I was able to grab a little time at the Programme Leadership Team meeting yesterday to show our new prezi presentation on the Regional Strategic Framework – it was a proud moment for me – being able to demonstrate our huge progress in the newest OGB region in a way that was innovative and powerful – many thanks to all those involved in the framework development and presentation design…..a  video of the strategy is on the intranet……

oh and the UK everyone has gone Christmas crazy! and this is the first Christmas tree…

I am in Oxfordshire – near Oxford – the home of Oxfam  – for our twice yearly Programme leadership team meeting – all the Regional Directors come together as well senior Campaigns and International Division staff

We have been talking about ‘how change happens’  – really a discussion we should all have all the time – because if we don’t know what makes the greatest impact or change then we are not designing our programmes right. Do you know how the change that you want to see in your programme, project or even life will happen? Who do you need to engage with? Where does the power lie?

We need to be constantly thinking and acting on the changing external environment – making sure we maintain our relevance and can keep up with the changes in the Asia region. Lets be more thoughtful about how we design and review our programmes to ensure that ‘how change happens’ is part of our thinking.

So don’t be in the fog……..lets make change happen!

Sometimes you just need to get out – whether it’s a coffee in the local coffee shop, a run round the park, meeting up with good friends or a weekend in the mountains – we all need to recharge our batteries. At Oxfam we often talk about work life balance but don’t practice it too much – I always find that I can do much better work if I have thought of other things but work – or even emptied my head and given myself time and space to reflect

Easier said than done  you say! True but give yourself a chance – plan in little treats, take some time to read that book you have had for ages, do something you really love and with people you enjoy being with! Have a great week (and of course a great weekend!)

Time with friends is important

Greetings from Bangkok! If you are watching or reading the international news you would be surprised to learn that some of the city is still dry – no doubt that Thailand is facing its worst floods for 60 years  and many of our staff have been affected – what you see on TV is never the whole story….

Monks watching the rising tide

The whole story for Oxfam is often that staff and partners are responding in emergency situations even when they are affected themselves – and  whilst the public eye is on the ‘worst’ of the disaster, Oxfam staff are tirelessly working to help support those in most need. There examples of this in all the major recent disasters; the  Haiti earthquake and the Pakistan floods.

And in communities themselves there are also always examples of how communities pulled together to support the most vulnerable in difficult times.

There is no doubt that these are challenging times for the people of Thailand and many countries throughout Asia – but the resilience and openness I see every day in Oxfam staff and those we work with is the inspiration I need to get up every morning!