2024 Keynote Speaker

ASFA is very happy to announce that our keynote speaker will be Dr. Mark McKergow.

Mark is an international speaker, trainer, consultant, author, and director of the Centre for Solutions Focus at Work, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Mark has written six books and dozens of articles on using Solution Focused ideas within organisational and coaching practice, including The Solutions Focus (with Paul Z Jackson) and Solutions Focus Working (with Jenny Clarke). He is a global pioneer in hosting as leadership, where he wrote Host: Six new roles of engagement (Solutions Books, 2014) with Helen Bailey, and The Host Leadership Field Book (Solutions Books, 2019).  Mark is widely known for his ability to connect complex ideas with simplicity in practice.  He sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Systemic Therapies and is the Editor of the Journal of Solution Focused Practices.  His latest books are Hosting Generative Change (BMI, 2020) and The Next Generation of Solution Focused Practice (Routledge, 2021). Mark writes every week on Substack at Steps To A Humanity Of Organisation.  

During the conference Mark will be running several workshops and presentations including:

Thursday 12 September (10am-4pm) - Pre-conference Workshop 

"SF 2.0. - The Next Generation of Solution Focused Practice"

Solution Focused work has come a long way since it emerged in the 1980s. Mark will help us understand the developments since then, why they matter and how we can start using them in focused and fruitful ways in our SF work. Mark will share his idea of SF work ‘stretching the world’ of those involved, his three levels of participation, and links to enactive and extended cognition models. There will be talks, demos, activities and lots of chances to meet others. You can also ask Mark about the new edition of The Solutions Focus: TranSForming change for coaches and consultants (new subtitle!). 

The focus for this workshop will be on leaders, consultants and coaches rather than therapy, but therapists/clinicians will still find much of Mark's presentation relevant to most clinical work.

Complimentary drinks (beer/wine) will be provided for attendees from 4-5pm

Friday 13 September (60 min, time TBC) - Conference Keynote

"Why SF is still important"

Solution Focused (SF) work emerged in the 1980s as a way of working in the Brief Therapy tradition. It has developed over the years and remains a great way to work with people, teams and organisations who are in tough places. However, Mark thinks it’s much more important than that. By rejecting so many widely-assumed positions such as the need to diagnose problems, seek hidden causes and dissect the past for unconscious mechanisms, it continues to offer a window onto a whole new way to think about people, how we are, how we develop and how we keep going. 

Saturday 14 September (90 min, time TBC) - Workshop/presentation

"Micro-Skills in a Macro-World: What do SF practitioners involved in large-scale change projects do that works?"

Mark McKergow and the Macroanalysis Study Group has been studying this question for the last two years. They looked at case stories together and managed to identify some distinctive features of SF organisational development processes. In this workshop Mark will share these insights with you and get your ideas and feedback on them. He would like to get your thoughts, experiences and insights about working SF in large (>150 people) organisations and systems. If you are already working in OD and make it even more SF or want to expand your skills from individuals and teams to working with whole-scale organisational or inter-organisational change this workshop should provide you with ideas, skills and inspirations.

Sunday 15 September (9am - 12 noon) - Open Space

Open Space is your chance to convene a conversation on any topic you like! You don’t have to know anything about it, just be curious and want to think and exchange with others. The fluid yet firm structure of Open Space, devised by Harrison Owen, allows everyone to find their own route through the sessions to give and get the best contributions and value. Be sure to be on time for the opening session when all will be explained and you can offer a topic for talking. Mark has led Open Space sessions at SF conferences since 2003, so we are sure to be in good hands for this engaging and enthralling session. 

We hope that you will join us in Sydney for the 2024 ASFA Conference

Bookings can be made via this link Conference Registrations

Please note that the pre-conference workshop is separate to the conference but these can both be booked along with your accommodation via the booking page.