Zenergyglobal - News Archives

AFN Conference

At the AFN 2007 conference Dale Hunter and Stephen Thorpe led a 1-day pre-conference workshop on the Zenergy approach. Dale and Stephen also co-led a visioning exercise at the plenary session with Joan Firkins, Tom Schwarz, and illustrator Simon Kneebone. This session was an exploration of the conference theme Showcasing the deeper purpose of facilitation. Dale asked participants to respond to the question What is the deep knowing, longing or yearning for which facilitation is part of the answer for you? Click here for illustrations, photos and responses from conference participants.

At the conference Dale also led a 90 min workshop on facilitating social change using a four-quadrant framework that came from a Generative Change Community workshop led by Philip Thomas and Betty Pruitt that Dale attended in Manilla.

Stephen Thorpe, Terence and Theresa Ratnam Thong, Joan Firkins and Dale Hunter at the AFN 07 conference.

Generative Change Community

In July at Kuala Lumpur and in September in Manila, the Generative Change Community (Asia) met to share case studies and theory. The Generative Change Community is a global community of practice that explores, nurtures, and promotes generative dialogic change processes for an equitable and sustainable world. Dr. Dale Hunter has been invited to join the Asia group of GCC and attended their meetings.

Workshop participants at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Mirant Center for Bridging Societal Divides led by Philip Thomas and Bettye Pruitt, seated front from left, authors of Democratic Dialogue: A Handbook for Practitioners

International Association of Facilitators in Kuala Lumpur, in July 2007

The 10th IAF Asia Facilitator Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur 25-27 July. Two hundred people attended from 26 countries.

The IAF Board met after the conference. This was Dr. Dale Hunter's last meeting after six years of service on the board as Regional Representative for Australasia and Vice-Chair International. Stephen Thorpe has now joined the Board as Secretary.

Climate of Change Dialogue

Zenergy provided the facilitation for the Leadership in a Climate of Change Dialogue held at the Tauhara Retreat Centre on 23-26 August.

Two New Diploma Graduates

Congratulations to Horst Fischer and Deborah Crowe on completing their Diploma of Facilitation in August. Horst's Diploma project was entitled Strategic Questioning - Instrument of Organisational Transformation and Deborah's was The magic gloves of self facilitation.

Zenergy's Dr. Dale Hunter presenting the Diploma of Facilitation to Deborah Crowe and Horst Fischer

A book lunch for the fully revised Art of Facilitation was held at Blackmore's Bookshop, Nelson. This photo shows Helen Dockery, a participant in an early Zenergy programme in Greymouth presenting a taonga from the 1999 programme to Peter Lawless, South Island Zenergy leader.

The authors and special guest and co-leader of The Greens (New Zealand parliamentary party) cut the cake to launch the new fully revised Art of Facilitation at the Gala Cafe, Zone 23, Mount Eden North, Auckland City. The 80 guests enjoyed the venue, the wine and food and the free jazz from Nicholas Danger Rogan and The Like.

In the video below Speech Master and contributing author Stephen Thorpe introduces the speakers who were: Nicola Legat (Publishing Director of Random House New Zealand); contributing author Hamish Brown who read greetings from around the world, including from Ray Murray, Dublin and Xiaomu Guo, China; author Dr. Dale Hunter and special guest Jeanette Fitzsimons who commented that The Greens have been using facilitation and consensus decision making since 1990.

Judith Earl-Goulet, Stephanie Hopkins, Melanie Schauer, Adi James, Mike Elkington, Claire McKenzie,
Dr. Dale Hunter (Leader), Rachael Eyre and Peter Lawless (Leader)

Workshop participants developing the purpose: To be powerful ethical facilitators

Stephen Bragg, Lis Olsen (front), Dale Hunter (Leader), Deborah Crowe (front), Horst Fischer and Graham Oliver

Five senior Zenergy graduates attended the 23rd Master Class in Auckland on 12-15 April. There are two 4-day Master Classes towards the completion of the Zenergy Diploma of Facilitation. The participant-designed purpose for this Master Class was Being Facilitative.

Marilyn Hunt accredited as full programme leader

Marilyn Hunt, now a full programme leader, completed her first Zenergy programme in 1999, and became a trainee programme leader in 2000. Marilyn said: There have been 3 journeys involved for me: the 7 year time journey; the geographical journey that's taken me from Wellington to Greymouth, to Auckland, and most recently to Nelson; and the internal journey where I've grappled with what it takes to lead a programme, honouring the participants and being able to train someone else as a trainer.

Hamish Brown becomes a Psychodramatist

After presentation of his thesis From Coping to Creation: Developing Generative Capacity in People in 2005 and successful completion of a practical assessment, Hamish Brown was accredited as a Psychodramatist by assessors Max Clayton and Philip Carter on 11 August. Hamish is now a full member of the Australian and New Zealand Psychodrama Association. His training in this method has taken 10 years.

3rd Art of Facilitation programme in Nelson

The 3rd Art of Facilitation programme held in Nelson 16-20 October was led by Marilyn Hunt with Peter Lawless (a Zenergy Diploma graduate and Associate). The programme had eight enthusiastic participants. It is intended to run further courses in Nelson and possibly one in Christchurch next year. Please contact us for more details.

Online Facilitation training

The 12-week pilot online facilitation programme ended this week. The eleven participants from 10 different cities, included facilitators from China, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Participants facilitated for a week each, using a range of tools including: email, forum, blogging, Skype and video conferencing. More programmes next year. Some participant feedback is:

Sabine reflects on IAF Europe conference

Sabine Drückler from Zenergy attended the IAF Europe Conference in October. 226 facilitators attended from 22 different countries, 90 of them from the host country Sweden.

Sabina said: What a great event and very well organised, with a great location overlooking the beautiful Bay of Brunnsviken in Stockholm. Body and soul were cared for.

She was also impressed by the cross section of people attending and the wide range of areas that European facilitators are working in. She found it particularly encouraging to hear about projects with social ecology and sustainability at their heart.

Sabine Drückler (Centre) and other facilitators at the Building Group Magnetism workshop
at the IAF Europe Conference in Sweden

Revised Art of Facilitation Goes to Publisher

The manuscript in hard copy and CD were in the kite handed to Nicola Legat of Random House NZ the publishers of the book on Tuesday 19 September. The fully revised and updated book will be on the shelves early next year.

Nicola Legat receives the revised Art of Facilitation manuscript from Dr. Dale Hunter

The new 80,000 word book is fully revised, has 30,000 more words, includes ten new chapters - the development of facilitation over the last 12 years, a revised training programme, dialogue and storytelling, facilitation online, an overview of different methods used worldwide, and more details about the Zenergy framework and approach.

Chinese Facilitator Visits for Stage 2

Xiaomu Guo from Shanghai in China, visited Zenergy for two weeks in August to continue her Diploma of Facilitation and explore the possibility of leading Zenergy programmes in China. Xiaomu started her facilitation training in 2005 in China, when Dale Hunter went to Shanghai and Chengdu to lead The Art of Facilitation training programme there.

Xiaomu works for work for ORBIS International, primarily on a project called the China Training Network. The project intends to introduce participatory approaches to China, to improve the existing training quality, and to promote participation in the field of community development. For more on Xiaomu click here.

Flora Not Quite Leaving Zenergy

Flora Wolfgram, our financial expert, has a fantastic new full-time job as a corporate accountant. We are all excited for her and she has premised to find a "carbon copy" of herself for us. In the meantime she will find a way to squeese us in. Here we are celebrating her success.

Anna Neuman, Dale Hunter, Flora Wolfgram, Hamish Brown, and Stephen Thorpe celebration lunch.

8 New Diploma Graduates

Congratulations to Dave Macdonald on completing his Diploma of Facilitation and Coaching on the 3rd of August. Dave now holds a Bachelor of Engineering, an MBA and a Diploma of Facilitation and Coaching. He facilitates, coaches and mentors particularly in the transport and engineering sectors. Dave has his own company Opoet (one plus one equals three).

Dave Macdonald receiving his Diploma of Facilitation and Coaching
from Zenergy's Dale Hunter.

Congratulations to Sabina Drückler, Tiaki Leathers, Adrienne Grant and Stephen Thorpe on completing their Diploma of Facilitation. Congratulations also to John Dawson and Kelly Townsend on completing their Diploma of Facilitation and Coaching. A graduation ceremony was organised on the 21st of July at the Adana Mezze Cafe on Ponsonby Road in Auckland.

Stephen Thorpe, Sabina Drückler, Adrienne Grant, Kelly Townsend, Tiaki Leathers and John Dawson
at the graduation on on the 21st of July.

Congratulations also to Hilary Williams on completing her Diploma of Facilitation and Coaching. Hilary organised her graduation event in Wellington.

Nikki Wright, Sarah Ball, Pam Crisp, Jen Hall, Seph Pijfers and Wolfgang Hiepe
on a quantum journey during the second Stage 3 held in Wellington - May 2006.

Note: Kapiti Island off the coast North of Wellington which was what we saw out the window of the super large bach right on Raumati beach.

IAF North America Baltimore in June

Dr. Dale Hunter was in Baltimore for a few days attending IAF Board meetings and leading a one-day pre-conference workshop entitled "Person Centered Facilitation". "One day is not really long enough for people to get the depth of our approach, but some immediately clicked-in to what it was all about and for them it was fruitful". Dale said she is going back to the drawing board to find a more accessable way into facilitation coming from whole personhood (expanded consciousness) rather than personality. "Question: How can I get this across in one day without sounding esoteric?"

Remedious Riuz, Jim Campbell and Dale Hunter
at the IAF Board meetings in Baltimore, USA

Writing Retreat

Dr. Dale Hunter and Stephen Thorpe have been away on several writing retreats. Dale is revising and updating the popular Art of Facilitation book and Stephen is writing a chapter on Online Facilitation for the revised book, his PhD thesis and both are working on the Online Facilitation programme.

New Diploma of Facilitation and Coaching Graduate

Congratulations to Sarah Friis who completed her Diploma of Facilitation and Coaching at the April Master Class. Sarah is the 4th to complete the new Diploma. Her Diploma project was entitled Making Conscious Choices. Sarah is a facilitator and coach for The Zone.

Dr. Dale Hunter (Leader), Sarah Friis, Sarah's Husband Michael Friis
and Tiaki Leathers representing the other Master Class participants.

Master Class participants (from left): Tiaki Leathers, Bine Drückler, Dr. Dale Hunter (Leader),
Sarah Friis, Adrienne Grant, Horst Fischer and Stephen Thorpe.

Online Conference Session in Chicago

Stephen Thorpe from Auckland, presented a 90 min session via the internet at the Midwest Facilitators Network Conference in Chicago late January. Stephen used an internet tool called Skype to video conference with participants in Chicago. The session focused on his PhD research into the benefits of story in online groups. One of Stephen's co-researchers was at the session and another joined in from Chandler in Arizona, USA. They spoke about their experiences in the research group and helped answer some of the questions from the participants in Chicago. "It was humbling to see the interest in the project by other facilitators. They had a real curiosity in seeing how our experiences may help them with their endeavours with co-located teams and in their online meetings." Stephen said.

Stephen Thorpe presenting via the internet at and the
Midwest Facilitators Network Conference in Chicago on January 24.

Zenergy Theme for 2006

Zenergy holders reflected on the year at the December team meeting and developed the theme for 2006. The theme is Renewal. This refers to the changes that have taken place including changes of team members and anticipates the positive contribution that will come from new team members who will shortly be joining us. We also acknowledge the contribution of co-founder Anne Bailey, who left Zenergy mid 2005 after thirteen years involvement. Thank you Anne.

Australasian Facilitators Network (AFN) Conference 2005

A five-day Art of Facilitation training programme was held as a preconference to the Australasian Facilitators Network (AFN) Conference in Perth, Australia 20-24 November 2005.

The participants are: Bill Adlam, Hamish Brown (Leader) Jim Crockett, Dave Dean, Mary Del Casale,
Jacque Hagan, Jeannie Koh, Roberta Mead (Assisting), Kelley Sommerford,
Margaret Van Putten and Melissa Vernon (not in order).

One of the participants said "I was surprised about how much I received from this training, covering aspects of facilitation in a very hands on approach. I had Hamish Brown who facilitated and coached the group. I must say a very special experience watching people grow."

While Hamish was working hard, Stephen and Dale were travelling around South Western Australia.

Then at the Conference

At the conference Zenergy contributed three workshops. Critical Incidents (Dale Hunter and Roberta Mead), Using Psychodramatic Methods in the Resolution of Organisational Conflict (Hamish Brown) and Mapping the Field of Facilitation (Stephen Thorpe and Dale Hunter).
Critical Incidents Handout (24 kb pdf document)
Mapping the Field PowerPoint (8.3 mb PowerPoint - Note: large file size)
The 2006 AFN Conference will be held in Geelong, Australia on Wednesday 29 November - Friday 1 December. The theme for the 2006 conference is The Naked Facilitator.
Website: www.afngeelong06.org

For conference photos click here...

Zenergy has arrived in Nelson

Zenergy has arrived in Nelson with seven enthusiastic graduates from the first Art of Facilitation course held in November 2005. Led by Hamish Brown at the Fairfield historic house, the course was very successful for all the participants. The programme graduates have established a series of gatherings in 2006 to support each other (and other Nelson based Zenergy graduates) develop and maintain their facilitation practice. This gives a very solid base to the Zenergy community in Nelson. Hamish is returning to Nelson this March to lead a second Art of Facilitation programme.

The participants are: Richard Butler, Grant Reburn, Sarah O’Flaherty, Anne Nicholson, Kath Inwood, Ian Littleworth,
Sonya Leusink, Hamish Brown (Leader) and Peter Lawless (Assisting).

New Diploma of Facilitation and Coaching Graduate

Tuatahi, ngä mihi ki a Io, nana i whakatinana te ao nei. (Greetings first to the Creator) Ki ngä Rangatira a Zenergy, kei te mihi, kei te mihi (many greetings to the awesome Zenergy leaders)

My whänau have supported me throughout my Zenergy journey, especially my partner, Peter who has taken time to support me with a very little babe as I attended workshops, and then put my learning in to practice at home and out in the community. Thank you my darling.

Now that I have really graduated what have I accomplished? I know that I back myself as a confident coach and facilitator. I look for new challenges to help me grow and learn new ways of working with folk... I've picked up your (Dale's) curiosity about how I can see and explore more. I'm committed to the growth of the Zenergy Community and the development of Mäori facilitators.

And I'm off on another adventure with our 5th (and last?) babe due mid January 2006.

The first IAF Africa facilitators conference was held 25-26 October 2005 near Johannesburg. Dr. Dale Hunter presented two workshops and supported the conference in her role as IAF Vice Chair International. It was an experience to remember.

Chris Hogan and Dale Hunter in luxury tent -their conference accommodation.		Conference transport - Range Rover from game park to conference venue.
Conference workshop - Masks and Magic, led by Chris Hogan		Friend at game park - Glen Afric

IAF Europe

The IAF Europe conference 7-9 October, was preceded by a 2-day workshop led by Dr. Dale Hunter called "Person Centered Facilitation". Sixteen participants from various European countries attended. This group of experienced facilitators explored the Zenergy approach to facilitation and the ways of being underlying our method. Below, the participants are demonstrating the group culture (at right).

Jan Haverkamp of the ZHABA facilitators collective Europe. Jan's workshop on group decision making hand signs introduced tools helpful for any large group decision-making process.

The conference was held at a marvelous venue, the KSI - Catholic Social Institute, Bad Honnef, near Bonn, Germany.

Zenergy group facilitation leading the way in Asia

Dr. Dale Hunter, from Zenergy, has recently been training medical professionals in group facilitation skills in Chengdu, China. This assignment was for a USA-based NGO ORBIS who specialise in providing quality eye care for those unable otherwise to get treatment. "It is humbling for Zenergy to be recognised as a world leader in the field of group facilitation and to be invited to China as an international expert" said Dale. One of the participants Elina Zhuang (Executive Director, Non-profit Organisation Development Centre, Shanghai, China) said: "The facilitation workshop helped me to understand human beings better, the differences, the potential and the collective wisdom a group can produce. I love the way that Dale conducts the training and facilitated the workshop. You are my example to follow".

Art of Facilitation participants outside the thatched cottage in which the famous
Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu lived in for several years (759-763 AD).

For more photos from the Art of Facilitation programme in Chengdu, China click here.

Click here for an article on the Art of Facilitation programme in China as published in the New Zealand Herald on 17-May-05.

Zenergy News Archives