Finding Freedom Through Facilitation

Amber Liu

1. Before this course, how familiar were you with meeting design or facilitation?

I knew nothing, actually. I took the facilitator course, but I had thought I was signing up for meeting design. At the beginning, I had no idea there was even such a role as a facilitator.

2. What made you sign up?

I was amazed by how APCER & Hotspot 2025 managed to plan an international conference in such a refreshingly unconventional way.

3. Three words for the experience?

#seriousfun #realexperience #allinEnglish

4. Biggest aha moment?

A facilitator should not step into the content of participants’ discussions. Otherwise, participants will end up focusing on the facilitator rather than on their own answers.

5. Top 3 takeaways?

It gave me a solid introduction to a set of meeting facilitation methods, the chance to meet new friends from different industries, and a meaningful learning experience outside my day-to-day work.

6. What made the learning effective?

It provides a clear system and set of methods that help you return to real life after the two-day course, begin putting what you have learnt into practice, and take the first step towards the “how”.

7. What do you do differently now?

I felt liberated. In the past, I had really wanted to make a change, but I did not know how.

8. Who should take this course and why?

Key decision makers involved in organising forums and conferences.