Justin O'Connor’s Post

Yesterday was Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada: a moment to reflect on history and its consequences for generations to come. At our end, Hande Bilhan revisited the 94 Calls to Action from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to distill some key actionable takeaways for us. The 94 Calls to Action continue to provide a clear framework for leaders and organizations who want to make progress in a meaningful way. But what about organizations that don't have size and scale? 👉 Three practical takeaways stood out for us: Ask: Stay curious. Read, learn, and question, just as you would in any other area of your business. Listen: Create space to hear Indigenous voices and perspectives, whether that’s attending community events, inviting guest speakers, or simply sharing and amplifying Indigenous perspectives on your own platforms. Act: Look for opportunities to make an impact within your reach, from supporting Indigenous businesses and artists, to building partnerships, to mentoring or sponsoring initiatives. Reconciliation is ongoing work. The key is to start. #TruthAndReconciliation #CallsToAction #Leadership #Equity #GolfdaleConsulting #94CallsToAction

𝗡𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀. 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀. Noise isn’t foresight. Dominance isn’t governance. And divisiveness isn’t culture. Some board members believe that being the loudest voice in the room equals influence. In reality, it signals insecurity. Noise may win attention, but it rarely wins the future. Boards aren’t remembered for their noise but for the decisions that shaped the future. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? GovernEx Africa Future Foresight Institute (AFFI) #Governance #Leadership #BoardCulture #DecisionMaking #Foresight #BoardroomTruths #AuthenticLeadership

Our CEO Nikki Davies will be speaking at the Institute for Social Value's Annual Conference on October 9th-10th in Birmingham. She'll be joining a roundtable on 'Collaborating for Impact: From Competition to Collective Action' - exploring how organisations can move beyond competition to create meaningful collective change. This year's theme, 'Fairer Systems, Stronger Voices', focuses on building long-term transformation rooted in lived experience and shared leadership. These principles are central to our approach to creating lasting social impact for the projects we help to deliver. https://lnkd.in/gTQVgVyQ #ISVConference2025 #SocialValue #InstituteforSocialValue

How do we build a coalition to spark real change in aging across Canada? COURAGE: Action for Better Aging is showing the way using the power of Impact Networks, inspired by David Ehrlichman’s groundbreaking work. ✔️Over 1,300 Canadians engaged ✔️A coalition of 350+ changemakers formed ✔️Evolved from a learning network to a movement network ✔️Driving action through co-creation, shared leadership, and trust Read more: https://bit.ly/4nmkd1E #BeCourAGEous

Through youth-led dialogue and cross-community engagement, Wall2Wall deepened understanding of division, enriched relationships, and developed future leaders. An external evaluation called it “personally and socially transformational” impacting communities across generations and offering a blueprint for future barrier removal. Read the Impact Report to see how youth leadership is shaping peacebuilding 👉 https://lnkd.in/eNKmtDxu #GoodRelationsWeek2025 #Peacebuilding #Wall2Wall #YouthVoices International Fund for Ireland Rural Action NI

🗣️ Reflections from the Institute for Government’s event on Local Government Reorganisation and Public Service Delivery Tonight’s discussion was a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and vision. As someone working at Civica, it was powerful to hear directly from those who’ve lived through the transformation journey, especially the reflections from Rachel Joyce from North Yorkshire Council, John Denham, and others who’ve helped shape the future of local government. 💡 What stood out most: Preparation it’s foundational. Councils that succeed start early, get the nuts and bolts in place, and build capacity across HR, IT, and finance. Leadership must be collaborative. Drawing a line in the sand and working across boundaries is essential to deliver for communities. Transformation is human. Kindness, support systems, and space to think strategically are just as important as structure and savings. 🎯 We need to be more than a technology partner, we need to be a transformation partner. I left with a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer view of how Civica can support the sector through change. Thanks to Norse Group for hosting! #LocalGov #Transformation #PublicServices #Civica #Leadership #CommunityEngagement #LGR #InstituteForGovernment

What does it take to turn around public housing? 🤔 Find out on Changemakers! Katie Goar interviews Eugene E. Jones Jr., CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority, on October 21st, 2025, at 1:31 PM. 🎧 With 35 years of leadership experience, Eugene has some amazing stories to share! 🏢 We'll explore strategies for creating sustainable and thriving communities. #Changemakers #PublicHousing #Atlanta #Leadership #TuneIn #SustainableCommunities #CommunityGrowth

📣 This week at Global Policy Commons, we asked our team a simple but powerful question: “What is one policy concept everyone should know?” Why does this question matter? Because policy isn’t just for politicians — it’s for people. 🏛️ Every one of us has a stake in the decisions that shape our economies, our communities, and our collective future. Policy works best when people help shape it. True progress happens when everyone has a voice in decision-making and policy design — when citizens, communities, and leaders co-create solutions that reflect diverse perspectives and lived experiences. 🌍 Understanding foundational ideas — from the policy cycle to the credible commitment problem — empowers us to engage more effectively and lead with insight. 🎥 In our latest reel, our team highlights a few key concepts that every informed citizen, advocate, and professional should understand. #GlobalPolicyCommons #PublicPolicy #CivicEngagement #PolicyDesign #Leadership #StrategicThinking #Governance #InformedCitizenry #CollectiveAction #Education

Sparked by Collaboration: Driving Inclusive Change in Canada’s Creative Industry 🎨 Elizabeth Bunney♾️(she/her) Co-Founder and CEO of Spark Agency Group, shares how Indigenous leadership, cultural intelligence, and collaboration are reshaping marketing and communications. From authentic storytelling to meaningful partnerships, Spark is proving that inclusion is not just a trend—it’s good business. Discover how organizations can amplify Indigenous voices, build trust, and create lasting impact across Canada’s creative landscape. 🔗 Read more: Sparked by Collaboration: https://lnkd.in/gbGqh6q7 #IndigenousLeadership #InclusiveBusiness #CulturalIntelligence #IndigenousEntrepreneurs #SparkAgency #IndigenousSME

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭 Heads up: I just had a CO₂ fractional laser, so my face is a little red. Tomato vibes, I am okay. 😅 I was asked by HISA (Headway Institute of Strategic Alliance) to record a short interview. Three questions, honest answers. Q1: What is the biggest challenge youth face today, and what can young leaders do about it? Q2: How can international cooperation and youth engagement help with climate, inequality, or conflict? Q3: What innovative approaches or policies should young people push for to create real, sustainable impact? Figured I should share it here too. This is the kind of work I stand for: practical youth leadership, projects that travel across borders, and simple rules that help good ideas spread. If this resonates, say hi or tell me what you are building next. #youthleadership #ASEAN #SDGs #climateaction #policy #community #Brunei #HISA