Dialogue Matters
dialogue matters was set up in 2000. Our unique strength is that we combine qualifications and experience in environmental management with the skills and experience to design, facilitate and advise on good practice stakeholder participation. We have trained over 300 environmental professionals and academics in our open course and through in house training. Our training is rooted in our experience of designing and facilitating environmental dialogue here and abroad. Organisations we have done work for include: Defra, Natural England, The Environment Agency, CCW, CEFAS, UKCIP, Wildlife Trusts, European projects, DG Environment, UN Regional Sea Conventions, Academic Institutes, environmental ministries in eastern European, and for a pan African network of senior scientists and policy makers
If we want better environmental decisions we need more people with skills to run, or commission, good practice stakeholder participation. We can provide you with the training you need.
Our courses will help participants:
Explore the benefits and challenges of involving stakeholders in decisions about the environment
Understand the principles and concepts of stakeholder participation
Learn practical facilitation skills and how to design a participation process
If we want better environmental decisions we need more people with skills to run, or commission, good practice stakeholder participation. We can provide you with the training you need.
Our courses will help participants:
Explore the benefits and challenges of involving stakeholders in decisions about the environment
Understand the principles and concepts of stakeholder participation
Learn practical facilitation skills and how to design a participation process
Dialogue Matters is based in Wye, Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom
dialogue matters was set up in 2000. Our unique strength is that we combine qualifications and experience in management of the natural environment, with the skills and experience to design and facilitate stakeholder participation in ecological and environmental discussions. We also facilitate events that help specialists discuss science, best practice or develop collaborative research. We write user-friendly documents and reports, undertake research, and provide training. We undertake work here and abroad and work at local, regional and international levels.
Our ethos and approach
We combine qualifications and many years experience in the management of the natural environment (including marine and coastal management) with the conviction that genuine sustainability can only result from well-run participation and dialogue which fosters understanding and action across sectors - and we have the skills and experience to make it happen.
The underlying principle in all our work is that whenever possible, people should be actively involved in helping to make decisions that affect them or their interests. To achieve this we design and run processes that capture knowledge and foster co-operation. We help people work together to understand each other s perspective, explore issues and agree a way forward that delivers the maximum possible benefit for all concerned and for the environment.
Our experience means that when we are designing processes and facilitating we understand many of the language, acronyms, issues and organisations in the discussion. We use our expertise and knowledge to ask the right questions, understand the answers, and, if required, express the combined knowledge and expertise of stakeholders in user-friendly reports.
Well-run and well-delivered stakeholder dialogue is crucial to success and we have a high commitment to best practice. This means we are continually reviewing and refining our approach and skills in the light of feedback from stakeholders, emerging research evidence, and developing practice. We also have a strong commitment to building understanding, capacity, and skills within the environment sector. We have extensive experience in running our own training courses, delivering in-house training to other organisations, providing advice, and promoting good practice internationally.
We place a high importance on the value of well-designed processes that set workshops within their context and provide a clear sense of direction to participants. The basis of our approach is the ethics, principles and practice of Stakeholder Dialogue/ Consensus Building. This is considered a best practice approach to participation.
While we have extensive experience in stakeholder dialogue/ consensus building, we also draw from a wide range of other approaches tools and techniques
Our ethos and approach
We combine qualifications and many years experience in the management of the natural environment (including marine and coastal management) with the conviction that genuine sustainability can only result from well-run participation and dialogue which fosters understanding and action across sectors - and we have the skills and experience to make it happen.
The underlying principle in all our work is that whenever possible, people should be actively involved in helping to make decisions that affect them or their interests. To achieve this we design and run processes that capture knowledge and foster co-operation. We help people work together to understand each other s perspective, explore issues and agree a way forward that delivers the maximum possible benefit for all concerned and for the environment.
Our experience means that when we are designing processes and facilitating we understand many of the language, acronyms, issues and organisations in the discussion. We use our expertise and knowledge to ask the right questions, understand the answers, and, if required, express the combined knowledge and expertise of stakeholders in user-friendly reports.
Well-run and well-delivered stakeholder dialogue is crucial to success and we have a high commitment to best practice. This means we are continually reviewing and refining our approach and skills in the light of feedback from stakeholders, emerging research evidence, and developing practice. We also have a strong commitment to building understanding, capacity, and skills within the environment sector. We have extensive experience in running our own training courses, delivering in-house training to other organisations, providing advice, and promoting good practice internationally.
We place a high importance on the value of well-designed processes that set workshops within their context and provide a clear sense of direction to participants. The basis of our approach is the ethics, principles and practice of Stakeholder Dialogue/ Consensus Building. This is considered a best practice approach to participation.
While we have extensive experience in stakeholder dialogue/ consensus building, we also draw from a wide range of other approaches tools and techniques
 online course |
 instructor-led class |
 learn at home |
 group study |
 self-directed study |
 cd-based training |
 DVD video training |
 printed book |
 e-book digital book |
 workshop seminar |
 train the trainer |
 computer-based learning |
 discount pricing |
 online tutorial |
Good Practice Stakeholder Participation... With A Focus on the Environment
: This 3-day training course, run by Diana Pound, helps participants develop good practice skills in stakeholder participation with a focus on the better management of the natural environment. The course is run in Wye, Kent, SE UK several times per year.
The management of sustainable environments and ecosystems requires complex and integrated thinking. This can only be achieved through genuine dialogue between responsible organisations, stakeholders, relevant experts and other interested people. This course more...
Natural Connections - achieving more with less across rural urban landscapes - 17th March 2011
: This conference is about integrated management, enhancement and creation of natural networks and linkages that have multiple functions and deliver multiple benefits for people and nature. This could include wildlife links, flood control, recreation, health, climate mitigation and a host of other benefits. This agenda is increasingly at the heart of agencies and NGOa ™s work and looks set to be the focus of the White Paper. But with fewer resources to achieve all this, it has never been more relevant for public bodies, NGOa ™s, other interests and communities, to all work more...
- S asked: I have read about your course and understand that one is being run at the end of June. I am currently working on an upland common and feel it is exactly what I need to get the project moving on to the next stage Tust is a tiny trust with members in one of the most rural counties of the UK- is it possible to resuce the course fees for a small charity and if so what price would you charge. I look forward to hearing from you Kind Regards about Good Practice Stakeholder Participation... With A Focus on the Environment
- O asked: Please could you let me know about the training you provide on dialogue, what approach you use, plus dates and fees. thanks about Dialogue Matters
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