About me
Marjeta Novak began her consulting practice in 2004, offering innovative, participatory, and practical processes for whole systems, aligning their visions and forging ways forward together. Based in Slovenia, she has worked in over 25 countries globally, using strength-based approaches to bring out the best in individuals and collectives.
Marjeta strongly believes that how we gather is as powerful as what is on the agenda. Thus, the participatory experience not only brings positive, tangible outcomes but also strengthens connections and regenerates the ad hoc community of the participants gathered.
Born and raised in the highly multicultural Yugoslavia (a country that no longer exists), Marjeta is comfortable with chaos and conflict, which proves invaluable when hosting dialogues across divides. She is also a certified trainer/facilitator/mediator in Nonviolent Communication —an empathy-based approach that helps people connect and transform tensions even in the most intense situations.
Marjeta particularly enjoys working with large groups, from whole-system multi-stakeholder strategic dialogues to designing and facilitating engaging conferences, conventions, and networking events. She is known for a fresh yet professional approach, using a broad toolkit of frameworks, methods, and practices to achieve great results in online, face-to-face, and hybrid spaces.
In 2024, Marjeta relocated from her native Slovenia (Europe) to the US (greater Washington DC area), bringing two decades of international experience spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. For complex projects, she collaborates with a trusted network of talented colleagues worldwide, ensuring comprehensive and impactful outcomes.
For two terms, Marjeta served as Chapter Lead for the Slovenian Association of Facilitators and as a regional steward of the Art of Hosting Conversations That Matter global network, promoting participatory processes and supporting new generations of facilitators.
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Sample multi-stakeholder strategic dialogues:
- Design and facilitation of nine online Global Conversations involving diverse health stakeholders and affected communities worldwide to validate Wellcome Trust's discussion paper and devise strategies to reform the infectious disease research and development ecosystem globally; in collaboration with CoLab International
- A series of regional dialogues worldwide organized by the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat to gather multi-stakeholder feedback on the implementation of the 100 Days Mission for pandemic preparedness; in collaboration with CoLab International
- A series of regional multi-stakeholder alignment on measures to combat invasive alien species involving all 27 European Union member states; in collaboration with On:Subject
- A series of over 30 national and local multi-stakeholder workshops on Roma inclusion in Slovenia
- Needs assessment and strategy input for the National Public Health Institute devising national workplace mental health strategy – using participatory narrative sensemaking approach
- Design, training and facilitation of consultative multi-stakeholder quality improvement initiatives for the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Multi-stakeholder consultations for the Slovenian National Environmental Action Programme 2030
- Multi-stakeholder consultations for the National Energy Concept 2030 of Slovenia
- Citizen engagement for Vision of Slovenia 2050 (series of workshops), feeding into the Strategy of Slovenia 2030 (client: Government of Slovenia)
Participatory OD dialogues:
- Collaboration reflection and learning engagement for Equality Fund Initiative Canada
- Programme integration workshop for Norwegian Refugee Council
- 3-D mapping to strengthen the European Commission participatory ecosystem
- Series of global strategic workshops for the Center of Nonviolent Communication
- Strategic workshop for Bridge47 global citizenship education network
- Numerous corporate strategic workshops (from C-level to whole-system dialogues)
Participatory conferences and other large-group learning and networking events:
- Facilitation of hybrid participatory engagement at the annual SME Assembly organized by European Commission's DG GROW; connecting 400 participants onsite and 200 participants online (in collaboration with CoCreativeFlow)
- World Health Organization Coalition of Partners expert meeting to strengthen public health services in Europe
- Bridge47 annual global summits
- Association of Association Executives annual conference (as part of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) team)
- Slovenian Chamber of Commerce annual summits
- World of Synergy conferences
- Annual Focus/Umanotera Sustainable Community Resource Management Platform in-person learning and networking events
Facilitation trainings:
- Co-led over ten three-day Art of Participatory Leadership trainings (Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands)
- Led over 15 facilitation trainings for public sector employees
- Led over 100 nonviolent communication trainings in Europe, Asia and Oceania
- Co-led workshops on story-based participatory sensemaking in complex contexts (in collaboration with Belgium-based Voices That Count)
- Led sessions at events organized by the International Association of Facilitators