Birgit De Clerck (°1972) has a degree in Applied Economic Sciences (TEW) and has worked for ten years as a consultant/trainer in the socio-cultural sector. After her studies she worked for the NGO Trias in Guatemala for two years. Her job there was to assist local management with the strategic development of a microcredit programme for small businesses in Guatemala.

Since the year 2000 she has worked as a consultant/trainer in various organisations in the non-profit sector. She specialises in working on an experience and process-oriented basis with groups and teams involved in organisation development, strategy, communication, team working and cooperation. The main starting points here are working in ways that are participative, solution-oriented and innovative. At South Research she works for organisations in the North and the South. She speaks fluent Dutch, Spanish, English and French.

Main areas of specialisation

• Supervising strategic processes, working out new organisation structures and the required HRM instruments (skills profiles, personal development plans, etc.).
• Supervising organisation development and renewal built on public support, participation of those concerned and trust.
• Supervising teams when defining aims, discussing role expectations, working out procedures/arrangements and opening up relational aspects to discussion.
• Participative methods for working with small and large groups.
• Specific knowledge of organisation development, microcredit, gender and diversity, communication and cooperation.

Personal characteristics:

• For Birgit freedom, passion and creativity are important to function well.
• She often sees new opportunities, works with the future in mind and adopts an appreciative approach.
• Birgit is very accessible and seeks out other people to develop and test new ideas. Group work is an ideal source of inspiration and creativity.
• She believes in the power of diversity and has respect for the individuality of each person.

Examples of current and completed projects:

• Supervising a multi-player process to set up a Local Social Policy plan for the Flemish welfare sector in Brussels. By means of a search conference involving all players, drawing up a conceptual framework and concrete actions on the ground, the aims of harmony, accessibility and dealing with deficiencies were converted into a concrete plan (2008).
• Participative evaluations of appropriateness, results-oriented approach, coherence and complementarity in the sector of education and training (DMOS Comides and JTM) (2008).
• Supervising a strategic planning process at a training organisation for art and culture. By means of a future conference with various stakeholders and scenario planning clear choices were made for the future (2007-2008).
• Strategy definition at a residential and day centre for disabled people. By means of work conferences with all staff a vision for the future was worked out and translated into priority actions (2007-2008).
• Supervision of an organisational reorganisation of a sheltered workplace. The strategy worked out was converted through participation into coherent task packages and jobs. A new organisation chart and related consultation structures were drawn up (2006). 
• Organisation development by means of SWOT analysis, strategy determination and action planning with management teams or strategic working groups at various sheltered workplaces (2000-2006).
• Team supervision at BJZ, front-line assistance (OCMWs and CAWs – social services and welfare departments), the integration sector, sheltered workplaces, etc. (2000 - 2008).

Contact

South Research vzw, Leuvensestraat 5/2, 3010 Kessel-Lo, Belgium

Tel.: +32 16 49 83 16

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