Licensed IAP2A Trainers

After graduating from the University of Waikato as a planner, Julie worked within consultancy for approximately 12 years primarily across the transport, telecommunications and education sectors. During this time she moved into Project Management of infrastructure projects, where she could clearly see the impact of good engagement on project decision making and outcomes.

Julie moved to North Queensland to expand her project management experience and became involved in Social Impact Assessment, undertaking engagement on projects from a state-wide level, through to working with small regional communities.

Having worked on projects from large urban areas to remote regional communities with people from a range of backgrounds and cultures, Julie has a strong understanding of the challenges of engaging with diverse communities.

Qualifications:

• Post Graduate Diploma Resource and Environmental Planning, U Waikaito (1995), Masters Social Science (Geography), U Waikato (1994)
• B Soc Sc (Geography), U Waikato (1991)
• Project Management Professional, 2005

Julie delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Design and Plan Engagement 
• Apply Engagement Methods

Helen has been delivering IAP2 Australasia training since 2014 and is a current director on the Australasian board. She has over 10 years’ experience across local government, state government and the private sector. She is currently based at University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Public Policy and Governance which incorporates the Centre for Local Government. Helen works as an Associate with the Institute and is a PhD candidate looking at how community engagement is being practiced and is professionalising in local government.

Helen specialises in:

• Design, planning and facilitation of engagement processes
• Organisational capacity building and training
• Social and community planning
• Research

Projects she has led include:

• Deliberative community panels for local governments
• Design and facilitation of multi-method engagement processes
• Design and facilitation of a number of internal and external workshops and reference groups
• Co-creation of engagement strategies, frameworks and policies

At the core of all of Helen’s work is a passion for democracy and a belief in the power of participation. She enjoys meeting new people and seeing what she can learn from them. Her training and facilitation style is energetic as well as clear and focused with a couple of jokes thrown in because she can’t help herself.

Helen doesn’t have any spare time to enjoy any hobbies at the moment but once her PhD is finished she plans to do some travel, catch some live music, eat at all the fabulous restaurants in Melbourne with her friends and read books for pleasure!

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts (Humanities), Queensland University of Technology
• Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Queensland University of Technology
• Masters of Development Practice (Social Planning), University of Queensland
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, RMIT
• IAP2 International Certificate of Public Participation
• IAP2 Australasia Certificate of Community Engagement

Helen delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Facing Conflict
• Evaluate Engagement

Martin has been an IAP2 Australasia licensed trainer since 2016. He has two young kids and is a keen surfer and mountaineer.

Through his consulting practice, Martin provides a unique combination of skills as an engagement professional, social planner and project manager with an engineering background. He has a diverse range of experiences and qualifications. Martin has worked in the community engagement field for the last 13 years. He previously worked for local governments and a large global consulting firm.

Martin brings a multicultural perspective to his work and has two Australian qualifications: a Master of Environment specialising in Development Studies and a Master in Project Management specialising in Social Planning. He has a strong reputation for designing and delivering community engagement, conflict resolution using a method called Deep Democracy, coaching, training, and facilitating group processes.

He works for a diverse range of clients including the private and NGO sectors, and different levels of government around the country. Some projects delivered by Martin include:

• Comprehensive engagement process including a citizen’s jury to develop a key strategic plan, Ross House Association.
• Community engagement strategy, policy, guidelines and organizational change framework for government organisations in Victoria (some clients include City of Melbourne and City of Casey).
• Training and advice on program design and monitoring and evaluation to NGOs in the Federal Tackling Indigenous Smoking program
• Stakeholder engagement for a Marine Education Centre
• Stakeholder engagement for strategic service reviews
• Facilitating a key workshop with a range of senior government advisors on environmental justice, EPA Victoria.
• First participatory budget in Victoria- City of Darebin
• Improving the community engagement capacity of member states in the Asia-Pacific region, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Martin delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Facilitate Engagement
• Evaluate Engagement

Rachael brings an award-winning career in journalism, communications and corporate affairs to her practice of community engagement and training.

Her speciality is merging expertise, ideas and methodologies to create innovative approaches to employee and stakeholder engagement. Rachael regularly combines the disciplines of communication, community engagement and change management to create powerful, multi-faceted programs for clients.

As the Managing Director of PLUM Communication, Rachael’s passion is boosting the capability of teams by embedding experts to support them, or providing mentoring and training to enhance performance. There is nothing more rewarding than creating skilled environments where teams feel confident to flourish.

Rachael has built and coached engagement teams that have delivered exceptional success,  including Victoria’s Smart Meters, the West Gate Bridge Strengthening Project, Goulburn Murray Water’s FutureFlow, and the  game-changing water saving campaign, Our Water Our Future.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts, Journalism (UQ)
• Currently completing Masters In Applied Positive Psychology, Melbourne University
• Diploma of leadership, coaching and mentoring, (FIREUP)
• Cert III Training, RMIT

Rachel delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Facing Conflict
• Facilitate Engagement

With a background in Human Services at an operational and policy level, Michelle then moved into the local government sector working in community and cultural development, facility development and strategic planning/policy roles for local councils in North Queensland and SE Queensland.

Michelle launched her consultancy in 2005 and specialises in community engagement design, community engagement training and facilitation for a diverse group of sectors including local and state governments.

Michelle has been a licensed trainer since 2007 with IAP2 and in 2014 was one of the curriculum leaders for IAP2Australasia’s Certificate in Engagement and has expanded her portfolio to deliver most of the current IAP2 courses.  She is active with IAP2 in a number of other areas including the Trainer Recruitment Assessment Panel and the Marketing Advisory Group.

Qualifications:

• BAHons JCU 1983

Michelle Delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Facilitate Engagement
• Facing Conflict
• Influencing Engagement
• Evaluate Engagement
• Strategies for Complex Engagement
• Strategies for Dealing with Opposition and Outrage in Public Participation

After graduating from the University of Melbourne Rob worked in education administration before beginning his engagement career as Communications and Engagement Manager at the University of Technology Sydney in 2004. In 2012 he became the Business Development Manager for IAP2 Australasia.In 2015 he moved back to the University sector as a postgraduate tutor and guest lecture before joining Articulous Consulting as a project manager specialising what he calls ‘dirty work’ – remediation, waste, and contaminated land projects – as well as facilitating community session for councils and State Government Departments.

In the last two years he has project managed the development of an online evaluation tool for Engagement Professionals (Engagement Hub).

Apart from his role as business development manager for IAP2A, he has been a member since 2015.

Qualifications:

• B Planning & Design UMelb
• Adv Dip Planning & Sustainability Albury Wodonga TAFE

Rob delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Facilitate Engagement
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods

Keith trained as a Science in Society Facilitator (Bed Technology, MSc Communications – University of London) and spent 12 years with the Science Museum in London connecting scientists and the public to have dynamic conversations around significant dilemmas in our society. This work created opportunities to spend time in various countries, such as Azerbaijan and Syria. Seeing first hand some real-life challenges that people addressed in their day-to-day life, prompted Keith to foster a more relaxed approach to having conversations around  topics.Keith co-founded MosaicLab in 2013 and has worked on high-level engagement projects such as the City of Melbourne Ten Year Financial Plan – People’s Panel; VicHealth’s Citizen Jury on obesity; Extensive COAG projects in response to the Hazelwood Mine Inquiries; Top 6 Environmental Programs for EPA Victoria; Strategic planning and conference work for Regional Development Australia; The Future of Childcare Services at City of Bayside; The Mornington Peninsula Shire ‘Let’s Talk Waste’ forums and numerous local area planning strategies across Canberra and Victoria.

Keith is currently an ambassador and licensed trainer for IAP2 Australasia. He spends between 10 to 15% of his time traveling around Australia and New Zealand training a broad range of organisations in IAP2 engagement practices.

Qualifications:

• BEd Hons (Design and Technology), University of Greenwich (1994)
• PGDIp, Science Communication, University of London (1997)

Keith delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Facing Conflict

Kate started her career as a researcher at Macquarie University, Sydney exploring public participation in decision making in the field of sustainable development. She went on to work as a community engagement adviser and facilitator at the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and then a community engagement adviser for the City of Melbourne. She worked as a Principal and Training Lead at MosaicLab and now as a freelance consultant.

Over her career Kate has had a passion for deliberative engagement and has now been involved in over 13 citizens’ panel processes, of which she has either designed, project managed and/or facilitated.

She was part of the City of Melbourne team that won the International and Australasian IAP2 Organisation of the Year Award for Public Engagement (2014), as well as the Victorian John Jago Good Governance Awards for the project  – 10 Year Financial Plan: People’s Panel.

In 2015, Kate was a judge of the Australasian IAP2A Core Values Award and a Board Director of IAP2 Australasia 2017-2019​

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and Geographical Sciences (UQ),
• Masters of Sustainable Development (Macquarie University),
• Graduate Certificate in Dialogue, Deliberation & Public Engagement (University of Sydney)
• Lego Serious Play Facilitator

Kate delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods

Grace has been delivering IAP2 Australasia training since 2016, and delivering engagement training for over 20 years. She served on the IAP2 Australasia Board from 2001- 2003.

She has experience with Appreciative Inquiry, design thinking, adaptive leadership, World Café, Technology of Participation (ToP), and asset/strength based community development approaches.

She also has experience in inclusive engagement including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with disability.

Grace specialises in the following areas:

• Planning including organisational strategic planning and community planning
• Organisational development and change management
• Collaboration and partnerships
• Evaluation and review
• Community/consumer participation

She has worked on designing and facilitating:

• Community engagement for organisational and community strategic planning for various organisations
• A Citizens’ Jury for local government
• Cross sector Thought Leadership Forums to develop strategies for collaborative and innovative local solutions for state government

Grace enjoys creating an environment and that mirrors the environment necessary of effective collaboration – respectful dialogue and deliberation, and facilitating learning through discussion, application of concepts to real work projects and situations, and sharing of experience and good practice.

When Grace isn’t working she likes enjoys the arts – theatre, music, art, literature.

Accreditations:

• Masters in Management (Community), University of Technology Sydney
• Graduate Certificate in Experiential Learning (Adult Education), University of Technology Sydney
• Bachelor of Social Studies, University of Sydney
• Certificate in Engagement, International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Australasia
• Certificate in Professional Facilitation, International Association of Facilitators (IAF) – Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF)
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE), Plenty Training
• Certificate in Public Participation, IAP2
• Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT)
• Certificate in Business Management, Australian Institute of Management (AIM).

Grace has also undertaken recent professional development in Adaptive Leadership (leadership and change) at the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, USA, design thinking and innovation, Appreciative Inquiry, action Learning, brokering partnerships, Art of Hosting, facilitating Social Labs, Collective Impact, and Organisational Resilience.

Grace delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Evaluate Engagement
• Facilitate Engagement

Joel has been delivering IAP2 Australasia training since 2010. He enjoys meeting people and talking engagement. Joel loves learning from training participants and exploring all things engagement.

He has worked on notable projects such as the National Oral Health Plan, Engagement for the 2030 Agenda (United Nations), State Humanitarians Entrant Strategic Plan and the Nuclear juries South Australia. Born and living in Perth Western Australia, married, two teenage kids, dog and under-utilised guitar.

He loves writing and exploring more philosophical elements of life. Board member of local women’s refuge and he was the founding coordinator for IAP2 in Western Australia, and IAP2 Board member and is currently an IAP2 Ambassador.

Joel specialises in:

• Design and facilitating engagement processes (in organisation or externally)
• Helping organisations to evaluate engagement and develop their engagement frameworks and systems
• Training others in engagement
• Surveys and social research

Accreditations:

• IAP2 Australasia Certificate of Community Engagement
• IAP2 International Certificate of Public participation
• Diploma Workplace Training and Assessment
• Certificate IV Training and Assessment
• Graduate – Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Master Practitioner – Neuro Linguistic Programming
• Post Grad Studies- Advanced Counselling Skills
• Diploma Applied Science

Joel delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Facing Conflict
• Evaluate Engagement
• Manage Conflict and High Emotion
• Strategies for Dealing with Opposition and Outrage in Public Participation (formerly Emotion and Outrage in Public Participation)

Nicola Mendleson has over 25 years’ experience in engagement, communications and facilitation, specialising in government, resources, infrastructure development and environment. She established her engagement consultancy in 1997 and has led projects at all levels of the IAP2 Spectrum.

Nicola is particularly proud of the work she has done on challenging and sensitive projects, often bringing diverse stakeholders together to achieve effective collaboration, and assisting clients to plan for change.

Some examples of recent projects include:

• auditing employee engagement globally across BHP Billiton and making recommendations to improve engagement (2016, 2018, 2020)
• online and face-to-face consultations about water allocation across Victoria for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
• deliberative engagement to inform Colac Otway Shire’s council plans
• deliberative engagement to inform the Essential Services Commission Vulnerability Strategy
• comprehensive engagement process for the redevelopment of Kew Recreation Centre for City of Boorondara
• a range of engagement and facilitation projects around infrastructure development and flooding for Melbourne Water
• independent chair positions for State Government advisory groups.

Nicola is a Core Values Awards judge and has convened a community of practice for senior engagement practitioners in Melbourne for over four years.

Qualifications:

• IAP2A Certificate in Engagement
• Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
• Masters of Business
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Nicola delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods

Chris has been delivering IAP2 Australasia training since May 2016. He is a member of IAP2 Australasia and an enthusiastic supporter.

When asked what he loves most about training, he said “He Tangata – The people! I’m super curious about how people and groups think and act. I love the challenge of connecting engagement training with participants diverse realities. It’s a privilege to share good and emerging practice with engagement practitioner colleagues around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. I’m particularly interested in cross-cultural and intergenerational engagement.”

He has worked with local and central government, third sector (non-governmental organisations), Iwi, Pacific Peoples, Schools, faith-based and philanthropic organisations. When he’s not working he is hanging out with middle aged men playing semi social sport and pretending they’re in their 20’s! They call it the Fat Boys Club and its based on the Pooh Bear philosophy where they do their exercise so that we can eat more honey…

Accreditation:

• NZ Institute of Directors: Member
• IAP2 Australasia: Member
• Advanced Diploma in Executive Management – New Zealand Institute of Management (NZIM) Canterbury.
• Diploma in Executive Management – NZIM Canterbury
• Diploma in Policing – Victoria University
• Certificate ‘Making Good Decisions Programme’ – University of Auckland with Ministry for the Environment / Local Government New Zealand
• Certificate in Law Related Education – University of Waikato

Chris delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Facing Conflict
• Evaluate Engagement
• Facilitate Engagement
• Influencing for Engagement

IAP2 trainer since 2006
Managing Director, Articulous

Amanda is an energetic and passionate trainer who brings IAP2 training to life through sharing her  20 years’ experience in engagement. Over the years, she been the co-developer of 6 IAP2 Australasian courses. She specialises in complex, controversial or high-profile projects including major infrastructure, master planning and regional planning, organisational transformation, economic development, ICT, community services and health. In practice she has developed industry-leading online engagement projects through to deliberative democracy projects and data analysis.

In the areas of Councils, infrastructure and planning, she has won multiple awards including the 2019 International Project of the Year Award from IAP2, 2019 Australasian IAP2 Project of the Year, and the 2019 IAP2 Community Development Project of the year.

She led Australia’s largest community engagement project – Plan Your Brisbane which received more than 114,000 contributions. And has run on-the-ground projects in Qld, NSW, Victoria, ACT, Christchurch and South Australia.

She is a former journalist and a current ABC radio panellist.

Amanda delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Influencing for Engagement
• Facing Conflict
• Evaluate Engagement
• Strategies for Complex Engagement

Anne is the founder and co-director of pattillo. She leads a team of specialised consultants on projects for some of the most dynamic organisations in New Zealand and Australia.With over 25 year’s facilitation, engagement and consulting experience, ranging from health to infrastructure and for public and private sectors, she is recognised as an international leader in engagement and participation.

Anne is also recognised for her work as a leader for the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2), including taking a central role in the design of the current IAP2 contemporary engagement frameworks and training.

Anne has been an IAP2 Trainer internationally and in Australasia since 2005 and a previous board member.

Anne delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Facing Conflict

With more than a 15 years’ experience developing innovative engagement strategies for complex projects, Alice is a highly sought-after facilitator, strategist and a licensed IAP2 Trainer.​ A qualified urban planner and environmental scientist, Alice has worked in strategic planning, community engagement and consulting roles in Australia and the USA. She has worked on planning, transportation and infrastructure projects, spending and budgeting prioritisation, strategies to reduce houselessness and behaviour change initiatives.

Whether she is among a few participants or hundreds of stakeholders, Alice navigates tension with ease, expertly facilitating complex issues and highly nuanced stakeholder negotiations. Internationally recognised for her commitment to equity and inclusion, Alice is passionate about bringing diverse audiences together, striving for equitable engagement outcomes.

Alice delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Design and Plan Engagement
• Facing Conflict
• Evaluate Engagement
• Influencing for Engagement

Nathan holds extensive experience working in a complex urban development and on infrastructure projects, both in government and consultancy.

With over twenty years’ experience leading stakeholder engagement, strategic communications and related disciplines, mitigating reputational risk and driving opportunities, Nathan has in depth experience as a leader in both communications and community engagement. Having worked with globally recognised brands and in both the private and public sector, he has been responsible for successful strategies and execution of stakeholder relations and communications with groups ranging from all levels of government to community based and special interest groups.

His experience includes complex community engagement and communications projects within the private sector, local, state and Commonwealth governments. As a result, he has developed a real passion for and strong knowledge of urban development, planning, communications and community engagement.

Communicating complexity in a way that resonates with stakeholders and makes a difference is a passion. He has over twenty years of experience in working with technical experts to ‘decode’ information for everyday citizens to engage with. This ranges from explaining challenging technology, to demystifying water and energy planning and construction, to discussing challenging urban renewal and infill development concepts with political representatives and neighbouring residents.

Nathan delivers:

• Essentials of Engagement
• Apply Engagement Methods
• Design and Plan Engagement