Jeanette Romkema is an expert intercultural facilitator whose practice demonstrates that everyone is seen, heard, and has value. She is adept at hosting meaningful and important dialogue, is comfortable holding tension and difference, and invites truth-telling and tough questions.
She is an Owner and Senior Partner with Global Learning Partners (GLP) who has worked with clients across the healthcare, social services, community development, civil society and higher education sectors. As an artist educator, she helps organizations gain clarity about how to become a learning-centered organization or community. Unique in her passion for heart learning, she delves deep into the values, culture and practices of people and organizations to strengthen their identity, mission, and purpose to achieve the change they seek.
Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Jeanette brings 35 years of experience, expertise, and relationships with practitioners and colleagues who are thought leaders in learning-centered approaches to design and learning facilitation, always coaching and mentoring trainers and change agents along the way.
Global Learning Partners has seeded communities of practice around the globe who consistently set a high bar for learning-centered approaches in widely different contexts. Jeanette personally has extensive international experience: more than half of her clients are in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Education & Training
FORMAL
- PhD (abd) Education: Teaching and Learning
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto | Canada - M.A. Education: Teaching and Learning
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto | Canada - B.A. Education
Calvin University | Michigan, USA - Diploma: Fine Arts in Black & White, Colour Photography
Academie voor schone kunsten ǀ Ghent, Belgium - Diploma: Black & White Photography
Academie van St. Lucas kunsten ǀ Ghent, Belgium - Diploma: Textiles Analysis & Weaving Techniques
Stedelijk textielinstituut Henri Story ǀ Ghent, Belgium
CONTINUING EDUCATION
- Certificate: Authentic Facilitation I & II Anima Leadership ǀ Toronto, Canada
- Certificate: Seminars for Trauma Awareness and Resilience I (STAR I) Eastern Mennonite University | Virginia, USA
- Certified Dialogue Education Teacher (CDET) Global Learning Partners
What Clients Say
Jeanette’s Work
Addressing Challenges to Reduce Violence Against Women and Girls
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains common at all levels of Liberian society. Impunity for perpetrators, limited resources and societal stigma surrounding domestic and intimate partner violence act as major roadblocks. Less than half of survivors and victims seek help, and even fewer receive justice. The civil war in Liberia ended 30 years ago, but its pervasive trauma has contributed to ongoing cycles of violence, especially against women and girls.
A Global Leadership Conference to Remember
After planning efforts were postponed for 2.5 years due to the pandemic, One Challenge International needed to develop its organization-wide strategic plan to establish direction and intended outcomes for a five-year period. There was a strong need to bring together organizational leaders from across the globe for learning, deep connection, discernment and planning for the future.
Collaborators and Competitors — Strengthening Health Care in California
The California health ecosystem is vast, strong, and vibrant. There is much innovation, learning, and cutting-edge work being done to strengthen the health and wellness of all communities throughout the state.
Jeanette’s Resources
Facilitating Online: It’s a Creative Space!
Facilitation is facilitation is facilitation. Right? Well, not quite.
In her interview Designing Engaging Remote Workshops with Gwyn Wansbrough, Nathy Ravez works to understand how online learning is different from in person learning, and how to facilitate in this unique space to maximize learning. Gwyn points out that virtual audiences don’t have the same non-verbal cues. They ask themselves, “Do I trust this facilitator? Do I belong? Do I have something to offer here?”
Dialogue Education in the University: Moving from Monologue to Dialogue
Having experienced university teaching through lecture, most instructors teach how they have been taught. Although lecture (i.e., monologue instruction) can be an effective tool for learning, it can be over-used or not intentionally used to maximize learning.
I Like, I Wish, I Wonder – A Technique
For many of us, wondering aloud can take tremendous courage. This is especially true if it is not invited. The technique “I like, I wish, I wonder” offers a multi-layered process for hearing and collecting input or reflections that are nuanced, fresh, and exciting.