Workshop: The Innovator's Toolkit

Date: Tuesday 16 May, 10.30am - 3.30pm (please note change of date), and Friday 09 June, 10-12 noon

Location: Session 1:  The Fumbally Stables, Dublin 8, and Session 2: Online via Zoom


IDEA is inviting you to join us for the first event in our Innovation Series 2023. This interactive and engaging 2-part workshop will introduce you to Innovation, as well as methods, exercises and activities that will help you identify your creative strengths, and enable you to think about, design and frame your projects differently.


The facilitators for this very first event in IDEA’s 2023 Innovation Series are Becky Hatchett, and Stéphanie Heckman of Think Visual. The aim is to equip participants with the tools they need to push the boundaries of how they think about their work, design their activities and engage with their audiences. Think Visual is a creative engagement consultancy that develops meaningful and impactful stakeholder engagement and communication. It helps organisations transform into places where people's spirit and innovation thrive, by harnessing their inherent creativity towards finding meaningful and purposeful connection to their work, their leaders and their peers. 


The challenges Global Citizenship Education works to address are always evolving. To be able to respond effectively, we need to explore new ways of thinking about our work, designing our activities and engaging with our audiences. Strengthening our ability to imagine new solutions and trialling new ideas is vital to this. This is why IDEA is providing a space for our members to experiment and push the boundaries of Global Citizenship Education, so you can harness your creativity to bring about transformational change.


“It’s about creating ‘muscle memory’ for innovative ways of thinking and acting. The only way to learn innovation is to actually take action and do things”. - Emilia Saarelainen, Innovation Fellowship Programme Manager, UNHCR Innovation Service.


The workshop will take place across 2 sessions, Tuesday 16 May, 10.30am - 3.30pm, and Friday 09 June, 10-12 noon, and the activities will be grounded in practice, offering you the chance to start designing a project (real or fictional) that relates to you and your work. This could be designing a new workshop, a ground-breaking event or looking for a solution to a challenge you’re facing.


More details to follow shortly.


Fees:

Innovator's Toolkit Workshop:

IDEA Members: €90.00

Non Members: €120.00

Unwaged ( (refugees, asylum seekers, students, others): €5.00 - this can be paid in person


A general 2-day Design Thinking and Innovation training usually costs up to €1,500 per person. So, don’t miss out this great opportunity!


The fee includes participation in both days of the training workshop, lunch as well as templates and tools to take away for each participant.


The next session in our Innovation Series 2023, is The Innovator's Studio, taking place 22 June, Richmond Barracks, Dublin 8, 10.00am – 5.00pm.


You can attend the Innovator's Toolkit Workshop or the Innovator's Studio Lab as stand alone events, but if you would like to take part in both, you can sign up for a combined reduced rate when you register below.


Fees for the Innovator's Toolkit Workshop & Innovator's Studio Lab:

IDEA Members €150.00

Non Members: €200.00

Unwaged ( (refugees, asylum seekers, students, others): €5.00 - this can be paid in person


For more information, please contact Anya Sparynska via email here


Registration for this event is closed!




Biographies

Becky Hatchett, facilitator and lead brings over 18-years consultancy experience in training development, effective communication, community engagement, hosting & facilitation, illustration & design. She is driven by a passion for promoting creativity and social wellbeing and loves to innovate around complex issues, drawing on her creative background to harvest learning and drive change. Becky is used to supporting our clients online and offline to suit their needs. Engaging, coaching and co-designing with them to reach clear, meaningful and timely outcomes. Rebecca holds academic and vocational qualifications in Art & Design, Teaching, Counselling, Mental Health First Aid, Transactional Analysis and Safeguarding.

Stéphanie Heckman, co-facilitato - Stéphanie, originally from the dune coast of The Netherlands, but now living and working in Belfast has an academic background in psychology, sociology, anthropology, linguistics and strategic sustainable leadership (MSc), as well as professional training in process design and facilitation, and visual practice. Stéphanie works internationally as an independent graphic recorder, visual facilitator and illustrator, prioritising collaborations with organisations working to address the climate crisis, peace & reconciliation, and leadership development. She has recently been focused on visually supporting the global political process for addressing climate change in partnership with the UN Climate Secretariat (UNFCCC).

July 30, 2026
IDEA is seeking an experienced Communications Manager to lead our strategic communications and public engagement work. IDEA is the national network for Development/Global Citizenship Education (GCE) in Ireland. We work with over 100 member organisations and individuals to strengthen the sector through collaboration, professional learning, research, policy engagement and advocacy. Development Education /Global Citizenship Education enables people to understand the world around them, think critically about global justice and sustainability, and take informed action to help create a more just and sustainable future. Reporting to the CEO, the Communications Manager will lead the development and delivery of IDEA's communications strategy, strengthen engagement with members and partners, raise the profile of IDEA, its members and the Global Citizenship Education sector, and communicate the value and impact of their work to a wide range of audiences. Key Responsibilities The successful candidate will: Lead IDEA's strategic communications and public engagement work. Develop and deliver communications strategies and annual communications plans. Raise the profile of IDEA, its members and the wider Global Citizenship Education sector. Communicate the impact of IDEA's work and showcase the work, learning and impact of members. Lead digital communications, media relations and organisational communications. Build relationships with members, partners, policymakers, media and other stakeholders. Salary and Benefits Salary: €49,522 - €55,737 per annum, depending on experience Full-time, one-year fixed-term contract. IDEA intends this to be an ongoing role, with the opportunity for the position to become permanent, subject to funding. May consider 4 day arrangement. Applications from candidates seeking a four-day working week will be considered 6.5% employer contribution to a contributory pension scheme Hybrid working arrangements (Dublin city centre office) Opportunities for professional development About You You'll bring: At least five years' relevant communications experience Experience developing and delivering communications strategies Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills Experience managing digital communications, websites and social media Strong stakeholder engagement and project management skills An understanding of, or interest in, Global Citizenship Education, education, international development or the wider not-for-profit sector. How to Apply Please read the Job Description and Application Information PDF before applying. It contains the full role description, person specification, terms and conditions and application instructions. Applications should include: A current CV. A cover letter (maximum two pages). Email applications to recruitment@ideaonline.ie with the subject line Communications role. The deadline for applications is Thursday 17 September, 9.00am (Irish time).
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