ABOUT US
GET TO KNOW US A LITTLE BETTERWhy Adventurous Conversations Ltd?
Are you looking to develop more effective leadership and workplace culture? Do you want an environment where people relate and work well together? We believe that these three areas – relationships, leadership and workplace culture – are key to organisational success. Our focus is on the human, relational dimension of organisations. Why? Because the better people relate and work together, the more likely the organisation is to succeed. We also work with people across all levels and positions because everyone has contributions to make. Effective leadership and thriving workplace cultures involve and benefit everyone.
What do we offer?
Our services include individual and team consulting, training, mentoring and coaching. Our counselling and restorative mediation are available for people who encounter the inevitable challenges that impact on their lives. These services can provide the opportunity to better understand the challenges and find more satisfying ways of addressing them. Also, for those in social practice, medical and legal professions, our professional supervision provides a reflective space for practice development.
What does it take?
It usually takes courage to turn aspirations for something better into action. It can also be risky to disturb the status quo and venture into unknown territory. Furthermore, creating inclusive workplace cultures that involve cultural diversity and differing values, interests and goals can be challenging. Inevitably, these involve change and this may mean times of vulnerability and uncertainty. However, when done well, the benefits can be far reaching and significant.
Are you and your organisation up for adventurous conversations?
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world? Tis people Tis people! Tis people!
Ko Puketapu te maunga
Ko Te Arai te awa
Ko Horouta te waka
Ko Rongowhakaata te iwi
Ko Manutuke te marae
He uri anō hoki ahau nō Ngāti Pākehā me Ngāti Airihi.
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
Puketapu is the mountain
Te Arai is the river
Horouta is the canoe
Rongowhakaata is the tribe
Manutuke is the marae.
I am also of Pākeha and Irish descent.
And so, greetings to you all.
Director
Professional and personal relationships have been the focus of my work for over 25 years. These have included organisational leadership and culture development, counselling, professional supervision and adult education. They have also involved work in private practice, community organisations and tertiary institutions with individuals, couples, families and groups.
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Qualifications
Alongside my work with people and relationships I have gained qualifications that involve personal and professional development and are relevant for a range of contexts. These include a PhD, Master of Counselling, Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision, Bachelor of Counselling, Certificate in Adult Tertiary Education and Certificate in Community Skills.
Professional Membership
I have been a Member of New Zealand Association Counsellors (MNZAC) since 1995. I am also an elected representative on the National Ethics Committee and Waikato Regional Ethics Team of the Association. I am a Drug and Alcohol Practitioner’s Association Aotearoa-New Zealand (dapaanz) Supervisor since 2019.
Click here to go to the NZAC website
Click here for the NZAC Code of Ethics
Click here for the dapaanz Code of Ethics
Research and publications
Click here to go to my blogs.
There are a range of topics that may interest you.
Further research and publications are listed below.
Talbot, W. (2016). Humor takes the stage: A performance of couple’s humor. In e. emerald, R.E. Rinehart and A. Garcia (Eds.). Global south ethnographies: Minding the senses (pp. 31-58). Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
Talbot, W. (2015). “It’s not till you actually see it you believe it”: How recordings can make a difference for clients. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 34(4), 13-28.
Talbot, W., & Suisted, J. (2015). Starfish Social Services Trust: Youth, parents/caregivers and stakeholders evaluation of issues and services report. Wintec Voucher Research Project.
Talbot, W. (2012). Reflexive audiencing practices for couple relationships-in-action. (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Partner
I am motivated by and passionate about Leadership and Resilience Building. This includes mentoring and life coaching that enables people to explore desires and dreams to hold self-value and achievement. Combining my life and work experience with the power of oracle cards and narratives I work alongside people to explore life’s challenges. Through this, the opportunities for growth and future hope emerge and develop.
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NZ Honours recipient
I was awarded a Queens Service Medal in 2008. This was presented during my tenure as the Chief Fire Officer of the Hamilton City Fire Brigade. It recognised leadership demonstrated in the aftermath of an explosion and fire in which one fire officer died and seven firefighters were seriously injured.
Professional membership
My professional membership (by examination) is with the Institution of Fire Engineers since 1983 and a committee member of the NZ Branch. I am also a financial member of the International Association of Emergency Managers. I completed a Master of Emergency Management from Massey University in 2015. Together, these exemplify my dedication to professional practice, self-development and life-long learning.
“If it’s to be it’s up to me.”
Ted Tracy USA
(Motivational Speaker and Salesperson)
We dedicate Adventurous Conversations Ltd to Thomas Halbert* – Adventurer, whaler, trader, Pākeha Māori**.
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Thomas’s adventurous spirit, willingness to risk, openness to embrace change, courageous journeys into unknown territory, generosity, appreciation for difference and diversity, and hope for something better are some of the foundational values and practices that Adventurous Conversations Ltd proudly associates with.
*Wendy’s great great great grandfather
*Pākeha Māori is a term given to pre-Treaty New Zealand “foreigners who live as Māori” (Bentley, 1999)
***Wendy’s great great great grandmother and descendent of Rongowhakaata iwi and Manutūke Marae, East Coast, New Zealand
