Profile

Jo Nelson CPF, CTF
ToP Facilitator & Trainer

ToP Training

Jo hasc onducted public and in-house facilitation training courses for business, non-profits, government agencies, educators, and individuals across Canada and the U.S., resulting in effective meetings and increased participation in decision-making.

She specializes in:

• Group Facilitation Training
• Facilitative leadership development
• Advanced Facilitator Training
• Facilitator certification

Jo's special focus is work with education organizations. Her teaching background and experience with a variety of educational systems have prepared her to provide excellent training and facilitation with educators. Jo has:

• Trained elementary and secondary resource teachers from the Peel District School Board in Ontario in the Focused Conversation Method and Consensus Workshop Method.
• Trained over 100 Regina Public School Principals, Vice-Principals, Learning and Core Leaders in facilitation skills through Group Facilitation for Educators.
• Worked intensively with the York Board of Education in Ontario using Group Facilitation training and direct facilitation.
• Trained core staff in the Treaty Six Education (Alberta) departmet in participatory methods to support community based, culturally sensitive education.
• Worked with the Catholic Principals Council of Ontario and the Continuing Education Division of the University of St. Michael's College to create a course for school leaders in the knowledge and skills to be Catholic school leaders. 

Facilitated Events

• Facilitated an negotiation process between a public utility and the Mohawks of Akwasasne.
• Facilitated a Manitoba Provincial Economic Development Summit.
• Helped the Centre for Addiction and Mental health develop a training plan for Aboriginal Mental Health Workers.
• Facilitated planning workshops with the staff of the John Howard Society and the Elizabeth Fry Society.
• Facilitated a strategic planning retreat for City of Mississauga staff.
• Jo was the lead facilitator for the National Aboriginal Roundtable.

Facilitation Training

• Trained Primary Care Workers and Community Development Staff at Wassay·Gezhig Na·Nahn·Dah·We·Igaamig, the Kenora Area Health Access Centre.
• Trained core staff of the Alberta Community Development Department in participatory methods.
• Taught Community Development methods to staff of the City of Red Deer, Alberta.
• Trained Toronto Public Housing front line staff in participatory methods for facilitation and community development.
• Led strategy planning workshops for Agriculture and Agri-food Canada in Regina and Calgary.

Jo Nelson is a principal with ICA Associates, Inc. specializing in the design and delivery of customized group facilitation processes and facilitative leadership training. She has successfully managed over nine hundred projects involving some 90,000 citizens in six nations and is recognized as a highly skilled trainer and group facilitator. Her programs are built on classic, proven methods and techniques, designed to address the specific requirements of each client.

Jo's book, The Art of Focused Conversation for Schools, has been used by educators around the world in designing and leading conversation in the classroom and throughout the education system

Ms. Nelson holds a B.A. degree in education and anthropology from the University of Iowa. Her professional background includes 36 years in facilitating large and small groups, and four years on the executive of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). She holds the Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) designation of the IAF, and the ICA Certified Top™ Facilitator designation (CTF).

Contact Jo Nelson

ICA Associates Inc.
655 Queen Street East - Toronto, Ontario - M4M 1G4
Phone - 416-691-2316 - Canada toll-free - 1-877-691-1422