Co-design is increasingly used to tackle complex challenges—but what does it look like in practice? Drawing on work across multi-stakeholder initiatives in areas including land use, climate adaptation, and public health, this post explores six elements that help shape grounded,
Many independent researchers and evaluators work in applied settings where formal ethics review isn’t readily available. This post reflects on why ethical reflection still matters – and introduces a protocol developed to support collaborative, peer-based review and shared learning. It
In complex settings, effective collaboration depends on more than information-sharing — it requires building shared understanding and creating the conditions for collective learning. This post explores how social learning strengthens collaboration by fostering dialogue, reflection, and adaptation across diverse perspectives.
Managing change in complex settings takes more than better plans or new tools. It starts with building the relational foundations that enable collaboration, learning, and adaptation to develop and strengthen. This post explores how these foundations support systemic change, and
Today’s challenges—climate change, freshwater management, biodiversity loss, and social inequality—are deeply interconnected. Traditional approaches often focus on isolated fixes, but real solutions require a broader view. Systems thinking and systemic design provide ways to understand complexity, identify leverage points, and
The latest IPBES Nexus and Transformative Change reports reinforce what many already know: the world’s biggest challenges—biodiversity loss, climate change, food and water insecurity, and health crises—are interconnected. Yet, all too often, our policy responses remain fragmented, failing to address
In an increasingly complex world, reflection and reflexivity are essential for fostering adaptability and meaningful change. Reflection helps us learn from past experiences, while reflexivity keeps us aware of how our thoughts and actions shape outcomes in real time. Together,
Participatory action research (PAR) offers a practical and inclusive approach to tackling today’s complex challenges. By combining collaboration, critical reflection, and iterative cycles of inquiry and action, this approach helps create solutions that are both meaningful and sustainable. This post
This post introduces key ideas for supporting just transitions in complex systems — building a foundation for collaborative change across environmental, social, and economic challenges. The “A guide to just transitions | He puka arataki whakawhitinga tika“, was developed to
Addressing complex sustainability and development challenges require collective action. This post points to the pivotal role of facilitation and co-design in fostering impactful, constructive change. Human behaviours, at various decision-making levels, play a crucial role in navigating the complex sustainability
This site curates annotated links to tools and frameworks for people working in complex, multi-actor settings. It also shows how different dimensions of practice fit together across real-world contexts.
If you’re looking for tailored support – whether that’s short advisory input, process design, reflective coaching, or strategic writing – you’re welcome to get in touch or visit my bio and services page to learn more. I work collaboratively on facilitation, evaluation, and learning design, often during early-stage or time-limited phases.
Visit some of my reflections on collaborative practice and learning in complex, multi-actor settings.
This site is free for everyone, but not free to maintain. If you find it useful, you might consider a small contribution, about the cost of a cup of coffee, to help keep it going.
Visit core pages introducing key themes, approaches, and frameworks for supporting collaboration and learning in complex, multi-actor contexts.
