Saturday 7th February 2009

WORKSHOP:
SURFACING THE UNEXPLORED
Issues for Black Leadership and White Organisations

9:30am - 1:00pm

Registration and refreshments
from 9:00am -9:30am

Connaught Hall,
University of London
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9EX

Fee: £30 (OPUS Associates £15)

NB. You can become an Associate
when booking for this event

Presenters

Agnes Brian: Dr Agnes Bryan is a Management and Organisation Consultant, Trainer and psychotherapist working, independently, part-time. She has also worked part-time at the Tavistock Centre doing clinical work as well as Training for the past 7 years. Amongst other teaching responsibilities she is co-organiser of the ‘Black Leadership in White Organisation’ course and Course Organiser for a new course in ‘Strategic Leadership and Management’.

Frank Lowe: Frank Lowe is a Consultant Social Worker and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist at the Tavistock Clinic, where he teaches on a number of courses and has been the co-organiser of the ‘Black Leadership in White Organisations’ Course, which has been running at the Tavistock for the past 5 years. He also runs a private practice as a Psychotherapist and Management Consultant.

Chaired by: David Lawlor, Member OPUS Public Events Committee

The organizational and leadership culture of most organizations in Britain today is white. One of the many consequences of this is the invisibility of the experiences and challenges faced by black managers and leaders in such environments. Another is that although some black people have gained access to management and senior leadership positions, organizational leadership especially at the highest levels has remained overwhelmingly white.

This workshop will explore the prevalent blindness to the 'whiteness' of organizational and leadership cultures and the implications of this for black and white leaders. The workshop will explore how individuals and organisations can engage in a dialogue about these issues that is neither defensive or persecutory.

A particular aim of the workshop is to identify factors which prevent black staff from making a positive contribution to their organisation, develop their potential as leaders and allow them to bring value to the organisation.

Fee £30 (OPUS Associates £15) For information please contact Director, OPUS, 26 Fernhurst Road, London SW6 7JW; 020 7736 3844; or email: director@opus.org.uk