James Wood, MA, CED

Awakening Sustainable Communities

James' supportive facilitation approach is guided by the skills he has developed throughout his international Community & Economic Development career.

As a Community Economic Development specialist, engaging in international & multi-cultural settings with public, private, third-sector and community groups since 1998, one of my greatest assets that I bring is my natural ability to build relationships and facilitate collaborative decision-making processes, with and between members, departments, boards, commissions, and community organisations. In diverse environments, I have worked to crystallize the larger vision, and to utilise my planning, facilitation, conflict resolution, project management, outreach, and communication skills to find common-ground solutions that positively contribute to local and place-based visions. I cultivate strong teams by encouraging their best individual strengths towards aligned processes. 

My work is steeped in the training and principles of strength and place-based (ABCD) Community Economic Development (CED), and Social Enterprise support. My academic research focused on applied Sustainable Development initiatives that utilized multi-stakeholder consultation, community engagement, and public education; my Action Research Master’s thesis, in particular, was foundational to the creation of an Ethical Purchasing Policy adopted and implemented by the City of Vancouver.

SELECTED career highlights

Experience

  • Co-Facilitating, Community Coaching Pilot Project, UK Co-Housing Network, 2021-22

  • Infrastructure & Team Culture Consulting, Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) — DoughnutEconomics.org, 2021

  • Operations & Enagagement Director, CultureGarden.org — Scotland (2016-present)

  • Founder & Facilitator, HealthyMasculine.com — Canada, US & UK (2013 - current)

  • Founder & Facilitator, Awakening Action Planning — Canada, US & UK (2013 - current)

  • Community Advisor, Regional Economic Development — Yukon Government, Canada (2014 - 2015)

  • Senior Advisor, Community Affairs, Yukon Government — Canada (2013 - 2014)

Education

Facilitation Training

  • Council Facilitation – Level I & II (2015)

  • Compassionate Communication – NVC (2014/15)

  • Project Management Professional – PMP Prep (2012/14)

Current Boards & Committees — Scotland and UK

  • Community Development Alliance Scotland (CDAS), Board Member, 2018 –2024, Vice-Chair 2023-current

  • Scottish Community Development Network (SCDN), Board Member, 2017 –2021

  • International Association of Community Development (IACD), Member, 2018 –2023