Facilita Consulting

17/08/2026

𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐀𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐟𝐞́ 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐀𝐅 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠

In the podcast, hosted by Soumya, I share a glimpse into my upcoming workshop at IAF Oceania 2026.

The session explores how the IAF Core Competencies can be understood and applied through real facilitation practice — including situations where things don't always go according to plan, groups respond unexpectedly, or a facilitator needs to consider different approaches.

The workshop is designed for both emerging and experienced facilitators, creating an opportunity to reflect on practice, learn from others and explore how competencies show up through four facilitation practice lenses:
🔹 Designing the Process
🔹 Holding the Group
🔹 Enabling Participation
🔹 Supporting Group Outcomes

We all know that sometimes things simply don't go according to plan in a workshop. Recognising what is happening and being able to consider different approaches or backup plans is an important part of facilitation capability.

🎧 Listen to my podcast here: https://lnkd.in/gKaeqA3W
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With 40+ workshops across three days and sessions running in parallel, choosing which workshop to attend can be a difficult decision.

That’s the purpose of the Road to Geelong Podcast — to give delegates a little more insight into the amazing facilitators behind the sessions, their ideas and what they’ll be bringing to the conference. It’s a small way of giving our presenters a chance to share more about their work and helping participants get to know the people behind the sessions before they arrive in Geelong.

Listen. Explore. Choose. Attend.

For more information on the podcast interview series or the conference see the link below 👇
Interview Series - https://lnkd.in/gjUWpvXe
More Details - https://www.facilitationinaction.com.au/conference-1

16/08/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 — 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Great outcomes don’t always come with weeks of preparation. Sometimes, the ability to collaborate, adapt and bring complementary expertise together at short notice is what makes the difference.

I recently had the opportunity to collaborate with Ian Jones from eurekaMINDSPACE on a strategic leadership session for a service provider in the Australian resources, energy and infrastructure sectors.

The brief was broad, covering leadership, risk management, decision-making and governance. The session was designed and delivered to enable the leadership team to:

✅ Build trust and psychological safety to support open, constructive dialogue
✅ Explore constructive conflict, transparency and accountability
✅ Identify key opportunities, risks and potential responses
✅ Strengthen alignment around collaborative ways of working
✅ Clarify leadership and governance principles
✅ Establish clearer decision-making protocols and accountability expectations

What I particularly valued was the power of collaboration. Despite the breadth of the brief and the short lead time, Ian and I quickly brought our different perspectives, experience, and facilitation approaches together to create a focused, cohesive session that responded to the client’s needs.

It’s a great reminder that we don’t always need to have all the answers ourselves — the right collaboration can create something stronger than either person could deliver alone.

Thanks, Ian, for the partnership, flexibility and shared commitment in delivering value for the client.

27/07/2026

Looking forward to another great collaboration with Jennifer Than-Htay & Christine Kuca-Thompson at Teamlinq.

We're partnering with TeamLINQ to deliver a Team Effectiveness Workshop using psychometric tools.

Psychometric profiling provides teams with a practical, evidence-based way to better understand individual strengths, communication preferences, motivations and the different ways people respond under pressure. These insights create a shared language that strengthens collaboration, leadership and team performance—particularly during times of change.

At Facilita Consulting, we're fortunate to work with experienced partners to deliver a range of leading psychometric tools, including:

✔️ PRINT®
✔️ Click! Colours®
✔️ HBDI® (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument)
✔️ DISC Advanced®

Each tool offers a different lens on individual and team effectiveness, allowing us to tailor our approach to the client's objectives, whether that's leadership development, strategic planning, team building, communication, change management or organisational development.

Looking forward to another engaging session with TeamLINQ and supporting this team on their journey towards stronger collaboration and better outcomes.

13/07/2026

Exciting news for Facilita Consulting. 🎉

We’re proud to announce that Facilita Consulting has been appointed to the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) Preferred Supplier Panel for Professional Consultancy Services.

As a Western Australian-owned consultancy operating nationally, our team of more than 20 consultants and facilitators brings over 350 years of combined experience helping organisations engage stakeholders, build capability, and make confident decisions.
Through the WALGA panel, local governments can now access a streamlined procurement pathway to our services across:

✔ Community and stakeholder engagement
✔ Strategic and business planning
✔ Organisational development and change management
✔ Leadership and team development
✔ Facilitation and workshop design
✔ Project management and business improvement
✔ Process mapping and business analysis
✔ Risk management, WHS assessments and safety audits
✔ Geospatial data mapping and reporting
✔ Psychometric profiling and team development using PRINT®, DISC®, HBDI®, and Click! Colours

What sets us apart is our combination of internationally certified facilitation expertise, deep industry experience, and a practical, outcomes-focused approach. We help organisations navigate complexity, align stakeholders, strengthen relationships, and deliver sustainable results.

We look forward to partnering with local governments across Western Australia to support stronger communities, better decision-making, and lasting impact.

07/07/2026

Thanks to the International Association of Facilitators - IAF for providing me the opportunity to share my story as an internal and external facilitator, the importance of certifying as an Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) and tips for emerging facilitators to develop their facilitator skills.

Did you know that skilled facilitation can influence projects worth millions—even billions—of dollars? 🎙️

Facilitation is often misunderstood as simply managing discussions or guiding meetings. In reality, it can be a critical strategic function that helps organizations navigate complexity, align stakeholders, and achieve high-value outcomes.

In Episode 15 of CPF’s Voice, host Sharon Li speaks with Susanna Durston about:
• How facilitation contributes to major organizational and project success.
• Her journey to becoming a Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF).
• How the IAF Core Competencies continue to shape her approach.
• The evolving differences between internal and external facilitation roles.

Whether you're an experienced facilitator or exploring professional certification, this conversation offers valuable insights into the impact facilitators can have behind the scenes.

🎧 Listen here:https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/episode/6a4749089d2f57436841ddfa?s=eyJ1IjoiNjgzODI5ZWJkMWQzNTA3MjY5M2Q4ODUxIn0%3D

🇦🇺 You'll also have an opportunity to connect with Susanna at the upcoming IAF Oceania Conference in Geelong this October.

IAFOceania CoreCompetencies

05/07/2026

I'm delighted to share that I recently had the opportunity to be a guest on the CPF Voices Podcast.

A huge thank you to Michelle and Sharon for the invitation and for creating such a thoughtful conversation about facilitation and the profession we all care so deeply about. It was a privilege to be included.

In this episode, we explore my journey from working on major projects in the energy and resources sector to becoming an internationally Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF), and why I believe facilitation is so much more than what happens in the workshop room.

We also discuss:
🔹 How facilitation became an unexpected career path
🔹 Lessons from facilitating complex, high-stakes projects
🔹 My CPF certification journey and the impact of the IAF Core Competencies
🔹 The transition from internal to external facilitation
🔹 Why I'm passionate about supporting the facilitation profession through my role on the IAF Oceania Board
🔹 What I hope facilitators—whether new or experienced—take away from their own professional journey

Facilitation has the power to shape conversations, strengthen relationships, support better decisions, and create meaningful change. It's a profession I'm incredibly proud to be part of.

If you're a facilitator, consultant, leader, project professional, or simply curious about the impact facilitation can have beyond the workshop, I'd love for you to have a listen.

Podcast available in the comments section below.

International Association of Facilitators - IAF

Thank you again, Michelle and Sharon, for the opportunity to share my story.

24/06/2026

Exciting news for Facilita Consulting.

We’re proud to announce that Facilita Consulting has been appointed to the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) Preferred Supplier Panel for Professional Consultancy Services.

As a Western Australian-owned consultancy operating nationally, our team of more than 20 consultants and facilitators brings over 350 years of combined experience helping organisations engage stakeholders, build capability, and make confident decisions.

Through the WALGA panel, local governments can now access a streamlined procurement pathway to our services across:

✔ Community and stakeholder engagement
✔ Strategic and business planning
✔ Organisational development and change management
✔ Leadership and team development
✔ Facilitation and workshop design
✔ Project management and business improvement
✔ Process mapping and business analysis
✔ Risk management, WHS assessments and safety audits
✔ Geospatial data mapping and reporting
✔ Psychometric profiling and team development using PRINT®, DISC®, HBDI®, and Click! Colours

What sets us apart is our combination of internationally certified facilitation expertise, deep industry experience, and a practical, outcomes-focused approach. We help organisations navigate complexity, align stakeholders, strengthen relationships, and deliver sustainable results.

We look forward to partnering with local governments across Western Australia to support stronger communities, better decision-making, and lasting impact.

17/06/2026

🔥 Facilitation Conference Scholarship Opportunities

We know that getting from Perth to the east coast can be a massive financial and logistical hurdle—especially if you are doing incredible work in the community, grassroots, or not-for-profit spaces.

To support the practice in WA, AFN WA is offering two $1000* Scholarship to attend the IAF Oceania Conference in Geelong (14–16 October 2026).

If you are delivering some amazing social and community benefits from your facilitation and/or are a new and emerging facilitator, we want to hear from you!

🫴The Offer

🎫1 x Ticket to the IAF conference (Value $875)

💵1 x Cash $165 to assist with other travel expenses.

Total: $1000

⚙️The Process

* Application open NOW
* Application Close 30 July 2026
* Successful applicants information early August

📝The Criteria

- The majority of your facilitation application will be for community or social benefit
- You are a new/emerging facilitator
- You have not been to an AFN or IAF conference before
- You are a resident of Western Australia
- You are available and able to fund the rest of your travel cost

*Note: The conference ticket is not transferable for cash and must be used for the IAF conference 14–16 October 2026.

Apply using the QR code or link here: https://ahaconsulting.fillout.com/afn

The WA Facilitation Committee are looking forward to seeing your applications.

15/06/2026

Check out my podcast that supports my session, "Exploring IAF Core Competencies Through World Café", at the IAF Oceania Conference in October.

Using a creative adaptation of the World Café method, participants will explore four key facilitation practice lenses:

🔹 Designing the Process
🔹 Holding the Group
🔹 Enabling Participation
🔹 Supporting Group Outcomes

If you'd like to hear more about the session, I recently discussed it on the conference podcast:

🎙️ Conference Podcast Episode here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/00cTw3s7fEZj1AELA8ZOV8?si=NZqqHbNKRD6_AGkn1piZMw&fbclid=IwY2xjawScYltleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFaN2hHbEY0Wjk1S09aS2lDc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHopTJ9BLu1IvtlN30Lt6lNhjJ48j3HPgcS3-kScFQ-1x684llrvuzK2-OSXv_aem_qzVPCg9EcVBc_ZkUk_p4Rg&nd=1&dlsi=33e87ee88dd64044

The IAF Oceania Podcast · Episode

15/06/2026

I'm excited to be presenting at the IAF Oceania Conference 2026 in Geelong from 14–16 October 2026.

My session, "Exploring IAF Core Competencies Through World Café", is designed for facilitators who want to move beyond competence and strengthen their facilitation capability through practical application and reflection.

Using a creative adaptation of the World Café method, participants will explore four key facilitation practice lenses:

🔹 Designing the Process
🔹 Holding the Group
🔹 Enabling Participation
🔹 Supporting Group Outcomes

Through facilitated dialogue, shared reflection, and collaborative learning, we'll co-create a Facilitator Capability Map that connects the IAF Core Competencies to real-world examples, common risks, and practical actions for strengthening facilitation practice.

If you'd like to hear more about the session, I recently discussed it on the conference podcast:

🎙️ Conference Podcast Episode

https://open.spotify.com/episode/00cTw3s7fEZj1AELA8ZOV8?si=NZqqHbNKRD6_AGkn1piZMw

👉 IAF Oceania Conference 2026 Registration:

https://dems.eventsair.com/iaf-oceania/registration/Site/Register

I look forward to connecting with facilitators from across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, and exploring how we can continue to elevate our practice together.