Our passion is helping communities and organizations solve their complex challenges.
We weave together diverse backgrounds in sustainability, facilitation, research, systems thinking and public engagement. Our work across North America, Latin America, Japan and Europe allows us to call on this global network for perspective and wisdom.
We are a collaboration laboratory - providing spaces for people to innovate, experiment and strengthen their practices for leading in the world.
sophia horwitz //
Sophia hosts processes that support generative conversations and co-creation to uncover innovative approaches for social impact. While completing her Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability she was introduced to the change-making methods and theories that she practices today. She is a partner and co-founder of COLAB, where she has helped launch programs, projects and organizations such as Mainstreets, Art of Social Innovation, Participatory Budgeting, Placemaking Halifax and cross Canada Placemaking research and network development. Her wide ranging roles have included acting as sustainability officer in Honduras to ambassador of North America in Japan’s rebuilding efforts post 2011 tsunami. Sophia’s current work is focused on providing leadership, and sustainable community development trainings in Canada and internationally.
greg woolner //
Greg is a passionate facilitator and life-long learner that is dedicated to tackling social and environmental challenges one step at a time through interdisciplinary collaboration and rigorous research. He brings over 15 years of experience in facilitation, process design, developmental evaluation, and leadership capacity building. Greg’s love of participatory processes started as he led hundreds of music and drumming workshops across Ontario. In recent years his work has been focused on leading major public engagement campaigns for the Province of Nova Scotia and Halifax Regional Municipality and teaching the Sustainability Leadership Certificate at Dalhousie University. He also supports strategic initiatives and experimentation in organizations across Canada in his role as a Developmental Evaluator, with groups such as the Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, Donner Canadian Foundation, Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium on Comprehensive School Health, Ecology Action Centre, Heartwood Centre For Community Youth Development, Participatory Cities Canada, the Atlantic Canada Organic Research Network and more. Regardless of the content, facilitation of engaging and effective group process and deep listening is at the core of his work.
joanna brenchley //
Joanna Brenchley’s passions for collaborative process and participatory leadership arose from her time as a key organizer with a local climate justice group. With a background in Environmental Science and Sustainability, Joanna applies long-term sustainability and strategic thinking to everyday life: building networks and supporting local action. She has been working and experimenting with collaborative leadership, organizational development and project management in her leadership roles with 100in1Day Halifax, Divest Dal and Youthful Cities. Most recently she has been designing and leading retreats for different teams of the Ecology Action Centre, and carrying out a research project in partnership with the College of Sustainability at Dalhousie University.
Emily Wright //
Emily is a veteran at project and client management and brings her caring and adaptable spirit to all areas of her work. She has many years of experience across B2B/B2C marketing and communications and has worked collaboratively with a number of clients across various industries, including The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), CAA, Rogers Communications and the TORONTO2015 Pan Am Games. She has a strong understanding of managing various types of projects, from strategic conception through to tactical execution, with self-assurance and grace. She is energized by cutting through complex ideas to solve tough problems and always leads with a friendly hands-on approach. Emily is also passionate about all things food, including food justice and food policy. In her other time, she helps as a sous chef for a local ghost kitchen and donates meals to communities that are experiencing food insecurity.