You get surprising, challenging, and inspiring new flavours of practice that sharpen your thinking and open your eyes. That’s what I experienced in April at the 9th International Action Learning Conference hosted by Alliance Manchester Business School.
Bringing together Action Learning practitioners and scholars from South Korea to South Africa, Hawaii to Wales, the conference offered rich insight into how adaptable, potent, and deeply human Action Learning can be—well beyond its familiar set-based format.
Over two days I attended 14 very different sessions. Below are just a few that sparked my curiosity – and I hope some might do the same for you.
Farming, food, and the power of kitchen table Action Learning
Since 2009, the Welsh government-funded Agrisgop programme has embedded AL into rural development, holding 9 sessions in farm kitchens with 6–12 participants over 9-12 months. Elinir Haf Davies described how local culture was honoured through shared meals, site visits and collaborative business planning. Results include increased confidence, applied learning, and strategic business skills—alongside enabling new ventures in farm tourism, beekeeping, meat boxes and renewable energy.
Policing anger within and between communities
Jeff Gold worked with three senior police officers in the wake of the 2024 Bradford riots, exploring complex issues of community anger and trust. They drew on Action Learning, action research, appreciative enquiry and visual tools like awareness maps and rich pictures. The process surfaced interrelated systems, challenged assumptions, and fostered new models for community policing.
Action Learning helped to express complex policing problems and allowed an evolving approach, continually raising questions, breaking out of linear thinking and building fresh awareness of systems.
Accelerated Action Learning for rapid leadership development
What happens when you shrink AL sessions to just over an hour and meet weekly? In a fast-track management programme for Zenith Tech, cross-disciplinary teams worked on real-time projects in Action Learning groups, while at the same time being developed and assessed for promotion in a competitive environment.
Smita Singh (India) and Dr William Rothwell (USA) reported that 10 out of 12 participants were promoted within 18 months, 75% gained leadership experience, and the company saved an estimated $1.2 million. It challenged my assumptions on how AL can be used.
Mental health, indigenous knowledge and establishing safe spaces
In South Africa, Rod Waddington and Lesley Wood created a “Safe Space Wellbeing Lab” to address themental health crisis in vulnerable communities. Using AL and Action Research, they supported local people to build confidence and develop skills. It achieved real, practical change – from improving food hygiene in local food banks to influencing government policy. Participants described moving from danger to safety, being able to say what they think and valuing peer support. One reflected that ‘it was the start of my journey to freedom.’
It took time to listen, navigate tricky relationships and adapt, as well as expert, trauma-informed facilitation. What struck me was their reflection: AL doesn’t impose change – change emerges.
From creating visual maps with senior police officers to gathering around farm tables and amplifying unheard voices, this conference reminded me of the transformative power of Action Learning when we let it stretch and adapt.
I was reminded that AL allows a special synthesis of learning in a uniquely held space. It brings together threads of insight into webs of fresh understanding that can be transformative. I came away inspired look beyond my familiar habits and to explore how I can enrich my AL practice.
Joanna Ridout, Associate Consultant
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