Bridging Communities: Collaborative Leadership in Practice

Bridging Communities: Collaborative Leadership in Practice

What does true collaboration look like in practice?

Join us for our next Bridging Communities event as we dive into the realities of collaborative leadership—what it really means, what it takes to make it work, and why it can be both powerful and challenging.

From cross-sector partnerships to grassroots projects, collaboration is often seen as the key to unlocking better outcomes. But it's not always smooth sailing. Power dynamics, misaligned goals, and unclear roles can get in the way of good intentions.

Together, we’ll explore:

• What makes collaborative leadership effective—and sustainable

• The behaviours, conditions and culture that help it thrive

• Real stories from those doing the work on the ground

• The messy bits—what happens when things don’t go to plan

Whether you’re leading a team, building a community, or navigating partnership work, this event is for you. Expect thoughtful conversation, fresh perspectives, and space to reflect—plus the chance to connect with others who care about doing things differently.

What to expect

·       Light refreshments (Drinks and Canapes)

·       Three inspiring speakers

·       Facilitated Networking

·       A warm welcoming event whether you love or loathe networking we promise you will leave having made some new connections.

Who’s it for?

This event is open to all sectors – we want as many different perspectives as possible in the room! Whatever your industry and background come along – our Bridging Communities events are designed to help you step out of your siloes, connect with others and spark ideas. 

Meet Our Speakers

Natalie Johnston, TTM Coaching

Natalie is the Founder of TTM Coaching, a marketplace that connects organisations with accredited coaches to solve people and HR challenges through personalised coaching. As an Entrepreneur, Creator, Speaker, Podcast-host, and ICF-accredited coach, she is committed to pursuing, inspiring, and facilitating personal growth in as many people as possible, as she believes that when people grow, so do organisations and their potential to positively impact the world.

Dr Kristy Docherty, Edinburgh Futures Institute

Kristy is the Director of Public Services and Sector Engagement Lead at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. She is responsible for leading on strategy and engagement with public, private and third sector organisations involved in the delivery of public services. This specifically involves creating, brokering and building relationships and partnerships in order to create the conditions for effective collaboration and to facilitate data driven innovation – all in support of addressing intractable and systemic societal issues.

Prior to her role at the Futures Institute, Kristy was a Lecturer in Leadership, Strategy and Organisational Behaviour. Her higher education experience and PhD in Collaboration is underpinned by 20+ years’ in practice, spanning the public, private and third sectors where she has held Consultancy and Director level positions for organisations in the Social Housing, Urban Regeneration and Renewable Energy fields.

Clair Thomson, Prevention Hub Lead at Police Scotland, Edinburgh Futures Institute Associate

Clair has spent 12 years in Learning & Development, Transformation, and Change roles within policing. She has led strategic collaborations between Police Scotland and Public Health Scotland, focusing on building and embedding a public health approach across Scotland. Clair’s leadership in collaborative programs has been recognised through successful evaluations by the Scottish Institute of Policing Research (SIPR). Clair is currently co-director of The Scottish Prevention Hub, which is a national co-directed partnership with Public Health Scotland and Edinburgh Futures Institute. Clair led the development and the delivery of the first Strategic Collaboration Framework with Police Scotland and Public Health Scotland. 

Our Collaborators

DataKirk

Proud Futures

Dechomai

Edinburgh Can B

Catalysing Connections

CodeBase

TechScaler

Barclays Eagle Labs

Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network

Creative Edinburgh

Flexible Working Scotland

Foras

If you would like to become a collaborator, please reach out to The Melting Pot team