I found this image in one of our old folders, it caught my eye and provoked reflection. What appealed to me was the different way this image could be interpreted. As so much in life relates to the eye of the beholder or the place from which something is viewed, the silhouette figure for me, represents the ‘everyman’ (does ‘everyperson’ work?). If I am he, am I running toward a sunrise or a sunset? Does this image signify the beginning of something or the end? As we move into a new phase at Performance Frontiers, which is in part represented by the launch of this new website, I think for me it is both. A beginning signifying the end of something and an ending setting up the beginning of something else. I sense that we are moving forward with optimism and a sense of purpose – there is work to do.

As christmas approaches and we enter the season of summer we’re splashing some colour across our home page with the image of the Lotus flower coming into bloom as it opens.

CREATIVE INNOVATION 2010. Nuturing ideas, inspiring minds, creating futures. Melbourne Recital Centre 8-10 September 2010.

Creative Innovation 2010 is the place to learn from world changing innovators, futurists, inspired thinkers and curious souls gathered together in an interactive community.  It’s a place to learn techniques and strategies, unlock and share ideas and gain empowering experiences.  A place to imagine the future.

Creativity is of increasingly strategic value to nations, communities and individuals in making the transition to innovation and knowledge-based economies.  Creativity and innovation are also vital for businesses exposed to globalisation, increasing competition, diversity among consumers and rapidly changing technology. Tomorrow’s competitive success will be based on creative ideas. The development of people who can imagine and create innovative new solutions is the key to future success and sustainability.

The world is limited only by our imaginations…. Imagine if people had always taken no for an answer…. Had believed in only the truths of the established orthodoxy – we’d still believe the world was flat, electricity was a hoax and men were superior to woman….

The inaugural Creative Innovation 2010 two day conference will attract leaders, thinkers and speakers from around Australia and internationally. There is also a pre-conference day of Deep Conversations and Master Classes. Gala concerts and world class performers will contribute to this unique event.

http://www.creativeinnovation2010.com.au/

We’ve been developing our particular style of facilitation and learning for many years. Recently we’ve been discussing the elements of andragogy, noting the importance of the ‘hands on’ approach in adult learning. We know our work has to be grounded in theory, it has to mean something to the people with whom we’re working and it has to be applicable and useful. What makes it truly exciting and memorable for people is the diverse nature of the experiential forms we use.

We just love the fact that ‘hands on’ works. It transforms, involves and engages people. And we know this is a must if we’re going to be able to influence any sort of meaningful and lasting change.

With a recent study showing that up to 97% of Australians aged 16-17 use at least one social networking site, should we be worried? Increasingly children are raised in front of television and computer screens. What are the effects that this can have on brain development? Do websites like Twitter and Facebook contribute to a culture of short term attentiveness?

Baroness Susan Greenfield is a neuroscientist at Oxford University and argues that we should be increasingly wary of how the changing technological environment is affecting the minds of the young. – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Baroness Susan Greenfield is a British scientist, writer, broadcaster, and member of the House of Lords. Greenfield, whose specialty is the physiology of the brain, has worked to research and bring attention to Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Greenfield is Professor of Synaptic Pharmacology at Lincoln College, Oxford, and Director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. On February 1, 2006, she was installed as Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

Dan Barber gives a wonderfully inspiring presentation on the love of fish and the future of food when grown by farmers who are experts in relationships. Ultimately this talk is about recognising the whole system and what can happen when a business is built with the whole system in mind.