SPEAKING

Speaking with Elk Willow Consulting is designed to do more than fill a program agenda. Whether the event is a keynote address, professional learning workshop, conference session, facilitated conversation, retreat, symposium, or team-building experience, our speaking engagements are created to help people think deeply, connect meaningfully, and leave with practical ideas they can use in their work.

Elk Willow Consulting provides customized speaking services for educational organizations, school authorities, professional associations, government partners, nonprofit organizations, leadership teams, boards, and community groups. Speaking topics often focus on educational leadership, system improvement, strategic planning, instructional leadership, innovation, assessment, artificial intelligence in education, complexity, change, implementation, organizational culture, team development, adult learning, and the future of learning. Each session is designed to reflect the purpose, audience, context, and goals of the event.

Our approach to speaking is grounded in the belief that powerful learning experiences connect head, heart, and hands. Participants need ideas that stretch their thinking, stories that help them see the work differently, and practical tools that help them move from reflection to action. For this reason, speaking engagements with Elk Willow Consulting are interactive, thoughtful, research-informed, and connected to the real challenges leaders and educators are facing.

A keynote, workshop, or facilitated session can help create shared language across a system, open up a new direction for professional learning, support leadership development, launch a strategic priority, or help a group make sense of complexity and change. Rather than offering a generic presentation, Elk Willow Consulting works with each client to understand the event's purpose and design a session that fits the audience. The goal is to create an experience that feels relevant, energizing, and useful.

Whether you are planning a school division professional learning day, leadership retreat, education conference, board session, staff development event, community conversation, or organizational gathering, Elk Willow Consulting can provide speaking support that invites reflection, strengthens capacity, and helps participants imagine what is possible. Our speaking services bring together lived leadership experience, current research, practical tools, and a deep commitment to helping people and organizations grow.

Keynote Address

A keynote address with Elk Willow Consulting is designed to open, anchor, or elevate an event by giving participants a shared experience, a common language, and a meaningful invitation to think differently. A strong keynote does more than introduce a topic. It sets the tone for the day, connects people to the purpose of the gathering, and creates momentum for the conversations, learning, and action that follow.

Elk Willow Consulting provides customized keynote addresses for education conferences, professional learning days, leadership retreats, school authority events, association gatherings, board learning sessions, symposiums, and community events. Keynote topics can be designed around educational leadership, innovation, system change, instructional leadership, strategic planning, assessment, artificial intelligence in education, leadership in uncertain times, futures thinking, organizational culture, implementation, collaboration, and the conditions that help people and systems learn.

Each keynote is developed in conversation with the client so that the message reflects the event theme, audience, organizational context, and desired outcomes. A keynote for school leaders will not sound the same as a keynote for teachers, educational assistants, trustees, system leaders, parents, community partners, or multidisciplinary teams. The language, examples, stories, and tools are shaped to meet the people in the room while also stretching their thinking toward what is possible.

The strength of an Elk Willow Consulting keynote is the blend of research, story, leadership experience, practical application, and reflective provocation. Participants are invited to consider the complexity of their work, examine the assumptions that shape current practice, and imagine new ways to lead, learn, and work together. The experience is intended to be inspiring and grounded. People should leave not only feeling encouraged, but also better equipped to name the work ahead.

A keynote address can help launch a new strategic direction, create coherence across a system, introduce a professional learning theme, support leadership development, or provide a fresh lens on a persistent challenge. Whether the goal is to inspire, challenge, align, or activate a group, Elk Willow Consulting creates keynote experiences that honour the audience, connect to the event's purpose, and support meaningful growth beyond the moment.

Concurrent Session Presenter

Concurrent sessions with Elk Willow Consulting are designed for conferences, professional learning events, leadership gatherings, and organizational learning days where participants seek a focused, engaging, and practical learning experience. These sessions are more than presentations. They are designed as workshop-style learning opportunities where participants can explore an idea, connect it to their own context, and leave with tools, questions, or next steps they can use immediately.

Elk Willow Consulting offers concurrent sessions for educators, school leaders, system leaders, educational assistants, trustees, nonprofit leaders, government partners, and community organizations. Session topics may include educational leadership, instructional leadership, assessment, artificial intelligence in education, implementation, strategic planning, school improvement, team development, adult learning, inclusive practice, universal design for learning, innovation, futures thinking, complexity, governance, and leading change. Sessions can be designed for general audiences or tailored for specific groups such as principals, teachers, central office leaders, school-based leadership teams, or cross-sector partners.

A strong concurrent session must respect the time, expertise, and lived experience of participants. Elk Willow Consulting designs sessions that are interactive, accessible, and purposeful. Participants may be invited to reflect, discuss, analyze scenarios, examine examples, use planning tools, engage with research-informed frameworks, or consider how an idea applies to their own leadership or professional practice. The goal is not to overwhelm participants with information, but to create the right conditions for insight, dialogue, and action.

Each session is customized to the conference theme, learning goals, and audience needs. This customization helps ensure that the session fits within the larger event while still providing a distinct and memorable learning experience. Participants should leave with greater clarity, new language, practical strategies, and a stronger sense of how to move their work forward.

Concurrent sessions are especially useful when an organization wants participants to go deeper into a particular topic, experience a more hands-on form of professional learning, or engage in meaningful conversation with others who share similar challenges. Elk Willow Consulting brings energy, thoughtfulness, practical tools, and strong facilitation to each session so that participants are supported to learn, connect, and take purposeful next steps.

Event Facilitation

Event facilitation with Elk Willow Consulting supports organizations to design and lead meaningful gatherings where people can learn, contribute, collaborate, and make progress together. Conferences, symposiums, retreats, public engagement sessions, leadership meetings, planning days, and large group learning events require more than a schedule and a room. They require intentional design, skillful facilitation, clear purpose, thoughtful pacing, and attention to how people will participate in the work.

Elk Willow Consulting works with clients to plan and facilitate events that bring people together around important questions, shared priorities, complex challenges, or future possibilities. This may include education conferences, school authority professional learning days, strategic planning retreats, leadership team sessions, board and senior leadership gatherings, community conversations, stakeholder engagement sessions, implementation planning meetings, or cross-sector collaboration events. Facilitation can support groups who are launching new work, strengthening alignment, gathering input, building relationships, navigating change, or making sense of uncertainty.

Effective event facilitation creates the conditions for people to do their best thinking together. Elk Willow Consulting helps clients clarify the event's purpose, identify desired outcomes, design the day's flow, select appropriate activities, prepare guiding questions, support participant engagement, and capture the learning or decisions that emerge. Depending on the group's needs, facilitation may include large-group dialogue, small-group conversation, scenario-based activities, planning protocols, reflection tools, sensemaking processes, team-building structures, or decision-making routines.

The role of the facilitator is to keep the process moving so participants can focus on the work. This includes creating a respectful and productive environment, attending to group dynamics, making space for multiple voices, helping participants surface patterns and tensions, and supporting the group to move toward clarity and action. Elk Willow Consulting brings strong experience facilitating groups across education, government, community, and organizational settings.

Event facilitation is especially valuable when the stakes are high, the topic is complex, the group is diverse, or the organization wants the gathering to produce more than conversation. With thoughtful design and skilled facilitation, events can become powerful moments of alignment, learning, relationship-building, and forward movement. Elk Willow Consulting helps organizations create events that are purposeful, participatory, and connected to meaningful outcomes.

Stories from the Field

When I speak to groups, I’m not delivering a script — I’m opening a space. A keynote or session is an invitation to think differently, to be unsettled in meaningful ways, and to leave with language and tools that spark change. Whether it’s a room full of educators, community members, or leaders from diverse fields, I work to create experiences that connect head, heart, and hands.

These Field Notes share moments where a single idea, conversation, or provocation became the seed of something bigger. They’re stories of courage, insight, and shared possibility.

- Stories From The Field -
Event Facilitation

- Field Notes -

Leaders Who Learn – A Retreat for Purposeful Practice

The Challenge

Leaders across sectors — from education and business to public service — are facing challenges that differ markedly from those of the past. Rapid change, complexity, and shifting societal expectations necessitate new approaches to leadership and decision-making. Yet many leaders are so focused on day-to-day demands that they rarely have time to reflect deeply on their practice or explore innovative approaches with peers.

The Solution

I designed and facilitated Leaders Who Learn: A Retreat for Purposeful Practice, a gathering that brought together leaders from diverse fields to pause, reflect, and grow. Participants were invited to arrive with a real problem from their organization — something they were actively trying to solve.

The retreat combined individual reflection with structured small- and large-group conversations. I integrated interactive facilitation strategies with collaborative technology tools to capture and synthesize ideas in real time. This created a dynamic environment where leaders could see connections across contexts, learn from one another’s experiences, and test new approaches.

The Impact

Participants left with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives to address the challenges they brought with them. Many reported renewed confidence in their leadership and a clearer sense of how to adapt their style to meet current demands. The retreat also fostered a network of leaders committed to ongoing learning and collaboration beyond the event.

By intentionally creating space for reflection, dialogue, and shared problem-solving, the retreat demonstrated how facilitation can spark insight and innovation — and help leaders lead with greater purpose and impact.

- Field Notes -

Facilitating Technology Adoption Through Tailored Training

The Challenge

The Solution

I was brought in to design and facilitate a comprehensive learning series to support the rollout of the initiative. I began by working closely with the technology provider and the project management team to gain a deep understanding of the tool and its potential applications. From there, I developed a customized training program that introduced the technology in stages, combining hands-on learning with clear, practical guidance.

The facilitation process didn’t end with the initial sessions. I built in follow-up supports — including coaching, check-ins, and troubleshooting opportunities — to ensure that participants could integrate the new tools into their daily workflows.

The Impact

The result was a smooth and successful adoption of technology. Staff reported greater confidence in using the platform, teams integrated it into their work more quickly, and the organization achieved the outcomes it had envisioned.

The partnership was so effective that the organization has since engaged me to facilitate future onboarding processes for new technologies — a testament to the power of thoughtful facilitation in enabling meaningful change.

- Field Notes -

Connecting Community Through a Small Business Pop-Up Series

The Challenge

Small business owners often struggle to connect with local audiences and showcase their offerings, particularly in smaller communities where visibility is limited. Community members, meanwhile, may be unaware of the goods and services available in their own neighbourhoods. A stronger connection between businesses and their community was needed to support local economies and strengthen relationships.

The Solution

I designed and facilitated a series of Small Business Pop-Up events, bringing together local entrepreneurs to share their products, services, and stories. The events were intentionally informal and accessible, designed to foster conversation and connection rather than transactional exchanges.

Facilitation strategies focused on creating a welcoming environment for dialogue, encouraging owners to collaborate and cross-promote, and highlighting the diverse range of talent and innovation within the community.

The Impact

The events had immediate and lasting effects. Community members developed a deeper appreciation for the businesses around them and discovered new ways to support local entrepreneurs. Business owners gained visibility, met new customers, and built networks with one another — outcomes that extended well beyond the events themselves.

This case demonstrates how facilitation can serve as a catalyst for economic and social connection, turning a simple gathering into a platform for growth and community building.

- Stories From The Field -
Concurrent Session Provider

- Field Notes -

Leading Through Uncertainty

The Challenge

The Solution

I designed an interactive concurrent session titled “Leading During Uncertain Times.” Rather than presenting fixed answers, the session created space for leaders to think, talk, and imagine their way through complexity. Using reflective prompts and leadership scenarios drawn from real-world contexts, participants explored strategies for adaptive leadership, scenario planning, and decision-making under pressure.

The emphasis was on building leadership agility — the capacity to move forward even without complete information, while staying grounded in purpose and values. Through facilitated conversation, participants surfaced new ways of framing challenges and practiced leading through them collaboratively.

The Impact

Feedback from participants highlighted the value of having a structured yet open space to wrestle with uncertainty. Leaders left the session feeling more confident and better equipped with tools and mindsets they could apply immediately in their contexts. Many reported using the scenario-based strategies with their own teams, enabling them to navigate change more intentionally and proactively.

This session underscored that uncertainty is not a barrier to leadership — it is the context in which leadership is most needed.

- Field Notes -

Using Data for Strategic Leadership

The Challenge

The Solution

I designed a concurrent session titled “Using Your Data: What Are the Next Steps?” The session guided leaders through a process of examining both their quantitative metrics and the qualitative stories unfolding in their schools. Through structured analysis and reflective discussion, participants compared the narratives they believed about their organizations with the evidence in front of them.

We explored how to triangulate data sources, identify gaps between perception and reality, and use insights to inform strategic planning and day-to-day decision-making.

The Impact

The session was a turning point for many participants. Leaders reported realizing that some of their long-held assumptions about their schools did not align with the evidence — and that this misalignment was limiting their ability to lead effectively. By the end of the workshop, participants felt equipped to use data more intentionally and confidently as a lever for improvement.

The session transformed data from a compliance requirement into a dynamic tool for strategic leadership.

- Field Notes -

Uncovering Bias in Assessment

The Challenge

The Solution

I led a concurrent session titled “Uncovering Bias in Assessment: A Practical Workshop for School Leaders.” Through guided reflection and interactive activities, participants examined how bias shows up in assessment design, interpretation, and use. Together, we explored tools and strategies to disrupt inequitable practices and foster more inclusive approaches.

The session was deliberately hands-on and immediately applicable. Leaders practiced using facilitation tools they could take back to their schools, enabling them to lead similar conversations with their staff.

The Impact

Participants reported feeling empowered and equipped to engage their school teams in meaningful conversations about bias and assessment. They left with concrete strategies and a deeper understanding of how assessment decisions impact student opportunity and success.

The session helped shift leaders’ mindsets from seeing assessment as a technical task to recognizing it as a deeply human practice — one that, when approached with equity in mind, can transform student learning experiences.

- Stories From The Field -
Keynote Address

- Field Notes -

Using GBA+ to Uncover Bias in Leadership Decision-Making

The Challenge

The Solution

I was invited to deliver the keynote address on “Uncovering Bias in Decision-Making.” I centered the talk on GBA+ (Gender-Based Analysis Plus), presenting it not merely as a policy tool but as a robust decision-making lens. We explored how GBA+ can systematically reveal inequities and blind spots while integrating local context to ensure decisions are responsive and relevant.

Through real-world examples and guided reflection, I challenged participants to examine their current processes and consider where unexamined assumptions may shape outcomes. I also shared strategies for building organizational cultures that actively question and test decisions for bias, creating conditions where equity is not an afterthought but a guiding principle.

The Impact

The keynote catalyzed significant shifts in how organizations approached their work. Many participants reported adopting GBA+ as part of their strategic planning and program design, enabling them to make more equitable and transparent decisions. Leaders shared that the framework gave them confidence to navigate complex decisions with a clearer understanding of how policies and practices affect diverse communities.

The event demonstrated that when bias is addressed systematically rather than reactively, organizations can build more inclusive and responsive systems — and lead with greater integrity and impact.

- Field Notes -

Launching the School Year with a Focus on Inclusion

The Challenge

A large school division invited me to deliver the keynote address at their annual school start-up event. The leadership team wanted to inspire teachers and staff to examine their practices through an equity lens and to create learning environments where every student feels seen, supported, and included. The challenge was clear: even well-intentioned practices can inadvertently exclude learners.

The Solution

My keynote, “Creating Inclusive Learning Environments,” invited educators to reflect deeply on who their classrooms serve — and, just as importantly, who they may leave out. We explored how identity, culture, ability, and lived experience intersect with learning, and how subtle decisions about curriculum, routines, and relationships shape inclusion.

I shared practical strategies and classroom examples that demonstrated how small but intentional shifts could transform student experiences. Educators left with actionable ideas to adapt their practice and foster belonging for all learners.

The Impact

The keynote helped reframe inclusion from a compliance task into a creative, ongoing practice. Teachers reported using the examples shared as starting points for change, leading to more responsive teaching and richer classroom participation. Leaders noted a shift in the tone of staff conversations, with inclusion becoming a central focus of planning and collaboration throughout the year.

By starting the school year with a shared commitment to inclusion, the division built momentum for lasting cultural and instructional change.

- Field Notes -

Building a Community Mental Health Strategy

The Challenge

The Solution

I was invited to deliver a keynote focused on mental health literacy as a foundation for collective action. In the session, we explored how a common language around mental health could bridge gaps between agencies, professionals, and community members. I shared the core components of a mental health literacy framework and illustrated how it could guide conversations, reduce stigma, and align strategies across different parts of the community.

The Impact

The keynote provided the group with both a conceptual framework and a practical starting point for building their mental health strategy. Participants reported feeling more confident discussing mental health and more equipped to design collaborative responses. The group later invited me back to support the next stages of their work, building on the foundation we had established.

This experience demonstrated the power of shared language and collective understanding as catalysts for meaningful community action on mental health.

Let’s Create Meaningful Change Together

Connect with Elk Willow Consulting to explore how we can help your organization grow, innovate, and thrive.

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ABOUT SPEAKING

COLLABORATIONS

TESTIMONIALS

Lori Roe

Private Practice at Lori L. Roe Counselling

I have had the opportunity to work with Adelee and Elk Willow Consulting in a number of different roles and environments. Our work has focused on Mental Health Literacy and knowledge implementation, especially in education settings. My consistent experience has been a positive one. Adelee is a visionary who is passionate about the work that she does, and that passion is demonstrated in everything that she does. She is always collaborative and works alongside those she partners with; never taking over, nor losing sight of what the end goal is. Her experience and expertise allows her to see what those she works with are hoping to achieve, and offers clarity and insight into the ways they can achieve those goals. She will challenge you, however it is always in a way that makes you think and opens up new ways of approaching your situation. Anyone who has met Adelee is instantly caught up in her positive energy and excitement, lending renewed optimism and energy, even in this challenging time.

Dr. Naomi Johnson

Former Chief Superintendent, Calgary Board of Education

Adelee Penner is a gifted woman whose positive attitude, intelligence and generous spirit cause her to be a dream colleague. She is downright exceptional! Her knowledge of current educational practice is vast, challenging the thinking of each colleague in every circumstance in a most respectful way. Her ability to adapt to each person’s learning style is noteworthy, demonstrating that she values the ideas of others. Her ability to move back and forth between the “big picture” and detail is a quality that is evident in her leadership practice. Adelee’s dedication to colleagues reaching their full potential in practice and in thinking makes her an ideal choice as an education consultant.

Call Us

SPEAKING

Keynote Address

Concurrent Session Presenter

Event Facilitation

Stories from the Field

- Stories From The Field - Event Facilitation

- Field Notes -

Leaders Who Learn – A Retreat for Purposeful Practice

- Field Notes -

Facilitating Technology Adoption Through Tailored Training

- Field Notes -

Connecting Community Through a Small Business Pop-Up Series

- Stories From The Field - Concurrent Session Provider

- Field Notes -

Leading Through Uncertainty

- Field Notes -

Using Data for Strategic Leadership

- Field Notes -

Uncovering Bias in Assessment

- Stories From The Field - Keynote Address

- Field Notes -

Using GBA+ to Uncover Bias in Leadership Decision-Making

- Field Notes -

Launching the School Year with a Focus on Inclusion

- Field Notes -

Building a Community Mental Health Strategy

Let’s Create Meaningful Change Together

ABOUT SPEAKING

COLLABORATIONS

TESTIMONIALS

Lori Roe

Private Practice at Lori L. Roe Counselling

Dr. Naomi Johnson

Former Chief Superintendent, Calgary Board of Education

Contact

- Stories From The Field -
Event Facilitation

- Stories From The Field -
Concurrent Session Provider

- Stories From The Field -
Keynote Address