Open Space Technology is a simple, effective way to organise a meeting on a particular topic in which the innate wisdom—or "distributed intelligence”—of a large group emerges quickly, and everyone takes responsibility for contributing and learning. Since its development twenty ago, OST has been used in thousands of corporate and community situations, with groups ranging in size from 5 to 2000, for meetings lasting from several hours to several days. OST yields practical new ideas and tangible results in lightening speed, with proven success in strategic planning, new product design, public policy, and peacemaking. But its most important benefit is to transform and energize the spirit of a group, empowering people to continue learning and taking responsibility, well after the event is concluded.

Speaker : Marty Boroson

Martin Boroson studied philosophy at Yale University and earned an MBA at the Yale School of Management.  He then began independent study of Eastern and Western spiritual and psychological traditions, and was trained in the facilitation of breakthrough experience by Dr. Stanislav Grof.  For the past fifteen years, in his work as a consultant and coach, he has endeavoured to marry ancient wisdom skills with practical problem-solving.  In 2000, he was awarded a three-year grant from the Arts Council of Ireland to develop innovation and excellence in the arts.  He is the author of the interfaith creation story, Becoming Me—praised by scientists, psychologists and leaders of many different faiths, and soon to be released as a short film.  He is currently doing doctoral research at the University of Kent in Canterbury.