Meet the trainer: Kate James

What's your role at ICDA?

I’m a Trainer in Governance and Community Leadership at ICDA. My role involves developing and delivering training for not-for-profits and community leaders, ranging from in-person workshops to online webinars to self-paced learning modules.

What’s your involvement in the community sector?

Governance and capacity-building have been throughlines of my (fairly eclectic) career. I’ve been fortunate to work with community groups and boards in several capacities, including as a solicitor, consultant, and private investigator. I’ve also volunteered in various ways and enjoy opportunities to make some hands-on contributions

What’s your teaching style?

My style has been described as down-to-earth, personable and pragmatic. I like to understand the context of whoever I’m working with and keep the “so what?” front of mind when I’m delivering training (as in, what is the point of conveying this information? How is it relevant and useful to participants?). Learning is much easier and more enjoyable when people feel comfortable and engaged, so I aim to facilitate rather than lecture and be as responsive and inclusive as possible. If we can have a few laughs along the way, even better.

How do you like to be taught?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, in a similar way to how I teach. I typically learn best by doing, so it really helps when there’s a practical component and space for discussion and experimentation. I also like hearing about other people’s experiences; I think there’s a lot to be said for peer learning and informal knowledge exchange.

If you weren’t a trainer, what would you be?

I have about a million interests, so it’s hard to narrow down the hypothetical options. Taxidermist to the stars?