No collaboration happens without conversations
I design and facilitate conversations that help people think, decide and act together. Because conversations are where trust grows, ideas emerge and change begins. What could become possible when we create more space for conversations that matter?
I help create the conditions for meaningful collaboration
Whether people come together once or work together over time, what matters is the same: creating space to listen, think and contribute. My interventions are tailored to your situation: from a facilitated dialogue or gathering to longer-term organisational development, for group sizes between 5 and 150 people.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: the group as a whole is more creative than the individuals within it.
01 – Facilitated dialogue
For groups coming together around something that matters.
I invite everyone to contribute their perspectives and experiences. Together, we think things through, learn from each other, and find a way forward.
Multi-stakeholder conversation • conference • citizen panel • multi-day gathering • unconference • thinking day • participatory process • temporary collaboration • project co-creation • …
02 – Organisational development
For people and organisations who want to develop how they work together.
Your team can grow as you address the challenges you face. Together, we explore practical ways to strengthen collaboration, grounded in the reality of your work.
Team event • unit workshop • Away Day • strategic conversation • sense-making session • decision-making session • community design • training • leadership development programme • knowledge-sharing workshop • …
Depending on your situation, our work together may lead to:
- Creating shared understanding: uncover what’s important or how you want to work together.
- Exploring ideas: tap into the group’s creative potential.
- Building trust: deepen bonds with colleagues or connect with new collaborators.
- Improving ways of working: strengthen day-to-day collaboration.
- Addressing challenges or opportunities: resolve conflict or make progress on a burning topic.
- Shaping a participatory work culture: invite people to express ideas and take ownership.
- Developing collaboration skills: learn concepts and approaches that help with co-creation and communication.
I had the honour of working for organisations like:
Curious what others say?
“You greatly contributed to the success of this meeting – we got lots of thanks and positive feedback. I believe we achieved our main goals, which were to get people motivated, inspired and wanting to commit, as well as create ideas that may translate into concrete actions during the project.”
– Blandine Smilansky, Partnerships Coordinator, House of European History
“During the Enspiral Winter Gathering, it became clear that An is not only a connoisseur of the hosting toolkit, but also a master of subtlety. With her invitations, presence and body language, she made calm moments calmer, deep conversations deeper and nurtured spaces where participants could easily open up about difficult topics.”
– Joriam Philipe, community builder
“An coordinates and facilitates with a good dose of humour, warmth and craftsmanship. Her strength lies in building relationships, and she knows how to leverage them to streamline the process well. Her flexibility and professionalism make her a pleasant facilitator. Thanks, An!”
– Mees Schouwenaar, project leader School Leaders for the Future (Schoolleiders voor de Toekomst)
Unique about me? Cross-pollination.
Once I was an engineer who focused on material outcomes. Nowadays I’m still engineering, but my attention has shifted towards how people create outcomes together.
Work with me if you’re interested in the:
- gentle guidance of a facilitator,
- wide-angle view of a systems thinker,
- crystal clarity of a scientist,
- team spirit of a community member,
- structured approach of an engineer,
- openness to vulnerability of an authentic human being,
- all of that enlivened with a bit of humour.
From studying bio-engineering to obtaining a PhD at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and working in an engineering company: care for life and the earth has always been central to my choices. Also nowadays I choose to work with organisations committed to positively impacting society.
What informs my work
Diverse methodologies and practices guide my work, including:
- the Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter (also known as the Art of Participatory Leadership),
- Sociocracy 3.0,
- Liberating Structures,
- Nonviolent Communication,
- Theory U,
- Internal Family Systems.
I’m an Associate of AIM Learning Solutions, an organisation that designs and delivers training and events for international organisations. I’m also a member of Common Ground Collective and Enspiral, which are collectives working at the frontiers of collaboration and organisation building. As a Regional Contact for the Art of Hosting in Belgium, I help to connect the local community with the global network. These connections keep me learning and evolving.
And what about you?
Designing and inviting conversations is both a craft and an art. I keep them light and human, meeting people where they are.
What kind of conversation would move your collaboration forward? I’m curious to hear.
Let’s explore how we can work together. Book a free 30-minute intro call, or find my contact details here. Happy to meet soon!
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I write about what lies beneath how we work together: power, participation, self-organisation, collective intelligence and human development. Some articles are in English, most blog posts are in Dutch / de meeste artikels zijn in het Nederlands.