FOR NICOLE, MOSAICLAB IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
Nicole co-founded MosaicLab because she is passionate about genuine democracy and developing and delivering robust engagement processes. The MosaicLab collaboration has enabled her to utilise and build on her skills and experiences and help further the practice of engagement for others
““Nicole is very organised and has a fantastic ability to convert the project brief in an easy to understand road map with measurable outcomes at each stage of the project.
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NICOLE BELIEVES
Nicole is committed to finding collaborative solutions to complex problems through deliberation and dialogue. She believes that everyday people can do amazing things given adequate time and information and is continually amazed (yet unsurprised) by peoples’ ability to make bold and robust decisions.
Inspired by positive responses to her work, Nicole believes that effective engagement can result in incredible transformations. She is moved when a participant reports that a process has made them feel heard for the first time, motivated them to increase their involvement in civic society or changed the way they see the world.
Her ultimate, utopian participation dream is that a new level of government is created. A broad, representative panel of citizens would be randomly selected and paid for a set term to consider big issues and develop new solutions, weighing up options and considering in-depth information.
“If you want the ‘elephants in the room’ to come out and then figure out what to do with them, Nicole is for you, she has a mastery for raising the sticky issues and progressing them.”
NICOLE IS KNOWN FOR
A strong project manager, Nicole is known for her ability to work efficiently and deliver results quickly while also working collaboratively. She excels at co-designing processes and can tailor her approach to meet objectives and requirements.
Appreciated for her outstanding facilitation skills, Nicole is very comfortable working with outrage and conflict, and is able to stay calm in high risk environments.
Her background has allowed her to work across a diverse range of industries, and she is able to quickly understand a broad range of issues and subjects. She excels at activating a group, and tapping into what people really think and feel, with participants consistently reporting that her sessions made them feel heard.
NICOLE KNEW THIS WAS HER CALLING WHEN
Nicole clearly remembers the moment she realised that facilitation and participation was her passion. Early in her career when she was working as a Dairy Extension Officer, she was asked to run sessions for farmers.
The participants, who were predominantly older men, were apprehensive about the workshops, so she applied some facilitation techniques she had learned in her Technology of Participation training, and the results were outstanding. Inspired, she immediately sought to increase her skills and experience, contacting other facilitators to make connections and seek opportunities to further develop her skills.
Nicole continues to seek knowledge and ideas, and her passion for the field means she is committed to continuous learning and personal development.
NICOLE LOVES ...
Making everything straight and lined up, chai teas (made with real tea), backpacks with lots of zips and compartments and getting outside in the sun!
SOMETHING YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT NICOLE
Nicole grew up in Shepparton, Victoria and has also lived in Dubai.
NICOLE'S CV IN A NUTSHELL
SKILLS
Nicole is an experienced facilitator with high level skills in deliberative engagement, strategic planning, negotiation and risk communication. She also has extensive experience working with highly charged issues and emotional stakeholders on all fronts
QUALIFICATIONS
Nicole has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) and a Certificate in Dialogue, Deliberation and Public Engagement (University of Sydney).
BACKGROUND & ACHIEVEMENTS
Nicole is a past IAP2 board member with more than 20 years’ experience working across government and private sector projects. Commencing her career in State Government facilitation and community engagement roles, she was a key contributor to the Department of Sustainability and Environment Community Engagement Training and Toolkit and has worked on projects such as the Post Alpine Fires community engagement strategy (DSE Fire and Emergency Management 2004) and the Cranbourne landfill methane leak (EPA Victoria 2008).
She has designed and delivered successful engagement processes around many key government planning projects including the G21 Regional Growth Plan, Corangamite Regional Catchment Strategy, CFA's Community Engagement Framework ('Connecting with Communities'), VicHealth Citizens' Jury on Obesity and City of Melbourne People's Panel for the development of the 10 Year Financial Plan.
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