Facilitation & Workshops
Not every conversation needs a stage. I also lead engaging, participatory workshops on futures literacy and foresight, communication, sustainability and storytelling.
Participatory workshops, facilitated gatherings, and interactive training
I offer interactive workshops and facilitated sessions designed to spark futures thinking, build communication skills, and support storytelling. These are ideal for universities, organisations, and communities seeking to build resilience and agency in complex times.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the workshops I offer:
Futures Literacy and strategic foresight workshops
Engaging people with the future to build resilience and create transformational pathways. Inviting businesses and organsations to use the future to adapt, innovate and thrive in uncertain times.
Learn more at Futures Fit →
Science communication training
Helping researchers and scientists build practical communication skills to share ideas, disseminate research results, and communicate clearly with expert and non-expert audiences.
Learn more at SciComm Success →
Storytelling workshops and training
Helping sustainability professionals, environmentalists, activists and others with complex messages use the power of storytelling to communicate and connect across audiences.
Learn more at Wicked Storytelling →
Presence and presenting workshops
Practical skill building for researchers and scientists in academia, industry and elsewhere.
Learn more at Share Your Science →
Sustainability, climate change & systems workshops
Talks, training and workshops for groups and organisations to build an understanding of climate, sustainability, circular economy, and related themes, with a focus on encouraging thinking, discussion, and action.
Learn more at And Better →
Tailor-made workshops, facilitation and moderation
Have something in mind that needs a tailored approach?
Want to work together to custom-design a process, workshop or experience?
Need a lively, engaging moderator or facilitator for a meeting, event or panel?
Don’t have time to read a whole pile of text?
Send me a note or see what I can offer →
Custom Workshops & Sessions: Design, Moderation & Facilitation
Bespoke workshop design & facilitation
I have been designing and facilitating workshops, training programmes and experiential events for over a decade. I’ve created sessions for conferences, retreats, team-building events, project kick-offs, ideation sessions and more.
I have a colourful toolbox of ideas, resources, tools and practical experience that I can use to bring your session to life and add structure that guides conversations and delivers results.
In-person, and online, let’s make your session SHINE.
Ad hoc facilitation
As a professional facilitator, I know the benefits of planning a session and I have the skill of being able throw away the plans to respond to the needs of the group on the day, based on how they show up and what is really needed.
This adaptability makes me an excellent choice for retreats, multi-day events, and conferences, where requirements can change at a moments’ notice and you discover that you need a facilitator for unexpected sessions.
I have the knack of being able to take changes and unplanned requirements in my stride, working with you and the group to turn a potential challenge into a productive and enjoyable session.
Moderating panels & discussions
Facilitation and moderation have similarities in that they both involve guiding a group or discussion.
As a facilitator, I run workshops that focus on participation, using structures to guide conversations, and ensure that the process flows smoothly.
As a moderator of content-focused discussions, I am a conversation leader, ensuring that the discussion stays on track and within boundaries, and often, ensuring that the discussion is relevant for an audience.
From moderating group interviews and panel discussions, to acting as an event host and moderator of speakers and presenters, I bring professionalism, warmth and a lively spark to any event.
Reasons to invite me to deliver a workshop or facilitate a session
Tailor-made for you
I take the time to learn about your audience, your goals, and the transformation you are trying to inspire. Everything is customised for your event: no pre-canned talks here!
Engaging on all levels
We know that facts provide information, but emotion and stories move people. My workshops are lively, interactive, relatable, and actionable.
Making messages stick
As a professional educator, facilitator and storyteller, I know how to make messages stick, no matter the length or format of the talk.
Useful and actionable
Your group’s time is valuable. I make sure that that every workshop includes useful tools, helpful frameworks and techniques that can be used individually and collectively to encourage real-world changes.
Professional facilitator with years of experience
I have 20+ years of international communication experience in my back pocket, and I know how to make workshops work. I’ve worked with thousands of people over the years, facilitating strategy and innovation workshops, strategic comms planning sessions, and designing and leading “learning by doing” workshops that build skills and make learning stick.
A stress-free experience
I try to make it as easy as possible for us to work together at every stage of our relationship. Forget diva-like requests and weird behind-the-scenes requirements. My aim is for us to create a great workshop experience for your group. Expect clear communication, a professional approach, and a level of adaptability that will make the collaboration simple for everyone involved.
FAQs
Your questions answered. Have other questions? Get in touch and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Do you customise your workshops?
Always. I have a tried and tested framework that involves pre-event calls, stakeholder interviews, and detailed research to ensure that the workshop I deliver is right for the group and helps you in achieving your goals. Of course, the level of pre-workshop research and customisation depends on your group, your budget and the workshop you want to run: for some sessions, less can be more.
Are your workshop available in both in-person and virtual formats?
I offer workshops in person, online and in hybrid formats.
There are a few qualifiers, however.
I do my best to only travel via public transport, which means that realistically, I can only provide in-person workshops within Europe. If you are based outside of Europe, or in a remote area that I cannot reach with public transport, I can only offer you online or hybrid options.
In addition, some of the workshops that I offer work best when delivered in person. I’m happy to chat through possibilities should we speak.
Aside from workshops, what else do you offer?
I offer keynote talks as well as practical training programmes in communication, storytelling, climate and sustainability, and being intentional. I offer coaching and mentoring on request.
I also facilitate events and provide panel and talk moderation.
Tell me about your goals and I can give you some ideas of how I can help.
Can you join discovery calls and chemistry sessions before booking?
Yes! I offer a complementary discovery call to explore fit and discuss your needs and workshop requirements. Running a successful workshop is about more than the delivery: it’s the planning and communication and “fit”, and a discovery call helps us assess whether we’re right for each other.
More questions? Get in touch and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Let’s talk about your workshop ideas
Please tell me about what you are thinking and I’ll be in touch soon. If you prefer, you can also book a call into my diary and we can chat through your ideas.
Looking for facilitator, workshop leader or moderator focused on futures and sustainability in Europe?
Suzanne Whitby is a professional facilitator in Austria. She designs and leads interactive workshops and participatory processes in English across Europe, helping groups think strategically and co-create hopeful, sustainable futures. Her areas of expertise include futures & foresight, sustainbility, imagination, storytelling, climate and sustainability communication, and science communication and outreach.
If you are looking for a lively, engaging facilitator, who can moderate meetings and panels for European audiences, and you are interested in conversations and dialogue about resilience and futures thinking, co-creating sustainable change, storytelling and transformation, narrative as a tool for science and sustainability communication, and the power of participatory foresight, you’re in the right place.