About Jenny Potkins

 

I am a highly experienced facilitator delivering bespoke services to clients according to their needs and challenge. I use traditional and creative facilitation methods. I am a:

  • trained facilitator of different facilitation techniques
  • certified facilitator of LEGO® Serious Play® methods and materials to systems level
  • member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF).


For the past 9 years I have worked with London, UK and international organisations as a facilitator for meetings, workshops and conferences - either as standalone events or as part of larger consultancy processes. I have facilitated meetings with business, non profit and public sector leaders. My consultancy and training clients have included local, national and international charities, social enterprises, corporate CSR teams, universities and NHS teams.


My practice is informed by my qualifications in change management, my experience as a project manager, and training in coaching skills.

How I will work with you

To ensure I add maximum value to clients I listen deeply to them to understand:

  • The context for their organisation and the meeting
  • What success will look like - for the client, the people in the room and the process
  • Who is in the room - their relationships, expectations and needs.


What to expect

  • We'll start with a consultation meeting to discuss your needs, clarify the brief and agree logistics.
  • I'll work with you to ensure meeting objectives are clear, the agenda is achievable and the facilitation methods are right for your group.
  • I'll provide a plan with suggested questions for framing key conversations; and a proposed meeting structure, process and content designed to achieve your objectives.
  • We'll review the draft plan together in order to finalise it, ensuring the approach is best fit for you.
  • We'll agree what the group needs to know in advance and they will be briefed.


On the day you'll have the confidence you need to hand over the running of the meeting, knowing that a plan is in place to achieve the outcomes most important to your organisation.

"Jenny … was extremely effective in keeping us on track, as well as very helpful in responding to queries both before and after the day itself. We're in the process of getting the new strategy ready to launch now, and are all confident that it's going to be great!"

Tasha Mellins-Cohen, Executive Director at COUNTER Metrics

"She was an excellent facilitator - keeping the discussions focused on the agenda, bringing some challenge and helping to draw conclusions. … I think the biggest gain from her work with us, was that she inspired a cohort of staff to start thinking in this new way and gave us some simple tools to challenge each other constructively and produce greater alignment around where we should focus - which in nature conservation is very tough given the scale of the challenge!"

Katie-Jo Luxton, Director Global Conservation, RSPB

Jenny facilitated our staff conference for 50 to review our organisational strategy. Jenny was involved with the planning and preparation for the conference, including format for workshops and thematic discussions. Jenny is a very good facilitator who ensures that everyone has their say, manages interventions efficiently and can move the discussions along to reach conclusions. I have no hesitation in recommending Jenny.

Catherine Kevis, CEO, YSS

"Jenny facilitated workshop sessions for the British Geriatrics Society Board on charity governance and our Strategic Plan … I found her easy to work with; she has excellent listening skills and was able to build in nuances of our organisation to the design and delivery of the workshops. In the strategic discussions, she was able to stand back objectively and pull out salient points from the discussions, keeping things moving … Jenny judged the mood of the room well, handling unexpected interventions with ease and calm consideration. She was a pleasure to work with and I would have no hesitation recommending her to others as a skilled facilitator."

Sarah Mistry, CEO, British Geriatrics Society