Bringing meetings to life. Doing work that matters. Connecting people and ideas.

Welcome to my world of facilitation and leadership, where I work with groups, and organisations to explore  creativity and innovation, change and leadership by disrupting patterns of thinking and acting.  I believe in exploring serious issues playfully, even when the going gets tough – which seems to happen a lot these days. I’m never satisfied with what I know or can do so am always looking for ideas, inspiration and insight from diverse sources. You’ll get an idea of my style of working by reading my blog, and I’m happy to talk.

I live in Australia, quite near Bells Beach – yes, THE famous surfing beach – pretty much a long way from anywhere (although not so far from Melbourne). I once wanted to be an astronomical photographer but settled for agricultural journalist, which caused quite  hoo-ha as women weren’t supposed to go to agricultural college. Rules weren’t going to stop me (I had the rules changed). Now there’s a clue about how I still approach life. I worked as a journalist, and publicist, wandered into community education, training and strategy development. One thing led to another and now I work with groups doing leadership and other development programs, play with process, deliver some interactive training and mentoring and generally love what I do. I’m fortunate to have worked, so far, in 30 countries and with some fabulous collaborators.

Improvisation is a constant source of inspiration, as is nature, play and the surprising things that people say and do. I’m also inspired by the arts generally, love to be near water (oceans, rivers, lakes) and diving on reefs, am in awe of the stars, love downhill skiing and long rambling conversations. I’ve actively embraced social media and have met some fabulous people on-line.

I offer facilitation, mentoring, training and ideas. I am excited and enthusiastic about what I do.

About Training

I believe it’s as important for participants to learn from each other, as well as from the trainer. I design training that is based around your experience and deliver it in a way that you will learn new skills that you can apply immediately.

Most of my training is delivered with highly talented and experienced colleagues. Together we provide a formidable training combo that simple works… for you, and for us.

All of my training is tailored for your particular needs.

Facilitation

There’s no short cut to learning sound facilitation skills. That’s why I have a dedicated facilitation training business. For more information on public and in-house training courses, visit www.facilitatingwithconfidence.com

Open Space Technology

This seemingly simple approach to facilitating meetings has many traps for new players. In this training we learn the ‘nuts and bolts’ of facilitating Open Space Technology as well as understanding how and why it works and the philosophy that underpins it.

Insanely Great Slideshow Presentations

There’s more than just developing a killer Powerpoint presentation – although we’ll show you how to do that too! How to involve your audience, keep them engaged and deliver your message effectively.

Leadership, team-building, innovation, dealing with complexity

Sometimes you’re just not sure what’s needed – you simply know that you want something that will really make a difference. Talk to me. If I can’t help you I’ll give you the name of someone else who probably can.

Contact Me

Beyond the Edge Pty Ltd
PO Box 665 Torquay Vic Australia 3228

Phone +614 1713 5406

Email info@vivmcwaters.com.au

And a bit more personal stuff

If I’m shopping you’ll find me hanging about the artist supplies (even though I’m not an artist), a stationery store, or a bookshop, or the Mac store, a travel agent – I think you get the picture.

Favourite Movies

Blade Runner, Johnnie Darko, Chocolat, Run Lola Run, Babette’s Feast, Metropolis (the original), Day the Earth Stood Still (also the original), Finding Nemo and Singin’ In the Rain.

Favourite Books

Bird by Bird, Artemis Fowl, Cloudstreet, Breathe, Eucalyptus

Places I still want to visit (or visit again) – in no particular order

Morocco, Luang Prabang – Laos, Tierra del Fuego, Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, Uganda, Zanzibar, Hawaii, Canadian Rockies, Yosemite, Nepal, Antarctica, China, Mongolia, Finland, Alaska, Iceland, Galapogos Islands, Cape York, Uluru and the West Macdonalds, the Kimberley coast  - Australia.

Things I want to do one day

Walk the Bibbulum Track in WA (1000 km from Perth to Albany), swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, travel on the Ghan railway, sailing in the Whitsundays, learn to surf, ski in Europe, live and work in another country.

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