Meeting the challenges arising from contemporary issues - climate change, social dislocation, spiritual emptiness - has become a major preoccupation of many in community and business leadership roles. In uncertain times, community responses range from denial, anxiety, to expectations of quick fixes by those in leadership positions.

If our communities and organisations are to grow towards more sustainable futures, it is important for leaders to be equipped with tools enabling them to encourage and inspire their community through this time of transition. The oases Graduate School, through its Community Learning and Research Centre, offers a workshop to provide people working in community and business leadership roles with conceptual and practical tools for developing new approaches and ways of practicing and relating in their respective contexts.

Prominent presenters such as Nic Frances, former CEO of the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and presently involved in the social enterprise movement, Professor Frank Fisher, Australian Environmental Educator of the Year, as well as Dr Cristina Neesham, author of ‘Human and Social Progress’ and Dr Tricia Hiley, organisational consultant with PotentialSpace, will engage participants in exploring new maps and models of ‘doing’ leadership and understanding effective ways to involve their communities and organisations in this process. The workshop is relevant for anyone who works in strategy, planning and innovation, the government, community and non-government, business and not-for-profit sectors, or who is interested in being at the forefront of responding rather than reacting to the challenges presented to our globe and to society and individuals at this time.