Bringing meetings to life. Connecting people and ideas.

Hello. I work with groups and organisations to explore creativity and innovation, change and leadership by disrupting patterns of thinking and acting.

I once wanted to be an astronomical photographer but settled for agricultural journalist, which caused quite a hoo-ha as women weren’t supposed to go to agricultural college back then. Rules weren’t going to stop me (I had the rules changed). Now there’s a clue about how I still approach life!

I’ve worked as a journalist, and in communications, and community education, science communications, and training. Now I specialise in group facilitation and draw on my background in the natural sciences and arts. I help groups discover new approaches to the work that matters for them. I design workshops, conferences and training to bring them to life. I am excited and enthusiastic about what I do. My company is called Beyond the Edge, because something interesting always happens when we go to our learning edge.

I studied agricultural science at Longerenong Agricultural College, and have a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from RMIT University, and a Masters in Applied Science (Agriculture and Rural Development) from the University of Western Sydney.

Improvisation is a constant source of inspiration, as is nature, play, and the surprising things that people say and do. I’m researching the role of applied improvisation in preparing people to respond in uncertainty, particularly disaster response.

I live by the beach in southern Australia. I have worked in over 40 different countries, mainly in Asia and Africa, which has helped fuel my passion for birdwatching and street art.

I’m also inspired by the arts generally, love to be near water (oceans, rivers, lakes) and diving on reefs, am in awe of the stars, love downhill skiing and long rambling conversations.

About Training

I believe it’s as important for participants to learn from each other, as well as from the trainer. I design training that is based around your experience and deliver it in a way that you will learn new skills that you can apply immediately.

Most of my training is delivered with highly talented and experienced colleagues. Together we provide a formidable training combo that simple works… for you, and for us.

All of my training is tailored for your particular needs.

Facilitation

There’s no short cut to learning sound facilitation skills. That’s why I have a dedicated facilitation training. For more information on public and in-house training courses visit www.creativefacilitation.com 

Contact Me

Beyond the Edge Pty Ltd
PO Box 665 Torquay Vic Australia 3228

Phone +614 1713 5406

Email info@vivmcwaters.com.au

And a bit more personal stuff

If I’m shopping you’ll find me hanging about the artist supplies (even though I’m not an artist), a stationery store, or a bookshop, or the Mac store, a travel agent – I think you get the picture.

Favourite Movies

Interstellar, Blade Runner, Johnnie Darko, Chocolat, Run Lola Run, Babette’s Feast, Metropolis (the original), Day the Earth Stood Still (also the original), and Singin’ In the Rain.

Favourite Books

Bird by Bird, Artemis Fowl, Cloudstreet, Breathe, Eucalyptus

Places I still want to visit (or visit again) – in no particular order

Morocco, Luang Prabang – Laos, Tierra del Fuego, Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, Uganda, Zanzibar, Hawaii, Canadian Rockies, Yosemite, Nepal, Antarctica, China, Mongolia, Finland, Alaska, Iceland, Galapogos Islands, Cape York, Uluru and the West Macdonalds, the Kimberley coast  – Australia.

Things I want to do one day

Walk the Bibbulum Track in WA (1000 km from Perth to Albany), swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, travel on the Ghan railway, sailing in the Whitsundays, learn to surf, ski in Europe, live and work in another country.

13 Comments

  • Great blog – it feels like an inviting way to start a conversatiion without the mess of flipchart and pens. dealth by powerpoint is often something I see my clients struggle with. I think it is often avoidance of conversation as well.

  • Lain Burgos-Lovece says:

    Came through from the “Anecdote” site. I like your blog and will probably return every so often.

  • Viv McWaters says:

    Welcome Lain – hope you do return and find something useful here from time to time.

    Cheers

    Viv

  • mike allen says:

    Hi Viv,
    I followed a link from one of your AFN postings and I am glad I did!
    lovely website,useful content and a calm feel to navigating the site.Well done.

  • Jonas Roth says:

    Hi Viv!
    Just run my first impro facilitation workshop with my Swedish network of facilitators. It was grate and all thanks to you and your session in Kuala Lumpur this summer. Thanks!
    Love Jonas (and I love your blog)

  • Sanjib says:

    Great to learn of your interest and work in facilitation. I have been an accredited group facilitator since 1991, working in India, USA (NTL), and Thailand.

    I am particularly keen to do my Personal Growth Laboratory in other cultural settings.

    Would be keen to know and learn more…..

    Sanjib.

  • Emily Jenke says:

    Hi Viv,
    Hope Bells is well and the surf huge as it always is this time of year! Just dropped by to say hello!!!

    Cheers,
    Em

  • Mandy Dearden says:

    Hi Viv
    Just checked out your facilitating with confidence course – wow! looks very cool. Cant make it to these dates, will you be running another one later in the year? Maybe in WA? 🙂
    cheers
    Mandy – Perth WA

  • Colleen says:

    Looks like a good site. Just learning how to use blogs and feeds. I am interested in cultural facilitation. I am from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada and will graduate with a degree in communications in June 2009.

  • David says:

    Reaching….HI. I am looking for a Jenny McWaters from Australia…SA….she was a teacher back in mid 80s…any relationship….any knowledge??
    Appreciate any help…direction.
    Regards,
    David

  • Viv McWaters says:

    I think there was a Jenny married to my husband’s cousin. They divorced many years ago and I have no idea what happened to her or where she might now be. Sorry. There are two McWaters families in Australia – and one is SA based. I suspect it’s the *other* McWaters that you are looking for.

  • Julia says:

    Hi Viv,

    I would like to subscribe to your blog but can’t find anywhere on your website to sign up.

    Could you please let me know how I do it.

    Regards,

    Julia

  • Viv McWaters says:

    Hi Julia

    Good point. Now that the silly season is over, I’m on to it!

    Cheers, Viv

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *