Nelson, New Zealand IAF/AFN Conference

At the end of November I attended a facilitation conference in Nelson, New Zealand hosted by the Australian Facilitators Network and the International Association of Facilitators. It was held, in part, on a Maori marae (meeting place) where we were welcomed and sent off in traditional Maori fashion. It was a fantastic insight into the Maori community. One aspect which was very apparent is the collaborative way in which they conduct their affairs and this made it a very appropriate place to hold a conference of facilitators whose profession is all about oiling the wheels of collaboration within and between groups.

Apart from being a fantastic networking opportunity with facilitators from all over the world it was a chance to see how facilitation is being used by consultants and by large organisations in the public, private and non-profit sectors.