Shari Virjee Tañada speaks with SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue executive director, Aftab Erfan. Together they explore what it means to bring your whole self to dialogue and how to prepare as both a facilitator and a participant for different selves to bump into each other.

Explore More:

• Learn more about Deep Democracy
• Explore dialogue approaches such as the World Café, Open Space Technology and the Circle Practice in The Art of Hosting

About Dr. Aftab Erfan:

Dr. Aftab Erfan is Executive Director of SFU Centre for Dialogue and Associate Member at SFU School of Public Policy. Previously, she served as the City of Vancouver’s inaugural Chief Equity Officer, and Director of Dialogue and Conflict Engagement at UBC. She holds a PhD in planning from UBC, a Masters in planning from McGill University, and a BSc in environmental sciences from UBC. Aftab has extensive experience as a process designer and facilitator, specializing in hosting dialogues on contentious issues with warmth and creativity.

Learn More About Aftab

About Shari Virjee Tañada:

Shari has several years' experience as an educational consultant in Canada and Asia, facilitating experiential learning to a wide range of audiences, collaborating on transformational projects, and delivering meaningful outcomes. With the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Shari served as Program Coordinator for a revamped Semester in Dialogue on the theme, The Future of Healthcare.

Learn More About Shari

Recording Date:

December 13, 2023

In episode two of our first season, Shari Virjee Tañada sits down with SFU Vancouver’s executive director, Laurie Anderson, to speak with him about his time as interim executive director for SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and his views on leading with dialogue.

Explore More:

• Explore what SFU Vancouver has to offer
• Check out the Contemplative Inquiry and Approaches in Education MEd program

About Dr. Laurie Anderson:

Dr. Laurie Anderson is the Executive Director of Simon Fraser University's Vancouver campus. Laurie is also an Adjunct professor in the Faculty of Education, previously the Interim Executive Director at SFU's Centre for Dialogue, and the co-developer of SFU's popular Masters in Contemplative Inquiry and Approaches to Education. Before coming to SFU, Laurie spent 30 years in the public education system, as a teacher, principal, Director of Curriculum, Associate Superintendent and Interim Superintendent of Schools for the Vancouver Board of Education. Laurie is a three-time alumnus of SFU, completing his BEd, MA and PhD at the university.

Learn More About Laurie

About Shari Virjee Tañada:

Shari has several years' experience as an educational consultant in Canada and Asia, facilitating experiential learning to a wide range of audiences, collaborating on transformational projects, and delivering meaningful outcomes. With the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Shari served as Program Coordinator for a revamped Semester in Dialogue on the theme, The Future of Healthcare.

Learn More About Shari

Recording Date:

December 6, 2023

Season One host, Shari Virjee Tañada interviews Dr. Mark L. Winston about getting to dialogue. They dig into the difference between dialogue and other forms of conversation while also exploring dialogue’s place in deepening relationships and moving together towards a common purpose.

Explore More:

• Read more from Mark on his blog, Winston Hive
• Check out Listening to the Bees by Mark L. Winston and Renée Sarojini Saklikar
• Learn more about Deep Democracy and the Cultural Iceberg and Communication Model
• Check out the Manabu Ikeda: Flowers from the Wreckage art exhibition

About Dr. Mark Winston:

Mark L. Winston has had a distinguished career researching, teaching, writing and commenting on bees and agriculture, environmental issues and science policy. More recently, he has used dialogue in classrooms, corporations, non-profit organizations, government and community settings to develop leadership and communication skills, conduct strategic planning, inspire organizational change and thoughtfully engage public audiences with controversial issues.

Learn More About Mark

About Shari Virjee Tañada:

Shari has several years' experience as an educational consultant in Canada and Asia, facilitating experiential learning to a wide range of audiences, collaborating on transformational projects, and delivering meaningful outcomes. With the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Shari served as Program Coordinator for a revamped Semester in Dialogue on the theme, The Future of Healthcare.

Learn More About Shari

Recording Date:

November 22, 2023