IAP2 North American Conference : Call for Proposals

IAP2 North America Conference 2012 – Call for Proposals

IAP2 Canada is hosting an IAP2 Conference on behalf of IAP2 Canada and IAP2 USA.

Here is their message - please share with your colleagues and networks

Welcome to the 2012 North American IAP2 Conference! We are extremely excited to be working with our partner organization IAP2 USA to bring you this event and hope you can join us September 30-October 2, 2012 in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

You’re Invited
This call for proposals is for interested individuals, groups or organizations to present and share their insights and expertise in the P2 field. Our team was inspired by the idea of P2 equally involving the head, heart and hands and through our conference themes hope to explore how each of these play an integral role in expansion and growth of public participation. We aim to involve researchers, stakeholders, academics, community members, decision-makers, practitioners and others to build together a diverse audience thereby truly getting a 360 perspective.

Conference session proposals must support or align with one of the sub-themes. The key focus questions are not meant to limit but rather used as a launch point and touchstone.

Theme Key Focus Questions

STIMULATE your mind
What have you learned, discovered, proven or identified from your research, study of the field or experience, which will advance the growth and practice of public participation.
This is all about the thinking…..

MOTIVATE your heart
What is at the heart of public participation? We think it might lie in the values, ethics, and feelings associated with P2. What is it that motivates, influences or provokes involvement or lack thereof in public participation?
This is all about the feeling…..

PARTICIPATE in action
What tools, activities, techniques are defining the cutting edge of public participation? How do you find the balance between the “tried & tested” and the “innovative & creative?”
This is all about action…..

For more information please download the full Call for Proposals and proposal template.Proposals are DUE March 23, 2012 and questions should be directed toconference@iap2canada.ca

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2012

Here is a short movie of 2011 showing some of the highlights of activities of the first year of being a Federation of Affiliates.

We hope you enjoy it.

What are you looking forward to in public participation in 2012?

2011 IAP2 Leadership Team announced

IAP2 Board of Directors met for the first time as a Federation of Affiliates in Paris this past weekend (25 -27 February). One of their tasks was elect their leadership team and they elected

President Geoff Wilson - Canada
Vice President Nicky Leggatt - UK & Ireland
Treasurer - Theresa Gunn - USA
Secretary - Lucy Cole-Edelstein - Australasia

More information and an update to members will be available through Affiliates in the near future.

Congratulations to the new team!

Moira Deslandes
Executive Director, IAP2

Jim Creighton Award Winner 2010 Visits Australia

Lars Kluver, from the Danish Board of Technology has been visiting Australia in the past week as a guest of University Western Sydney, Centre for Citizenship and Public Policy , newdemocracy and IAP2. During his visit IAP2 was able to present to him personally the 2010 Jim Creighton Award.

This award is made by the Board and the criteria used is to:

• Have made a significant contribution to the practice over time – 10 years at least


• Have a commitment to advancing the practice through supporting or enabling research


• Be linked to IAP2 core values


• Have capacity to maintain and build relationship with IAP2 and the practice in an international environment

The 201o recipient also demonstrated features of random selection, deliberative processes, innovation and creative approaches. international reach and most importantly courage.

In presenting the award on behalf of IAP2, 2010 Board and Judging Panel member, Professor Lyn Carson used the opportunity to acclaim the enduring contribution and leadership of Lars to the Danish Board of Technology and to the field. She was delighted that he had been able to participate in the IAP2 Summit and share his advice, practice and networks so generously.

Moira Deslandes, IAP2 Executive Director said: "the support and leadership of the World Wide Views project is a beacon to what might be possible in an international environment and has set a new platform for the potential of international public participation. At this time in our life on this planet, this work has never been more needed or vital. I hope this award will enhance, foster and encourage more work on this scale and field."

In his acceptance of the award Lars noted how much he appreciated that courage was recognised as this quality is what drives the practice, the profession and the reach of the Danish Board of Technology. He thanked his team and his country for consistently being at the forefront of this work in the international arena.

IAP2 Canada

President of the IAP2 Canada Interim Board, Bob Waldon, proudly announced to all at the Wild Rose Signature Event last week that IAP2 Canada had been formally accepted into the Federation of IAP2.

The first decision of the year taken in the new Federation was to accept IAP2 Canada.

IAP2 Canada are now in the final stages of putting their infrastructure together so that they are able to support members, extend the practice and further develop and lead public participation in Canada.

There are plenty of opportunities for IAP2 members in Canada to get involved and if you are interested in being a part of volunteer team behind the scenes supporting the growth of IAP2 Canada please don't hesitate to contact Bob Waldon directly.

You can also keep up to date informally with information and events by visiting the Canadian facebook group. Current news on facebook is a message from Anne Harding who is seeking input on member engagement within IAP2 Canada members. Let Anne know your thoughts about how IAP2 Canada might engage with its own members - she looks forward to hearing from you!

New Year Heralds Federation

The Federation of IAP2 commenced on January 1st 2011. Thank you to all the work done locally in countries around the world to build the governance infrastructure to create national and transnational Affiliates. It has been a wonderful year of member engagement at all levels across the association.

When the Federation meets for the first time in February 2011 those sitting around the table will be from: Australasia, USA, France, UK & Ireland, Southern Africa and Canada. There are four groups working to become Affiliates in 2011 and they are in Portugal, Italy, Indonesia and Western Africa. There is also interest in The Netherlands, Poland and Yemen.

The new year commences with an Innovation Summit in Australia to review and re-design the training framework for the Certificate in Public Participation and leaders in the field will be advising IAP2 in this work. Invited to the Summit are distinguished educators, researchers, practitioners and trainers from Australasia, Europe and North America. Amongst the Summiteers will be Lars Kluver from the Danish Board of Technology and 2010 winner of IAP2's Jim Creighton Award; US advocates and networkers in the field of public participation Sandy Hierbarcher (NCCD) and Matt Leighinger (DDC) and internationally recognized for her leading research in random selection and deliberative democracy Prof Lyn Carson from Australia.

There will be regular updates and an opportunity for participation in the Summit via an online blog and input will be most welcome and contact IAP2 HQ to find out how ot link into the event.

Happy New Year to all members of IAP2.

Welcome to Two New Affiliates

Today the Board welcomed two new Affiliates to the IAP2 Federation - Southern Africa and UK & Ireland.

The opening of the Southern Africa Affiliate's submission set the scene and context for their application by saying:

"The practice of public participation in South Africa has flourished over the last decade due to legislative requirements as well as increased emphasis placed on it by the private sector and international organisations. As the practice continues to evolve in Southern Africa region, it has seen a wide range of applications both in terms of methodology and the ability to ensure successful outcomes. The diversity of Southern Africa communities, languages and cultural traditions also requires specialised approaches and expertise, which are enriched by both local realities as well as African traditions of consensus building. For these reasons, it is important to establish a professional body to the Southern Africa experience with linkages to an international body of knowledge. Such an entity could foster the need for a rigorous and ethical approach to public participation - as promoted by the international body - whilst building the capacity of local stakeholders to engage in such processes. "

The UK & Ireland Affiliate are on the cusp of growth and in their sights working the public policy space with government, commerical and not for profit sectors "to understand the public participation processes in developing better decisions which have the buy in of their respective constituents." UK & Ireland IAP2 President wrote in their submission "We are intending to establish a chartership to give professional credibility to the industry and to promote best practice in the UK & Ireland."

Board welcomes with acclamation the two submissions and are looking forward to receiving a submission from Canada next month.