The People Co-Creating the Conference

Dr Barbara McKay is a social worker, systemic psychotherapist, supervisor, and trainer. She has held positions in statutory and voluntary sector organisations. She has held leadership positions in two major charities in the UK and until 2019 she was the Director of the Institute of Family Therapy, a post she held for 13 years through a transformation period. Since 2019, Barbara has moved into independent consultancy practice delivering therapy, supervision, coaching and consultations to individuals and groups in health and social care sectors. She continues to teach leadership programmes blending relational approaches with business research. Barbara is a Steward of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution. She has authored several articles and book chapters on transformational change as well as more traditional themes of systemic therapy and supervision.

John Burnham, CQSW, MPhil, Dip FT, FELLOW AcSS; Fellow UKCP, is a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist at Parkview Clinic. John contributes to the Birmingham Systemic Training Programme as Academic Lead to the MSc and co-lead the supervision course. Since 1982, the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) has been ever present as a theory and framework in his practice, helping to ‘create magic moments’ with clients and trainees. His professional activities include writing and presenting with colleagues, clients and trainees. Relationally reflexive practices enjoin clients/trainees to participate in creating the kind of therapy/training they are receiving. Five years membership of the AFT Diversity Working Party Race Group has been invitational, instructive and inspirational. It has been an important context in the development of the concept and practice of Race-Fullness.  

John's professional passions include ‘thinking theory and talking ordinary,' ‘turning practice into theory,’ ‘creating self and relationally reflexive practices,’ ‘creating solidarity between young people, parents and professionals through multiple family therapy,' and using Social and personal GgRRAAAACCEEEESSSS….S to enable clients and practitioners to conceptualise and influence their experiences of therapy.  

Jenn Chan is a designer, researcher, and facilitator by profession, with nearly 20 years of experience across nonprofit, social innovation, and academic spaces. As Co-Founder and CEO of the Department of Imaginary Affairs, Jenn leads strategic planning, organizational and individual coaching, professional development workshops, participatory research, and experiential futures work towards collective liberation. Jenn grounds her practice in anti-oppression and anti-racism frameworks, supporting individual practitioners, leadership teams, and governing bodies through organizational and interpersonal tensions. She brings a systems lens and foresight process to her governance work, bringing organizations into the act of practicing the futures they wish existed.

Jenn is a second-generation Chinese-Canadian settler, born and raised in Tkaranto, and the oldest daughter of immigrants from Hong Kong. She is a Mama to two wonderful humans, a partner to her highschool sweetie, and a fiercely loyal friend, sister, and Aunt — relationships that shape her practice as much as her professional training does. Jenn holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University.

Tom Watkin has spent more than 20 years leading teams and businesses in the environmental sector and even longer exploring the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. The author of Business Development Begins Here, Tom writes regularly about leadership, teamwork, and communication through the lens of tabletop roleplaying games at dndatwork.com.

A frequent podcast guest and speaker on the connection between gaming and workplace skills, Tom remains an active player and Game Master, rolling dice in multiple D&D campaigns. He is passionate about helping people become better leaders, communicators, and teammates, both around the gaming table and in the workplace.

Leander Kreltszheim lives, writes, and rests in Naarm-Melbourne, Australia, and acknowledges the wisdom and generosity of the Kulin Nation and its Traditional Owners.

Grounded in social justice, her work asks how we might codesign for more just and hopeful futures through relationships, trust, and care. Through her PhD research, Leander explores how design can honour our interconnection with people, land, waters and the more-than-human world. Her collaborative, arts-based approach questions dominant Euro-centric practices to explore the role of reciprocity, respect and responsibility in the design process.