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27 Expert Conference Facilitators (2026)

  • Writer: Jonno White
    Jonno White
  • Dec 27, 2025
  • 12 min read

Finding an effective facilitator for your next conference can mean the difference between productive meetings that generate meaningful outcomes and sessions that leave team members checking their watches.


A professional conference facilitator does far more than keep time. The best facilitators design the meeting process before they step on stage, clarify desired outcomes with stakeholders, manage group dynamics in real time, and ensure participants leave with clear goals and next steps. They navigate the art of facilitation with precision, handling dominant voices and quiet contributors alike while maintaining energy levels throughout the day.


After facilitating executive team offsites across four continents and speaking to audiences from Fortune 500 companies to school leadership teams, I have seen what separates a good facilitator from a great facilitator. The difference lies in preparation, presence, and the ability to foster collaboration among different people with different perspectives.


If you are ready to book a facilitator for your next conference, executive offsite, or leadership event, email me at jonno@consultclarity.org. I work with schools, corporates, and nonprofits globally. For international conferences, my clients are consistently surprised how affordable it is to bring someone in from Australia, often cheaper than local options with significantly more experience.


Wide-angle view from the back corner of a large conference hall showing around 1,500–2,000 attendees seated and focused on a diverse female MC in her mid-30s speaking confidently on stage under professional lighting.

How to Choose the Right Conference Facilitator


Before reviewing the directory below, consider these key skills and criteria when evaluating any skilled facilitator for your event.


1. Process Design, Not Just Delivery


A great facilitator begins work well before the conference starts. Look for someone who conducts stakeholder interviews, shapes the meeting agenda with your goals of the meeting in mind, and builds contingencies for when discussions go off track. Facilitation starts before the meeting, and the best way to ensure productive outcomes is thorough preparation.


2. Neutrality and Independence


When your organisation needs to navigate politically sensitive topics or power dynamics, an external designated facilitator provides credibility that internal leaders cannot. Ask whether the facilitator has experience handling high-stakes conversations where they must meet participants as equals while speaking to power dynamics when they arise.


3. Demonstrated Experience at Scale


Running a productive meeting for 10 people differs dramatically from facilitating a hybrid meeting with 500 attendees across multiple locations. Verify that your facilitator has years of experience at the scale and format your event requires, whether that involves breakout sessions, World Café formats, Open Space methodology, or large group discussions.


4. Clear Communication and Active Listening


The critical skill that separates good meeting facilitators from exceptional ones is communication skills combined with genuine active listening. Watch for facilitators who can redirect dominant attendees through ground rules and gentle intervention while creating a safe space for quieter voices to contribute new ideas.


5. Evidence Beyond Testimonials


Testimonials help, but look deeper. Ask for specific examples, named clients, and quantified experience. A facilitator claiming decades of experience should be able to articulate their facilitation practice with concrete examples, not just generic promises about engagement.


Conference Facilitators and MCs


1. Jonno White — Brisbane, Australia (Works Globally)


Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, keynote speaker, and leadership consultant who facilitates executive team offsites worldwide. He hosts The Leadership Conversations Podcast with listeners in over 150 countries and is the bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out with over 10,000 copies sold. His Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference achieved a 93.75% satisfaction rating, ranked among the highest rated sessions. Jonno brings deep expertise in team dynamics through Working Genius, DISC, and StrengthsFinder frameworks, with testimonials from leaders across the UK, India, Canada, Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United States, and more.

Specialty: Executive team facilitation, Working Genius, leadership development, keynote speaking

Best for: Schools, corporates, and nonprofits seeking team alignment through proven frameworks


2. Simon Banks — Australia


Simon Banks has delivered over 1,400 workshops, events, conferences, and keynotes globally across more than 20 years of experience. He combines conference MC energy with skilled facilitation and graphic illustration, creating memorable experiences through humour, audience interaction, and visual documentation. His positioning as an offsite facilitator who understands both flow and outcomes makes him distinctive in the Australian market.

Specialty: Conference MC, facilitation, graphic recording

Best for: Corporate conferences and executive offsites seeking energy combined with substance


3. Johnnie Moore — United Kingdom


Johnnie Moore brings extensive international conference facilitation experience, having facilitated conferences with up to 500 participants. His approach covers end-to-end conference design including breakout session facilitation and making speaker panels more engaging and interactive. He is the author of Unhurried at Work and co-founder of Creative Facilitation, and has worked across UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and North America.

Specialty: Large conference facilitation, conference design

Best for: Organisations hosting conferences requiring experienced facilitation at scale


4. Viv McWaters — Australia


Viv McWaters offers conference facilitation with a learning-centred approach. She works internationally on conference design and facilitation, bringing expertise in creating interactive experiences that prioritise participant learning over passive information delivery. She is the author of several books including Creative Facilitation and Nothing is Written, co-authored with Johnnie Moore. Her background combines science, arts, and improvisation.

Specialty: Conference facilitation, learning design, Open Space facilitation

Best for: Learning events and conferences prioritising active participant engagement


High-Stakes Meeting Facilitators


High-stakes facilitation requires a different skill set than standard conference work. If your organisation faces politically sensitive conversations, stakeholder complexity, or situations where neutrality is essential, these providers specialise in that space. For executive team alignment and leadership offsites, book Jonno White at jonno@consultclarity.org.


5. Resource Advisory — Sydney, Canberra, Queensland, Australia


Resource Advisory positions itself as specialists in high-stakes meeting facilitation where political sensitivity and power dynamics require careful navigation. With offices in North Sydney, Canberra, and Southeast Queensland, they offer strong, experienced facilitators for industry initiatives and stakeholder engagement. Founded in 2008, their emphasis on meeting participants as equals while addressing power dynamics directly distinguishes them in complex facilitation scenarios.

Specialty: Politically sensitive meetings, stakeholder engagement, change management

Best for: Government, industry bodies, and organisations facing complex stakeholder challenges


6. 3rdView Consulting — Queensland, Australia


3rdView Consulting delivers facilitation combined with graphic recording and visual illustration, creating outputs that provide value beyond the event itself. Based in West End, Brisbane, they offer remote facilitation capabilities alongside in-person delivery. Founded by Marie-Claire Grady, their team includes strategic facilitators Bartley Hassall and others who specialise in customer experience and human-centred design. Their emphasis on visual, active, memorable experiences through design makes them distinctive.

Specialty: Visual facilitation, graphic recording, customer experience design

Best for: Strategy workshops and transformation initiatives requiring visual documentation


7. ARRC Facilitation Team — Australia


The Australian River Restoration Centre has assembled a team of facilitators including founder Dr Siwan Lovett, Christine Ellis, Leith Boully, and Lori Gould. They offer facilitation for meetings, workshops, and community forums, particularly in environmental and governance contexts. Their team-based approach allows matching facilitator expertise to specific meeting requirements.

Website: arrc.au

Specialty: Environmental governance, community forums

Best for: Environmental organisations and community stakeholder engagement


8. Best Practice Consulting — Canberra, Australia


Best Practice Consulting provides workshop facilitation, retreat facilitation, planning days, and training across Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and broader Australia. With over 19 years of experience and 6,000 workshops delivered impacting more than 150,000 people, they work with government and corporate clients including Services Australia, Comcare, and Defence Housing Australia. Their DiSC-certified facilitators specialise in executive meetings and team effectiveness.

Specialty: Workshop facilitation, planning retreats, DiSC profiles

Best for: Government departments and corporate organisations seeking proven facilitation methods


Named Facilitators and Practitioners


Individual facilitators often bring specialised expertise and personal approaches that larger firms cannot match. When your event requires a specific style or niche expertise, working directly with a practitioner may be the better way forward.


9. Siwan Lovett — Australia


Dr Siwan Lovett works as founder of the Australian River Restoration Centre, facilitator and author, bringing a values-based approach to meeting and workshop facilitation. Her published writing on facilitation emphasises neutrality and creating conditions for productive dialogue. She works with the ARRC facilitation team and independently on governance and community contexts.

Listed via: arrc.au (as founder and lead facilitator)

Specialty: Values-based facilitation, governance meetings

Best for: Organisations prioritising neutral, thoughtful facilitation


10. Christine Ellis — Australia


Christine Ellis is available through the ARRC team for meeting and workshop facilitation. She brings experience in facilitating group discussions in environmental and community contexts, contributing to the team's capacity for matching facilitators to specific engagement needs.

Listed via: arrc.au (ARRC facilitation team)

Specialty: Meeting facilitation, workshops

Best for: Environmental and community organisations


11. Leith Boully — Australia


Leith Boully provides facilitation services through the ARRC team, specialising in environmental governance and stakeholder forums. Her experience supports organisations navigating complex multi-stakeholder conversations where different perspectives must be heard and integrated.

Listed via: arrc.au (ARRC facilitation team)

Specialty: Stakeholder forums, governance facilitation

Best for: Water management and environmental governance contexts


12. Lori Gould — Australia


Lori Gould is a facilitator available through the ARRC team for meetings, workshops, and community forums. She contributes to their capacity to support environmental and governance organisations with professional facilitation for group sessions requiring clear communication and productive outcomes.

Listed via: arrc.au (ARRC facilitation team)

Specialty: Community forums, workshop facilitation

Best for: Regional and community environmental organisations


13. Eve Clare — Regional NSW, Australia


Eve Clare serves as Lead Trainer at Mediation Institute with qualifications as a Mediator and FDR Practitioner. She was one of the first Family Group Conference facilitators in Australia through the 2011 pilot program and holds panel provider status for DCJ Family Group Conferencing. Her 15 years of experience includes extensive work with Aboriginal families in restorative practice contexts.

Specialty: Family Group Conference facilitation, restorative practice

Best for: Government, child protection, and NGO contexts requiring specialised facilitation


Facilitation Training Providers


These organisations do not offer conference facilitation for hire but provide facilitation training courses and professional development for those wanting to develop new skills in the art of facilitation. If your organisation wants hands-on team facilitation rather than training, book a Working Genius, DISC, or StrengthsFinder workshop with Jonno White at jonno@consultclarity.org.


14. Mediation Institute — Victoria, Australia


Mediation Institute provides Family Group Conference Facilitator Training along with broader mediation and facilitation accreditation. Their courses are reviewed and approved by the NSW Department, making them suitable for practitioners seeking panel eligibility. They have been delivering award-winning online mediation training since 2013.

Specialty: FGC Facilitator Training, mediation accreditation

Best for: Practitioners seeking formal credentials and panel eligibility


15. Engagement Institute (IAP2 Australasia) — Australasia


The Engagement Institute (formerly IAP2 Australasia) operates as the peak body for community and stakeholder engagement across Australasia. Their Facilitate Engagement course equips practitioners with skills for community engagement contexts, leading to nationally recognised certification. They set standards for engagement practice and offer professional development pathways.

Specialty: Community engagement facilitation training

Best for: Engagement practitioners and public sector facilitators


16. Australian Disputes Centre — Sydney, Australia


The Australian Disputes Centre defines facilitation as a dispute resolution process and offers training and events for ADR practitioners. With four decades of experience in the industry, they serve as a Recognised Accreditation Provider (RAP) under AMDRAS. They serve legal, corporate, and government organisations requiring neutral facilitation frameworks.

Specialty: Dispute resolution, ADR facilitation

Best for: Legal and corporate contexts requiring formal ADR processes


17. AJ&Smart — Berlin, Germany


AJ&Smart has built a reputation for structured facilitation training focused on workshop design and innovation methods. Jonathan Courtney's Workshopper Playbook and the Lightning Decision Jam methodology are widely referenced in facilitation practice. They have worked with companies like Google, LEGO, Daimler, and Airbnb, positioning facilitation as structured, learnable, and enjoyable rather than intimidating.

Specialty: Workshop facilitation training, design sprints

Best for: Designers, product teams, and innovation facilitators seeking structured methods


18. The Knowledge Academy — Global


The Knowledge Academy provides facilitation skills training courses accessible globally with locations in Sydney, Melbourne, and major cities worldwide. Their standardised curriculum offers a pathway for organisations building internal facilitation capability. Training focuses on core facilitation competencies applicable across multiple contexts.

Specialty: Facilitation skills training

Best for: Organisations developing internal facilitation capacity


19. Leadership Strategies — Global


Leadership Strategies offers The Effective Facilitator training program, building capability in meeting facilitation and group process management. As the only facilitation course endorsed by both IAF and INIFAC, their flagship course covers 10 principles of facilitation and over 100 techniques. They have been training facilitators since 1993, with more than 95% of attendees rating the course as one of the best they have taken.

Website: leadstrat.com

Specialty: Facilitation training, meeting management

Best for: Professionals seeking comprehensive facilitation training


Facilitation Platforms and Method Libraries


These platforms serve facilitators rather than event organisers directly. They offer tools, templates, and methodologies that skilled facilitators use to design their sessions. Life-long learners in facilitation practice will find these resources valuable for continuous learning and expanding their toolkit.


20. SessionLab — Estonia


SessionLab operates as the leading facilitation methods library and workshop planning platform with over 1,000 indexed facilitation techniques. Founded in 2013 and now serving thousands of facilitators globally, it provides drag-and-drop agenda building, automatic timing, templates, and a community for facilitators developing session designs. The platform itself does not provide facilitators but serves as essential infrastructure for the facilitation profession.

Specialty: Facilitation methods library, workshop planning tools, agenda design

Best for: Facilitators building session designs and learning new methods


21. Liberating Structures — Global


Liberating Structures provides an open-source framework of 33 facilitation microstructures developed by Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless. Techniques like 1-2-4-All and TRIZ offer repeatable structures for engaging group members in productive meetings without requiring expensive training. The framework is designed so anyone can learn and apply the methods, with detailed instructions available free on their website. Methods suit both small groups and large groups.

Specialty: Open-source facilitation methods, microstructures

Best for: Facilitators seeking practical techniques for inclusive group engagement


22. Hyper Island — Global


Hyper Island provides facilitation methods and activities including techniques like Stinky Fish and Team Purpose & Culture. Their methods focus on team development and learning design, offering structured approaches for facilitators working on team dynamics and culture. Their toolbox is freely available online.

Specialty: Team development methods, facilitation activities

Best for: Facilitators working on team culture and professional development


Facilitator Networks and Communities


23. Mi Mediator Network — Australia


The Mi Mediator Network operates as a free professional community supporting mediators and facilitators with learning and collaboration opportunities. While not a booking platform, it provides professional development and connection for practitioners. Membership supports continuous learning in mediation and facilitation practice.

Website: mimembers.au

Specialty: Professional network for mediators and facilitators

Best for: Practitioners seeking community and professional development


24. UN Youth Australia — Australia


UN Youth Australia recruits and trains volunteer facilitators for youth education programs across the country. With over 370 volunteers nationally, they provide facilitator training days and development opportunities. Their model focuses on peer-led facilitation in educational contexts rather than commercial facilitation services.

Specialty: Youth facilitation, volunteer development

Best for: Emerging facilitators seeking experience in youth education contexts


25. National Leadership Forum — Canberra, Australia


The National Leadership Forum recruits Small Group Facilitators for their four-day youth leadership program held at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra. Facilitators pay a participation fee of $795 and must attend a mandatory preparation day. This represents an opportunity for facilitators to develop skills in structured youth programs rather than a paid facilitation engagement.

Specialty: Youth leadership facilitation

Best for: Facilitators seeking experience in structured youth leadership programs


Facilitation Thought Leaders and Influencers


26. Jonathan Courtney — Berlin, Germany


Jonathan Courtney created the Lightning Decision Jam methodology and authored The Workshopper Playbook through his work as CEO of AJ&Smart. His influence on facilitation practice comes through content, training, and method development rather than direct conference facilitation services. He has worked with companies including Google, LEGO, Procter & Gamble, and Daimler.

Specialty: Facilitation methods, workshop design

Best for: Facilitators learning structured innovation methods


27. Jake Knapp — Global


Jake Knapp is referenced as a facilitation influencer whose work on design sprints has shaped modern facilitation practice. Author of the bestselling book Sprint and co-host of the Jake & Jonathan podcast with Jonathan Courtney, his contributions provide frameworks that facilitators adapt for their own practice.

Website: jakeknapp.com

Specialty: Design sprints, innovation facilitation

Best for: Product and innovation teams seeking facilitation frameworks


How to Use This Directory


This directory covers the spectrum from bookable conference facilitators to training providers to method libraries. Each serves a different need.

If you need a professional conference facilitator for your next event, start with the Conference Facilitators and MCs section or High-Stakes Meeting Facilitators section depending on your context.


If you want to build internal facilitation capability, the Training Providers section offers pathways from formal accreditation to practical skill building.


If you are a facilitator yourself seeking new skills, the Platforms and Method Libraries section provides resources for expanding your facilitation practice.


The best practices for selecting any facilitator remain consistent: verify demonstrated experience, confirm they conduct thorough preparation and meeting design, check their ability to handle group dynamics and difficult participants, and ensure their approach matches your organisation's needs.


Ready to book? Email jonno@consultclarity.org to secure your date.


Ready to Book Your Conference Facilitator?


Whether you need a facilitator for an executive team offsite, a conference breakout session, or a leadership development workshop, getting the right fit matters. The simple way forward is to book someone who delivers.


For Working Genius facilitation, team alignment workshops, or leadership keynotes, book Jonno White at jonno@consultclarity.org. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Jonno works with schools, corporates, and nonprofits globally, delivering in-person and remote facilitation.


For international conferences, clients are consistently surprised how affordable it is to bring a facilitator in from Australia. The combination of experience, proven frameworks, and competitive pricing often makes it cheaper than expected compared to local alternatives.

Secure your date: jonno@consultclarity.org


For more resources on leadership, team dynamics, and building cultures people want to join, visit consultclarity.org or subscribe to The Leadership Conversations Podcast.

 
 
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