Our President

Ian Curtin, Hon. B. Comm. Diploma in Counselling, M.T.C.

Ian understands group dynamics are incredibly complex and the challenge of working together effectively can be overwhelming. Using Creative Planning Dialogues™, Ian helps people in organizations move towards working relationships they want.

Ian believes communication habits form the building blocks of your family relationships, work teams, and even shape the culture of entire organizations. He models his ability to stay present with group participants and to create a safe environment for more effective communication patterns to emerge.

Ian Curtin is an experienced facilitator with an extensive background in business, government and labour and has worked in Southeast Asia, Africa and throughout North America. He graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Queens University and went on to work in the labour movement for five years, based in Toronto, Ontario. He was a Research Analyst for the Canadian Airline Employees Association and later a Staff Representative for the United Steelworkers of America. Ian was responsible for providing research, training and negotiation skills for the Steelworkers Ontario region. He provided essential reports for chain bargaining committees in the steel and nickle industries and was responsible for costing services at the bargaining table for large and small local unions. Ian also developed numerous policy papers on major issues such quality of working life initiatives, technological change and was co-author of the Health and Safety Manual for employees covered under the Canada Labour Code.

Ian then moved west and took a position with the BC Ferry Corporation’s planning group and was eventually appointed Manager of Planning Services. During this period, he began to utilize the Creative Planning method and facilitated over 100 planning and teambuilding workshops for various departments within the organization. He was appointed Secretary to the Corporate Management Council and was responsible for semi-annual Council conferences.

Ian also developed the strategic direction for the Corporation’s public consultation initiatives. He trained managers and was responsible for facilitating over 12 advisory committees in different coastal communities. He also developed a ‘second tier’ advisory group composed of representatives of all the Corporation’s major stakeholder groups. He assisted this group in developing responses to major policy issues affecting all communities.

Ian completed an intensive multi-year diploma program in humanistic psychology and counselling at The Haven Institute on Gabriola Island, British Columbia. He also holds a Masters in Therapeutic Counselling from the World University in Sri Lanka. Both these degrees were focused on facilitating group dynamics.

Ian’s background and training provides a unique combination of understanding business requirements and the group dynamics that are an integral part of any human initiative. He specializes in facilitation, relational leadership training, conflict resolution, strategic planning and public consultation. He trains managers and executives to become better facilitators/ collaborators, to communicate more clearly and to encourage colleagues to work together more effectively and achieve better results.