Day 1 - Tuesday 23rd July 2024
8.15am - 9am Registrations Open
Come grab a coffee, connect with others, and join the flipchart conversation around the walls.
9.00am - 10.30am Plenary Session
Conference Welcome and Scene Setting
Nothing about this festival is ordinary, so make sure you’re settled on time so we can set the scene, create intentions and share how our time together will work.
Connection through Play - Rachael Dubois
For any workshop, meeting or event to fulfil its purpose, people need to feel connected and safe to engage. That’s why most sessions start with an icebreaker or check-in round—and Facilitation Matters will be no different.
In this plenary session, you will have a chance to connect with other facilitators, while exploring a range of activities you can use in your own sessions. Rachael was a crowd favourite last year, and we can't wait to see what she brings for 2024.
10.30am - 11.00am Morning Tea
11.00am – 12.30pm Breakout Sessions
Workshop Design – Kerri Price
You can have all the tools and activities in the world, but if there's no logical sequence, there's nothing to hang those activities on. Discover a simple framework for shaping up any workshop in a way that encourages engagement and ensures outcomes can be met. It's a simple step-by-step process for creating workshops that work.
Facilitating Through a Te Ao Maori Lens – Katerina Kupenga
Drawing on the traditional wānanga technique, Katerina will be facilitating a brave space to ask any burning questions you have in regards to te ao Māori in facilitation. She will draw on the wisdom, expertise, and experience of the group, including her own.
Busting Imposter Syndrome – Michelle Dalley
Do you sometimes get that pesky inner critic sabotaging your thoughts? Do you fall into the trap of not feeling good enough in some way? Learn what causes these reactions, powerful techniques to quickly down regulate and calm your system, how to bust unhelpful limiting thoughts and beliefs and focus on your inner coach.
12.30pm - 1.15pm Lunch
1.15pm - 2.10pm Plenary Session
Discover Your Facilitation Superpower - Kerri Price
While great facilitators have lots of things in common, there are just as many differences to consider. In this session, you will start to unpack your own facilitation style, and discover how you can leverage it to become a unique superpower.
2.10pm - 3.10pm Breakout Sessions
Below the Surface: Much More than Icebreakers - Carly Shorter
If you were at last year's festival you might have already experienced Below the Surface as an icebreaker or introduction activity, but is that all it's good for? In this session you will dive into the power of questions and how to use Below the Surface in other ways. This is an opportunity to explore Below the Surface - the game, and learn from others about how else it could be used in the learning and development space.
Kōrero about Pepehā - Katerina Kupenga
Drawing on the traditional wānanga technique, Katerina will be facilitating a brave space to kōrero about pepehā. If you would like to participate in this session, please bring along pūrākau (short stories) about the significant landmarks related to the rohe (region) where you are living (or) a rohe (region) you feel a deep connection to.
Connect to Collaborate - Jacinta Cubis
Jacinta will be sharing a new way to encourage connection between participants as they shoot photographs and share stories together. This innovative Walkshop takes facilitation to another level and forces you to think outside of the meeting room.
3.10pm - 3.30pm Afternoon Tea
3.30pm - 4.45pm Plenary Session
Keep on Swimming...I mean Singing! - Derek Toner
This year's festival is all about Pushing Boundaries and Derek is going to do just that. During Derek's session you will join a cast of fellow facilitators to write and produce a song in less than an hour. There will be singing, beats, harmonies and of course a little bit of dancing. Through it all you'll be able to explore a range of facilitation techniques that make it easy for people to step out of their comfort zone.
4.45pm - 5pm Final Reflections and Day 1 Wrap-Up
5.15pm - 7.00pm Networking and Nibbles Event (Held Onsite. Ticketed Separately)
This is a chance to continue conversations and have a bit of fun. This year's event gives you the option of jumping in or sitting back - but either way they will be lots of laughs.
Day 2 - Wednesday 24th July 2024
9.00am – 10.30am Plenary Session
Open Space Session
We know that some of the most valuable insights gained at events come from the connections and conversations we have with other participants. The intention of open space is to create time and space for participants to engage with one-another, pose questions and share knowledge and experience around issues that are important to them.
The overarching focus of this year's festival is Pushing Boundaries: How might we push the boundaries of our facilitation to create bigger impact and better outcomes?
If you have a pressing question that could benefit from the input of others or you have something you would like to share in the interest of strengthening our collective practice, we encourage you to bring it to the open space session.
10.30am - 11.00am Morning Tea
11.00am - 12.30pm Breakout Sessions
Working with Neurodiverse Participants - Natasya Jones
Natasya is on a mission to help people understand that we are all neurodiverse, which means you need to facilitate your workshops with neurodiversity in mind. She will be sharing her tools and strategies for making sure your workshop is designed and delivered in a way that works for everyone.
Using Storytelling and Humour in Your Workshops - Korrin Barrett
In 2012 Korrin faced her greatest challenge when she became a quad amputee. She now shares her story around the world and tells it with honesty, humour and heart. Discover how to weave storytelling and humour into your sessions, without freaking you or your participants out.
Linked In for Lurkers - Leeann Bassett
LinkedIn is hot right now and over the last few years, it has seen a huge change in the way people are using it. There are endless opportunities to grow your facilitation network, meet incredible people, learn, share your experience AND grow your business. In this session, Leeann will share what’s working on LinkedIn; how it's different to the other platforms; what makes a great profile for first impressions; and give you some simple ways to start sharing content confidently.
12.30pm - 1.15pm Lunch
1.15pm - 2.00pm Plenary Session
The Value of Facilitation - Rachael Dubois
Whether you're facilitating within your organisation or coming in as an independent facilitator, it's important to understand the value of facilitation and the impact that your facilitation can make. How might you remind yourself and others of the value you bring?
2.00pm - 3.00pm Breakout Sessions
Decision Making with Groups - Darryn Gray
We've all been in workshops where conversations go round and round, without finding any consensus, alignment or clear path forward. In this session you will explore a range of decision making tools that you can easily use in a group setting.
Feedback Resilience - Vanessa Davey
As a facilitator, receiving challenging feedback can spark a loss of confidence and imposter thinking, but it doesn't have to be that way. In this session, Vanessa will unpack the gift of challenging feedback and how you can shift your thinking so that you thrive, not hide, when it comes your way.
Is there a product in you? - Clare Swallow
If you're an independent facilitator who is designing your own IP, then chances are there is an opportunity to do even more. It might be a card deck, a game, a DIY resource - who knows? In this session, Clare will walk you through an express Design Thinking process, so you can start to imagine what's possible and how you might shape up the next steps.
3.00pm - 3.30pm Afternoon Tea
3.30pm – 4.20pm Plenary Session
Living Life Unlimited - Korrin Barrett
In 2012 Korrin faced her greatest challenge when she became a quad amputee. Through Korrin's story you will learn what motivates her and you'll discover tools for finding your own why. Be prepared to come away with renewed appreciation for life and the drive to move forward with a positive mindset.
4.20pm - 4.30pm Festival Wrap-Up and Close
WHAT OTHERS SAY:
Carolyn Smith
If you’re looking for a supportive and positive group to help you build your facilitation business – join up. Kerri is one of the most experienced, effective and talented facilitators I’ve met in my 20+ years of facilitating. To have her as your mentor over these 6 weeks is GOLD.
Vanessa Davey
Wonderfully run workshop. Fun and personal, which means I have remembered ALOT! Lots of tools for setting the context, understanding the why and setting up facilitation better.
Jamie Boyle
It was really personal and genuine. Facilitator was great at keeping me engaged and explaining content. Clear, structured workshop with good learnings.
Eva Upfold
Just go. It was bold, loud, thought provoking and full of so many inspiring people.
Miria Goodwin
“Such an important opportunity to be affirmed, learn, connect, grow and have so much fun. So masterfully developed, curated and executed. Designed to lift everyone up so powerfully and authentically.”
Carla Moore, Flourish Taranaki
You always bring practical tools and strategies to your workshops and I enjoy your style of relating to everyone in the room. I’ve already had lots of great feedback from the team this morning and they’re already thinking lots on how they apply the techniques in their different situations. The local government sector can learn a lot from you.
Peter Boyd, Team Leader Community Development, Taupo District Council
Awesome ideas on dealing with different situations and difficult people. Lots of ‘that so makes sense’ moments. Positive, helpful, meaningful.
Ma Isherwood, Community Engagement Partner, Taupo District Council
Thank you so much Kerri – you’ve created the most amazing community where I feel heard, respected, welcomed, empowered and uplifted.
Carley Nicholson
This is the best 2 days I have had in years. Amazing PD and an opportunity to make new connections in my tribe.
Jennifer Wright, Springboard Trust
Want to be kept in the loop about upcoming training and events?
Sign up to receive our newsletter below.