Team - The Art of Hosting workshop, Goa, India

Your hosting team

Your hosts for the training are Mel, Jane and Frank of Purpose Partners, (Australia) a partnership committed to the discovery of wiser ways of living and working together - all three experienced Art of Hosting practitioners. They are joined by Joanna and Tamer, passionate residents of Goa committed to supporting sustainable well-being for all in India at this crucial time, and Sharad and Tanuja from Delhi, all emerging Art of Hosting practitioners.

"I did the Art of Hosting workshop myself in Brisbane, Australia in September 2015 and it is my great honour to host an Art of Hosting workshop in Goa. My experience has been that Art of Hosting offers a powerful way of getting out of unhelpful communication habits that merely reinforce dominating power dynamics and prevent us making genuine progress. Despite my many years of working in the field of collaboration, I found Art of Hosting to be a refreshing way for people to show up authentically and thereby liberate their creative potential to shape their world" Joanna

Joanna Pyres

Goa, India
I am a passionate changemaker devoted to nurturing and supporting people as individuals and collectives to create positive change and a more fair and sustainable world.

For the last 8 years I have worked internationally - from the beautiful base of Goa - to train, advise and support organisations and individuals to realise their potential through
multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development.

I am an associate and authorised trainer for The Partnership Brokers Association and The Partnering Initiative which has taken me around the world from India, Burma & Bangladesh, Panama and America, Sweden and the Turkey-Syria border amongst others, & enabled me to work with NGOs, the UN, corporations and government.

I believe strongly that we humans have the capacity and wisdom to mobilise effective collective action to protect precious water, land, flora, fauna, and heritage, and ensure development in India is sustainable and fair and provides healthy empowering opportunities for all people.

As a trained life-coach I know that when people tune into what matters to them and take action they feel enlivened with passion and purpose - and really shine : )

I live in Goa because it is a glorious and nourishing ecosystem and I am committed to helping it stay that way!

Mel Geltch

Brisbane, Australia
I’m a participatory process designer, host and harvester of conversations and work that matters. I'm an active member of the Art of Hosting community of practitioners in Australia, and connected to an international network of collaborators.

I believe in the power of giving people a voice on the things that matter most to them, and of a more human way of learning, living and working together.

My past work and life experience in journalism, marketing, planning, projects and change in government, the NGO and cultural sectors – has led me to here.

Now I enjoy co-creating change in organisations and communities of all kinds and sizes, and embracing the diversity of people's stories and worldviews.

I’m a Flow Game host, and a happy apprentice of graphic harvesting – creatively making sense of what we learn together from conversations, meetings and workshops for wise action.

I love to experiment with digital tools to keep people connected and engaged.

Mostly, I like to work with and connect others to make good things happen.

At the moment, I want to paint the world teal, contributing to organisations that nourish the people in them, those they serve and the planet.

Frank Martin

Sunshine Coast, Australia
I began my journey of discovery in the in the world of co-creation and participatory practice some years ago through my involvement in a basic Art of Hosting workshop. I immediately recognised the transformative power when people connect in an authentic way and experience processes which promote co creation and transformative change.

I am developing my my interest and skills in hosting participatory process in business and organisational contexts and draw inspiration from the Art of Hosting communities in Australia and globally.

I have had a varied career: senior government roles, building self-managed teams, leadership program development and delivery, service provision, as a partner in a Registered Training and Consulting organisation. I have more recently held senior management positions in the Community and Disability sectors before becoming a full time partner in Purpose Partners.

I am enjoying, with my partners, work that uses my deep experience in organisational and community change, learning about new ways of being and working in the world, and improving and deepening my practice in every way.

In my work I want to engage people well to find their own solutions, so that they and their organisations can be integral parts of thriving communities.

Jane Geltch

Brisbane, Australia
I am a participatory process host, and steward of the Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter.

I am developing my skill in Teal organisations, partnership brokering and complexity practice, and am a student of the new paradigms emerging as the world shifts to a more connected, compassionate future.

Weaving these threads together is giving my practice increasing richness, depth and adaptability.

I see my work not only as the work I do in the world, but more importantly the work I do within, to bring myself into harmony and manifest that in the world.

I wish to walk the path of peace with all that lives on Earth.

I love hosting and nourishing others on their path as they host and nourish me.

Tamer Salameh

Goa, India
My personal experience has been that sitting in circle brings out the best in people and helps us all step up to our authentic self.

At the heart of who I am is an ongoing commitment to see inclusive and welcoming communities that reduce the vulnerability of people who can be dependent on systems.

I believe that this is ultimately achieved by recognising and honoring the expertise that each individual holds about themselves and their future dreams.

I am a new Art of Hosting apprentice practitioner where I am continually drawn to and amazed at the power of Circle.

As a 25 year resident of Goa I am delighted that this event is being held in our community.

Our natural environment and diverse people deserve the cutting edge of participatory practice to help shape the future.

Sharad Khanna

Gurgaon, Delhi-NCR, India
It was a beautiful day in October 2015 in New Delhi when I was introduced to the Art of Hosting and Participatory Leadership. It was life-changing for me.

In the world of uncertainty the only thing that is certain is change. Art of Hosting helps to co-create positive change. It is based on ancient techniques of community participation which would be very beneficial in contemporary India.

I have 21 years experience working with multinational banks. In 2011 I decided to follow my heart - into wildlife photography, adventure sports and behavior training. My love of Mother Nature has taken me to places I had only dreamed of.

Be it SCUBA diving, para sailing, paragliding, mountaineering in the Himalayas, skiing, bungee jumping or hiking, adventure has become a part of my life. I am an amateur wildlife photographer and contribute to documentaries on social issues in India. I wish to see a sustainable world where there is harmony and respect for everyone. I know this is possible through Art of Hosting.

Tanuja Vashistha

Delhi, India
I am an entrepreneur, human resource consultant and an educator with passion to inspire and empower people to live life with a purpose and vision.

In my professional journey of more than 19 years, I have designed and facilitated many programs, helping participants enhance their lives by greatly improving the way they speak, think and manage their strengths in their personal-professional lives and businesses.

Inspired by powerful processes hosted by Marc Levitte at a 2014 workshop in India, introducing the Art of Hosting in India became an earnest desire for me. It was followed by the first Awareness Day in New Delhi in 2015. It feels great to see the movement unfolding with more events this year.

I am enjoying the journey to learn more about these practices to create impactful learning environments - to improve and enrich people’s lives and create nourishing societies.

I am looking forward to the Art of Hosting in Goa - to be with community of people who are committed to co-create change we want to see in ourselves and the world around us.

Fiona Malcolm

Brisbane, Australia
I am a passionate and committed creative social work practitioner who has worked across the community sector for nearly 15 years.

I have strong links to community development practice and believe strongly in the power of people and communities to drive their own change.

I believe in creating opportunities for all voices to be heard at a systems level, particularly for those who are impacted the most by policy and program development.

I have a long ago background in visual arts which I am currently trying to reignite, and am exploring opportunities to use creative processes to engage and connect with people.

I am an apprentice to the Art of Hosting and participatory leadership processes, which I love and love exploring the potential with others.

Thanks to Joe Lasky and Joanna for the photos on the website

Your hosting team﻿