Facilitation

  • Design, facilitation, moderating, and convening of events, from large public programs (with or without media broadcast) to smaller, by-invitation programs, retreats or meetings.
  • Specializing in research-grounded, strategic engagement, trauma-informed dialogue, and collaboration on complex problems prepared by means of a thoughtful, transparent design process among diverse stakeholders in order to maximize opportunities for productive outcomes.

Some examples of facilitation work:

  • Facilitator, Workshop: “Co-creating Promising Practices for Indigenous Students to Thrive at VIU.” EleV Programme, Office of Aboriginal Education and Engagement with funding support from MasterCard Foundation, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo Campus, Snuneymuxw Traditional Territory. (November 6, 2019)
  • Co-facilitator (with Math’ieya Alatini, former Chief, Kluane First Nation), 2019 Summer Institute: Perspectives on Reconciliation, Yukon College, Vancouver Island University, Universities Canada, Colleges and Institutes Canada, J. W. McConnell Family Foundation. (August, 2019)
  • Facilitator, Planning Workshop, BC Collaborative for Social Infrastructure. SFU, BCIT, UNBC, VIU. Supported by the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation. (April – June, 2019)
  • Lead Facilitator & Project Director, Royal BC Museum Modernization Community Engagement. 7 Community Meetings in 5 cities, BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Citizen Engagement (March – August, 2019)
  • Lead Facilitator & Project Director, Four Guided Dialogues (Toronto, Inuvik, Edmonton, Wendake); Six Validation Workshops (Ottawa, Lac-Beauport, Vancouver), National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (October – December, 2018; February – March, 2019)
  • Lead Facilitator & Project Director, Community Meetings, BC Chinese Canadian Museum Engagement, Ministry of Trade, Province of BC (8 public meetings in 5 cities, January – June, 2019)
  • Emcee, Immigration Summit, Mayor’s Working Group on Immigration, City of Vancouver (June, 2018)
  • Collaborator & Facilitator, Professional Services Workshops for Instructors & Staff, Certificate in Dialogue & Civic Engagement, Leadership & Community Building, SFU Lifelong Learning (April, 2018)
  • Moderator, “Free Speech on Campus: Expression or Oppression? A National Conversation among Millennials. 3rd annual, national inter-university student dialogue. Sponsored by CRRF. 2018 Partners: Hart House, The University of Toronto; SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue (Vancouver); The University of King’s College and Edunova (Halifax). (Feb. 28, 2018)
  • Moderator, “After the Apology: A Dialogue on Japanese Canadian Internment.” Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (September, 2017)
  • Moderator, UBC Community-University Engagement Dialogues. Office of Community Engagement, UBC Vancouver. (Principally in June, 2017)
  • Moderator, “After the Apology: A Dialogue for Reconciliation.” Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (June 13, 2017)
  • Senior Consultant, Professional Development Staff Training Workshop. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (June 5-6, 2017)
  • Senior Consultant, Strategic Planning Workshop and Training. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (March 27-28, 2017)
  • Moderator, national, inter-university dialogue on diversity and racial equity. Canadian Race Relations Foundation, The University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.  (UBC Vancouver campus; March 21, 2017)
  • Moderator / Facilitator, “Pluralism, Community and Settlement,” World Speech Day, Ismaili Centre Burnaby, in partnership with SFU’s Centre for Dialogue and UBC’s Community Engagement Office. (Burnaby, BC, March 15, 2017)
  • Consultant & Lead, “Dialogue-based, UBC University/Community Engagement Project.” Office of Community Engagement, VP External Affairs Portfolio. (UBC Vancouver campus; January – May, 2017)
  • Consultant & Project Facilitator, “UBC’s Engagement and Commitment to Student Diversity Initiative: Phase 2, Student Consultation.” Coordination of UBC Board of Governors-mandated, peer-facilitated dialogues with key student stakeholders to identify key themes, concerns, and needs of  international and domestic undergraduate students. (UBC Vancouver campus; January – February, 2017)
  • Consultant / facilitator, “Diversity Circles” Project, British Columbia Institute of Technology. Project Director: Prof. Shannon Kelly. Co-directors: Zaa Joseph and Kyla Epstein. Consultants: Andrew Judge and Robert Daum. Supported by BCIT Faculty Staff Association and the Colleges and Communities Social Innovation Fund, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (2016 – 2017)
  • Co-Convenor: “Cultural ‘Symbioses’ International Research Symposium” (working title), Universidad de Sevilla, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, The University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University (University of Seville, Spain, May 2017)
  • Facilitation Team, Government of Canada Consultation Community of Practice. “Workshop: Innovation in Public Engagement.” Moderated by Shauna Sylvester. SFU Centre for Dialogue. (Ottawa, January 10, 2017)
  • Moderator, “Dialogue for a more inclusive Canada: 10 Questions for the Future,” Roundtable dialogues facilitated by 33 “CRRF Youth Ambassadors” for 300+ delegates at Canadian Race Relations Foundation Biennial National Conference (Toronto, 2016)
  • Moderator, “Congress to Campus” Inter-generational dialogue with two former Members of the U.S. Congress; SFU Centre for Dialogue; The Laurier Institution; and the Vancouver School Board’s Emergent Immigrant Youth Program. In cooperation with the Embassy of the United States and the U.S. Consulate (Vancouver, 2016)
  • Co-convenor (with Kory Wilson), Intercultural and Civic Engagement Strategy Group, Vancouver Immigration Partnership, City of Vancouver, Social Planning (2014-16)
  • UBC Lead, “Canada Lecture: Campus” national inter-university dialogue on “diversity and unity” convened by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Canada’s anti-racism Crown agency in a collaboration among UBC Vancouver, the University of Ottawa, the University of Moncton, and Mount St. Vincent’s University in Halifax, on the International Day for Eliminating Racial Discrimination (2016)
  • Advisor & Panel Moderator, “Living Together Richmond Symposium,” Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF-FCRR), City of Richmond, SFU Centre for Dialogue, Richmond Multicultural Community Services (2016)
  • Advisor & Summation, “Vancouver Urban Agenda,” CRRF-FCRR, City of Vancouver, SFU Centre for Dialogue, The Laurier Institution, Vancouver Community Foundation (2016)
  • Convenor, “National Reconciliation Gathering”: inaugural event in six-city national series, Reconciliation Canada (2016)
  • Co-moderator, Qmunity Community Consultation, SFU Centre for Dialogue (2015)
  • Lead Facilitator, “Cultural Communities & Sustainable Development,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Development; Ministry for International Cooperation, BC Council for International Cooperation (2015)
  • Moderator & Advisory Team, “Reconciling Injustices in a Pluralistic Canada,” SFU Centre for Dialogue (2014)
  • Project Lead / Lead Facilitator, UBC “Student Diversity Dialogue” (2013-16), Office of the Vice-President, Students, The University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus): developed four distinct pilot models for a combined total of 2,000+ students. (1) new international student dialogue facilitation workshops; (2) “UBC Transcultural Leaders”; (3) international inter-campus dialogue; (4) the CRRF’s first national, inter-university dialogue for cohorts at UBC Vancouver, U Ottawa, U Moncton, and Mount St. Vincent’s U in Halifax.
  • Facilitator, Session on “Facilitating Difficult Conversations,” Mastercard Scholars Convening, UBC
  • Facilitator, “Facilitating Difficult Conversations,” Jump Start International Student Leaders Orientation, UBC
  • Sikh & Punjabi Studies Review Committee, Faculty of Arts: designed strategy and facilitated new process (2014-15)
  • Co-convenor, Panellist, “Islamophobia & Interfaith,” Vancity Office for Community Engagement (2013)