking forward to this year’s facilitation fest with such a great bunch of kindred spirits. The craft of facilitation is in safe hands…
Richelle Menzies I am a clinical sexologist providing counselling and education. I have been a facilitator of change since 2007 in the LGBTIQ inclusion and more recently sexology space.
Graham Miller Graham Miller is a Brisbane-based management consultant and group facilitator working in the area of organisational resilience
Natalie Moxham The Director of Leanganook Yarn, Design - Evaluation, Facilitation and Participation. I am a participatory practitioner specialising in intercultural contexts.
Sarah Norton Sarah believes in the magic of groups and the power of well facilitated groupwork to change the world, she works with the Groupwork Centre to create a just and sustainable world.
Anthea Ogilvie I am deeply interested in the notion and meaning of community and the sense of belonging and fulfilment I have when the need for community is met. My current project is running workshops teaching people how to make Kombucha.
Shel O'Toole Shel O'Toole is a creative facilitator who loves working with individuals and groups to build their purpose and passion. She is a Playback Theatre practitioner which has honed her deep listening skills.
Andrew Rixon Andrew Rixon is a consultant coach and educator. Founder of The Story Conference and co-editor of The Story Cookbook: Practical recipes for change - he is interested in all things facilitation!
Chris Scott I run a boutique consultancy specialising in executive coaching, governance training, leadership and team development.
Mette Sorensen By 1994, Mette designed and founded live-in courses, and Mette’s Institute now offers a range of live-in programs including KaHuna Bodywork, leader and facilitation training, Spirit of Woman retreats, and cleansing programs at Tivoli Retreat. In 2016, Mette and Jorgen opened the KaHuna Hub massage clinic in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Rick Sommerford I am an industrial electrician who found facilitation and deployed the learnings to my work place at every opportunity. In my work I encourage others to be open to new ways of being that promotes co-operation in our workplaces to achieve outcomes that are greater than the sum of the individual inputs.
Juliet Talarico I am an emerging facilitator in social ecology and spiritual ecology and looking forward to engaging with people of diverse backgrounds.
Stephen Thorpe Stephen is the Head of External Relations and Development and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences at the Auckland University of Technology. He is also the editor of the Group Facilitation Journal and a Director of Zenergy. He has recently developed a new Master of IT Project Management that has Team Facilitation as part of it's core programme of study. He has recently co-authored paper with Dr Glyn Thomas on "Enhancing the Facilitation of Online Groups in Higher Education" that has been published in the prestigious Interactive Learning Environments, (2018). https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2018.1451897.
Kelly Townsend Facilitator, connector, writer, celebrant, mentor HR Consultant and co-creator at Freedom through Connection and Zenergy Global in Auckland, NZ.
Cindy Turner Evolving Women showcases the talents of amazing women via programs and podcasts to support the advancement of women.
Carol Vale I am a Dunghutti woman and Managing Director of Murawin, a consultancy with a focus on evaluation, facilitation and cross-cultural engagement.
Michelle Walker My mission is to get as many people reconnected to their natural creativity as possible. I love helping groups think creatively and to unleash their best work when they come together!
Victoria Walker Victoria has worked in the field of sustainability and community engagement for several years. She is following a new path to connect people to nature and environmental crises, address emotional responses and awaken the activist in everyone.
Erin Young Erin Young helps purpose-led people and enterprise access tools to turn inspiration into positive impact. As a consultant, trainer, facilitator, mediator and coach, are her primary frameworks are collaborative decision-making and governance tools (Sociocracy) and holistic design for people systems (Social Permaculture). Based on the Sunshine Coast (QLD), Erin is a Dynamic Groups facilitator (Robin Clayfield student/colleague) and is building skill as a graphic facilitator.