Cultivating Connection is a series of talks and workshops facilitated by Claire Akin-Smith, Human Energy Strategist, and Sam Rodney Hudson, Mental Health Practitioner. Come along to all of them, or pick and choose from the three sessions on offer.

Cultivating Connection Session 1: Lost Connections

The compelling argument for interdependence. The last two years have led to physical distancing in more ways that one. Added to this, it’s easy to get drawn into a world of self promotion and individual success and disconnect from others. Learning how this influences society and culture as well as how this mindset affects our emotional health and the health of the next generation, are compelling reasons to attend Part 1 of the Cultivating Connection series.

Join Claire Akin-Smith and Sam Rodney-Hudson as they take you on a journey of human connection, industrial disconnection, and draw on discoveries made from combining sciences once studied in isolation to better understand what motivates and drives us. This exploration sets the scene for why and how we can cultivate skills to be together, grow together, learn from each other and ultimately work together to help address the planet's current complex challenges.

Time/Date: Wednesday 26 October, 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Cultivating Connection Session 2: Reconnecting

Be the change you want to see. A practical workshop debunking the myth that vulnerability is weak and talking about emotions is unproductive. This session explores how enhancing emotional intelligence enables deeper connection and allows relationships to flourish.

This is a unique opportunity for those who want to know more about how we get the best out of ourselves and each other, in any situation. In this workshop Bridget Watson helps connect the dots, backed by research, about how being emotionally vulnerable builds trust, both in yourself and together with others, leading to deeper connections, and a sense of belonging and awareness. Don’t miss this, your future self will thank you for it.

Time/Date: Thursday 27 October, 3.00pm - 5.00pm

Cultivating Connection Session 3: Connecting our future

Inspirational, visionary and challenging examples. In the third of our series on Cultivating Connection we invite you to experience possibility through the testimony of those who have stepped out to create communities based on connection. Balancing multiple human needs, and ensuring people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives feel welcome, takes a special kind of vision. Come and be immersed in the first hand experiences of individuals who have bravely agreed to share their insights, successes, challenges and learnings.

This session will offer a series of bite sized stories from 4 speakers to spark curiosity and questions on what the future can look like as a shared human experience. The session will conclude with time for questions and discussion followed by refreshments and opportunity to meet and mingle.

Time/Date: Thursday 27 October, 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Check out other workshops and hui:

Watch this video for more information on our workshops:

The Wao Summit is a six day annual event held in the Southern Lakes (Wānaka and Queenstown). Its aim is to inspire, educate and enable our transition as a community and nation to a healthy, thriving, diverse, low carbon community.

This event is part of the Wao Summit 2022, check out the full programme here.

wao.co.nz