Kurt B. Nielsen is an engineer, entrepreneur, writer and keynote speaker. He has been the CEO of software and consultancy companies, and has for 20 years, worked internationally with Agile, Lean, Scrum, and other progressive leadership patterns.His views are deeply rooted in the Danish Coop movement with focus on individual liberty combined with responsibility for the community.Kurt is the author of the book Liberating Organizations together with a group of collaborators. They have collected a wealth of experience and documented the findings in this book.

Liberating Organizations is a book for those who want to generate more value for all stakeholders through their work in organizations. We propose that this can be accomplished through a resilient and sustainable workplace based on people’s freedom, engagement and their taking of responsibility.The book is an investigation of the cold case of freedom in organizations, why is there so little of it? The result is a solution, a blueprint for a Liberating Organization – a Constitutional Organization where there is freedom under the rule of law – not the law of the ruler. We show how we got to the state we are in now with leadership in our organizations; why it is not ideal – primarily due to lack of engagement; what a better solution could be; and how to get there.

Read about the book: https://liberatingorg.com/  

Read an appetizer: https://liberatingorg.com/_d/liborg1.0_appetizer.pdf  

Buy the book here: https://prorex.dk/shop/1806-kurt-b-nielsen/18854-liberating-organizations  or contact Kurt at [email protected]  

Picture of the book: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JfCWb8Le2gL823d37  

The e-book: https://liberatingorg.com/liborg1.0.pdf

Stefano Scaglioni is working at the European Space Agency (ESA) in Darmstadt, Germany. He covers the role of Product Assurance and Safety Manager, within the quality office of the ESA Operations directorate. His job consists in ensuring the quality of the space operations services (e.g.  flying  JUICE and EUCLID satellites) delivered to the customers.

ESA

Blake Melnick is a seasoned leader and innovator in the fields of Knowledge Management and Workplace Innovation, with over two decades of experience as a Chief Knowledge Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer, transforming organizations through strategic initiatives and innovative practices. As the Founder and Chief Knowledge Officer of the Knowledge Management Institute of Canada, Blake has been instrumental in advancing the practice of knowledge management across diverse industries, helping organizations harness their collective intelligence to drive sustainable innovation, business excellence, and competitive advantage.

Blake’s leadership in knowledge management is built on a strong foundation of practical expertise and academic insight. His work focuses on creating knowledge-sharing cultures that enable organizations to evolve in response to rapidly changing environments. He has designed and delivered Canada’s first Knowledge Management and Workplace Innovation Graduate Certificate Program, collaborating with leading institutions to bring cutting-edge solutions to the forefront of organizational learning and development.

As the Co-Founders and Principal Catalyst at the Workplace Innovation Network for Canada (WINCan), Blake has spearheaded national initiatives aimed at fostering employee-led innovation. His efforts have helped bridge the gap between education and industry, promoting innovation ecosystems where employee-led innovation can thrive. Through partnerships with academic, government, and industry stakeholders, Blake has successfully implemented workplace innovation programs that align organizational goals with employee engagement and development.

Blake’s extensive experience includes senior roles in organizations such as Husky Energy, Atlantis Systems Corporation, and the Institute for Knowledge Innovation and Technology where he led strategic knowledge management initiatives that improved operational effectiveness, facilitated organizational change, and fostered cultures of learning and innovation. His ability to integrate technology, knowledge, and people into cohesive innovation ecosystems, has made him a sought-after advisor, speaker, and thought leader in the fields of Knowledge Management and Workplace Innovation.

Blake is also the Host and Executive Producer of “For What it’s Worth with Blake Melnick” podcast series.

https://californiatypewritermovie.com

With over 15 years of experience, Rachad’s mission is to align organizational learning and knowledge management programs with the organizational priorities and goals, identifying and assessing learning needs, and delivering an integrated learning strategy that balances experiential, social, and formal learning. Rachad is pioneering Expertise-based knowledge management which is a key pillar to establish strategies for knowledge sharing, transferring, reusing, and applying expertise to solve technical engineering problems. Rachad considers artificial intelligence techniques as an extension to human capabilities to help in designing the enterprise knowledge architecture, retain critical knowledge, and map the expertise to support customer projects. Rachad’s purpose is to foster a culture of learning and sharing that empowers engineers to grow and innovate.

In 2024, Rachad has founded 3R knowledge Services that provides world class proven experience management services and products in the field of organizational learning. He established and pioneered expertise-based knowledge management principles in his company’s product and services offering.

Between 2013 and 2024, Rachad has lead GE Renewable Energy in the field of organizational learning and knowledge management. He was responsible for designing and implementing an integrated learning strategy, system and processes. He was accountable for defining the enterprise knowledge architecture with the right set of knowledge-sharing communities. Rachad has documented monetary savings enabled by the Knowledge sharing program.

From 2008 to 2011, Rachad acted as a knowledge management advisor for a government agency in Dubai, UAE. He directed the requirements for the EFQM Excellence Award. He implemented the enterprise knowledge architecture and the operational processes. His efforts have resulted in winning the award.

Rachad holds a doctoral degree in industrial engineering (2017) and a master’s in software engineering (2012) from the Grenoble Institute of Technology. Rachad has co-authored a recent book in the field of knowledge management and research innovation. Rachad has numerous scientific publications in prestigious conferences and journals. In his thesis, he proposed a groundbreaking framework to characterize and configure the collaboration dynamics for virtual collectives. The framework has proven its effectiveness in multiple professional contexts and organizations.

#Expertise-Based_Knowledge_Management #Learning_Organization #KM  #Artificial_Intelligence #Knowledge-Sharing #Skills-Disseminators

Jort de Vries is a scholar, researching the integration of knowledge in Marine Spatial Planning policy and maritime development for his PhD at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Jort also works as an advisor at Deltares, a Dutch company at the forefront of knowledge production concerning coastal, water, maritime and general delta management. 

Jort just published the first paper of his PhD titled "making knowledge matter, understanding and improving knowledge integration in Dutch marine spatial planning policy" which can be accessed with the following link: https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0964-5691(23)00453-2

Jort recommends the following book, which demonstrates how spatial planning, when integrated with knowledge and interests from all relevant stakeholders leads to valuable, efficient and healthy spaces for communities, whereas the opposite can lead to segregation, crime and general dissatisfaction: 

"The life and death of Great American cities. by Jane Jacobs"

A book which demonstrates the Dutch way of looking at space is: "environmental planning in the Netherlands, Too good to be true". by Gert de Roo. 

Finally, if anyone is interested in the kind of research programs Jort is involved with when it comes to informing Marine Spatial Planning and Offshore Wind Farm policy, the following video provides an overview of current efforts: https://www.nwo.nl/en/cases/what-is-the-environmental-impact-of-wind-farms-in-the-north-sea

Apryl serves as the Chief of Events for Pioneer Knowledge Services and is a highly organized and results driven problem solver with extensive Knowledge Management, Quality and Compliance Management experience in multiple regulated industries.

She is dedicated to the discovery and creation of knowledge, building highly skilled people in the organization, and maintenance of knowledge resources. Practiced in design, development, & deployment of computerized systems to aid in processes and improve efficiency. Passionate in the art of training and knowledge retention. Strong operations professional with a knowledge of quality systems, manufacturing, and supply chain. Bachelor of Science focused in Biology from Westminster College. Master of Science in Knowledge Management from Kent State University.

With 15+ years of experience, Naureen is a strategic leader dedicated to driving data and AI transformations that enable data and AI centric modernization initiatives, with a strong emphasis on achieving tangible business outcomes and transformational impact for organizations. Her expertise encompasses project management, change management, learning and adoption strategies, strategic communications, and effective stakeholder management. Naureen is also a fervent advocate for Inclusion & Diversity and a champion of data literacy and culture. She holds a Master's Degree from Columbia University in Information & Knowledge Strategy and a Certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

Naureen Aziz | Columbia University School of Professional Studies

Denise Carter MSc FCLIP

Denise is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Her company DCision Consult, provides research, competitive intelligence and qualitative analysis to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in Switzerland, France, Germany, and the U.S.   

Before setting up her own business 10 years ago, Denise worked for 15 plus years for a small biopharmaceutical company in Geneva, latterly as part of the global business intelligence team.  Prior to that Denise designed and implemented a new global information unit for the company, creating new services and resources. She was awarded a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Award for customer service in 2006. Denise began her career at ICI Chemicals & Polymers in the UK bringing an information service back in-house to support 1000 research chemists.

Denise has published multiple articles on different information topics and presented at international conferences. Denise consults as a Senior Analyst for JInfo for Competitive Intelligence projects. She is on the Editorial Board for Business Information Review and conducted four of their annual Business Information Surveys. Denise is currently serving on the Board of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP). She also serves on CILIP’s Knowledge & Information Management (K&IM) special interest group committee.

When she finished her library degree at Aberystwyth/University of Wales (in the time before the internet), Denise really wanted to be a human “Google” working in the reference department of a public library, but somehow got side-tracked into information management in industry and she has loved every second. But… rooting out that obscure but relevant piece of data for a customer still gives her a buzz.

www.dcisionconsult.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-compintell/

https://www.eosworldwide.com/stas-balanevsky

Stas Balanevsky

As a seasoned entrepreneur and Certified EOS Implementer, Stas Balanevsky has aunique understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by business owners.With over 30 years of experience across diverse industries, including healthcare, digitalmarketing and media, sporting goods, and international finance, Stas has developed awell-rounded skillset and a passion for helping others succeed.

Starting his first business at just 13 years old, Stas has nurtured a lifelong love forentrepreneurship and the drive to push others to achieve their goals. In addition to hiswork as a Certified EOS Implementer, Stas is a highly sought-after speaker, a memberof the Western New York Vistage trusted advisor group, an Entrepreneurial LeapCollaborator and serves on the board of the Holimont Ski Club.

When Stas is not working, he can be found on the slopes of said Holimont Ski Resort oron the water, enjoying his passions for skiing and sailing. He is married with two adultchildren and loves traveling the globe with his family and friends.

Stas brings a unique combination of expertise, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit to hiswork, making him a valuable asset to any organization seeking to achieve its goals andreach new heights.

Joost Visser

There’s an African proverb that says it takes a whole village to raise a child. Likewise, it takes a whole community to build a successful business that can grow and contribute to a healthy economy, people and planet.This is the motto of CONNECTS/TIAO, a specialist in the enabling technology and collaborative capabilities needed for business engagement and collaboration co-founded by Joost in 2016.Joost started his career in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) where he developed a broad expertise in the areas of sales, marketing, strategy development and general management in executive roles in various countries around the world.Since 2006 Joost has been helping small, medium and large organizations in private, public and non-profit sectors to transform their organizations to become more efficient and effective and more sustainable.

Doug Smith

Doug Smith is the architect of Performance-Driven Change and Cohort Approach to scaling change. He is a former McKinsey & Company partner and author of books ranging from 19th century African history to the birth of the information age to managing change to the classic text about teams to a moral philosophy for the 21st century. Performance-Driven Change, like Strategic Doing, is grounded in core principles required to address complex problems and collaborations. The tools and methods have been used to drive both performance (real results) and change (new capabilities) across more than sixty different industries and fields – at both the enterprise as well as entire field level.

Ed Morrison

Ed Morrison is co-CEO of Strategic Doing Networks and Senior Research Fellow of The Conference Board. He developed Strategic Doing, a discipline to accelerate collaboration and innovation in open, loosely connected networks. He is co-author of the book, Strategic Doing: Ten Skills for Agile Leadership (Wiley, 2019).

Ed started his career in Washington, DC, where he was legislative assistant to an Ohio congressman, staff attorney in the Office of Policy Planning for the Federal Trade Commission, and a staff member for the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. In that role, he managed floor legislation involving tax, trade, and competitiveness.

He then joined a corporate strategy consulting firm, where he conducted strategy studies for large companies like Ford, Volvo, and General Electric. After this work, Ed consulted with communities and regions on how to tackle the complex challenges of building a prosperous economy in an era of globalization. Frustrated with existing approaches to these issues, more than 25 years ago he began working on Strategic Doing. Over 2,000 practitioners have taken the basic course, and the discipline, which can be taught in multiple languages, is spreading globally.

Ed began his academic career in 2003 as director of the Center for Regional Economic Issues at Case Western Reserve University. In 2005, he moved to Purdue University, where he was a member of the professional staff at the Purdue Center for Regional Development. In 2016, he founded the Agile Strategy Lab at Purdue. In 2020, he founded the Agile Strategy Lab at the University of North Alabama. He received his B.A. degree cum laude with Honors from Yale University and both his J.D and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Virginia. He completed his Ph.D. in economics at the University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia). His dissertation details his journey to develop and deploy Strategic Doing.