Shawn Callahan

In his presentation Shawn focussed on the use of narrative to connect with innovators.

He discussed how people who are engaged with stories connect to them emotionally and are more inspired to act. For an idea to stick it must be emotional, credible and concrete.

Shawn used the example of educators who recount their own personal experiences to students and how student 'hang on every word'. Communicating through stories is effective and should be utilized when educators communicate with their peers.

Shawn has worked as a consultant and researcher for more than 15 years now, and has undertaken a wide variety of projects—including community-of-practice development, knowledge-mapping, knowledge strategy, and using narrative techniques to tackle seemingly intractable issues (such as trust, cash economy, and workplace safety).

Shawn was the knowledge-management practice leader for IBM Australia and regional leader of IBM’s Cynefin Centre. 

In 1999 Shawn co-founded the ACT Knowledge Management Forum (now known as ActKM), an international community of practice for knowledge management in the public sector, and  helped to develop the group from eight members to more than a thousand.

Presentation slides (PDF - 1.4Mb)

Shawn Callahan Profile - Educators' Guide to Innovation