Est. 2019
Our History
The IFVP Institute is formed for charitable and educational purposes. More specifically, the IFVP Institute is organized and operated to promote the development and application of visual thinking and practices, such as graphic recording and graphic facilitation, through sponsored research, public education programs, and related activities.
Visual practice is a rapidly growing field with applications in business, government, nonprofit, and educational sectors. The origins of this field date back to the beginnings of human civilization when cave paintings and hieroglyphics served as the early means for humans to express and spread ideas and to communicate. In modern times, as organizations grew in their size and complexity, there has been a resurgence of interest in the visual practice field, as companies struggled to apply whole system approaches to increasingly complex problems.
The broad appeal of the visual practice medium rests in its characteristic combination of visual and verbal elements, which work to support a shared understanding and collaboration.The IFVP Institute will conduct these activities both domestically in the United States and internationally, particularly in countries in which IFVP has an established presence. The IFVP Institute will bring together students, teachers, and practitioners in the visual practice community.
BECOME A FOUNDING DONOR
SUPPORT THE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE DEVELOPMENT OF VISUAL PRACTICE
Thank you for supporting this important work that is having a global impact.
Est. 2019
BECOME A FOUNDING DONOR
SUPPORT THE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE DEVELOPMENT OF VISUAL PRACTICE
Thank you for supporting this important work that is having a global impact.
PHIL BAKELAAR Co-founder and President
PHIL BAKELAAR Co-founder and President
PHIL BAKELAAR Co-founder and President
Philip Bakelaar has been a member of IFVP and a board member since the 2015. He discovered visual practice when attending the Pegasus Systems Thinking conferences in connection with his adjunct teaching at Montclair State University. Trainings at The Grove led to responding to an invitation to scribe at the National Coalition for Dialogue
Philip Bakelaar has been a member of IFVP and a board member since the 2015. He discovered visual practice when attending the Pegasus Systems Thinking conferences in connection with his adjunct teaching at Montclair State University. Trainings at The Grove led to responding to an invitation to scribe at the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation where he met Stephanie Brown and was introduced to IFVP and Neuland markers!
Dr. Bakelaar holds a PhD in Rhetoric and Communication from Temple University and has been an adjunct professor at Montclair State University since 1992.
He serves on many nonprofit boards and was drawn to IFVP by comments in the strategic vision relating to connections to academic studies and the establishment of a 501(c)(3). This has been accomplished by our 2019 conference at Montclair and the establishment of The IFVP Institute. His base full time work is as a parish clergy within the Reformed Church in America for the past 37 years.
RENATTA ALGALARRONDO Co-founder and Treasurer
PHIL BAKELAAR Co-founder and President
PHIL BAKELAAR Co-founder and President
With 16 years of experience as a visual communications consultant to executives, Renatta has supported meetings and events for Fortune 100 companies and institutions worldwide and across industries. She uses her unique skills (business, group facilitation, dialogue techniques, deep listening, etc.) and diverse background to keep up with l
With 16 years of experience as a visual communications consultant to executives, Renatta has supported meetings and events for Fortune 100 companies and institutions worldwide and across industries. She uses her unique skills (business, group facilitation, dialogue techniques, deep listening, etc.) and diverse background to keep up with live business meetings, from boardroom conversations to significant events. She can create visualizations of group processes, discussions, and outcomes in real-time, and the result will serve the group during the meeting and in the future.
Renatta is formally trained as a Nutritionist and Visual Artist and has experience in health care, the food industry, marketing, and people management. Her specialty as a visual artist is in working with acrylics. Renatta has served on the Board of IFVP, the professional association for the field, from 2014-2020, and she is a founding member of the IFVP Institute.
DAVID SIBBET - Board member and Secretary
PHIL BAKELAAR Co-founder and President
DAVID SIBBET - Board member and Secretary
DAVID SIBBET is the founder and CEO of The Grove Consultants International. He is a master graphic facilitator and information designer and is considered a leader in the booming field of visual facilitation. The Grove is a full-service organization consulting firm based in San Francisco and is the hub of a global network of associates, pa
DAVID SIBBET is the founder and CEO of The Grove Consultants International. He is a master graphic facilitator and information designer and is considered a leader in the booming field of visual facilitation. The Grove is a full-service organization consulting firm based in San Francisco and is the hub of a global network of associates, partners, and other visual practitioners. He is also co-directing The Grove’s Global Learning & Exchange Network (GLEN) focused on evolving new approaches to collaboration and cross-boundary work. David is the author of the best-selling Visual Facilitation Series from Wiley & Sons, including Visual Meetings, Visual Teams, Visual Leaders, and Visual Consulting: Designing & Leading Change, co-authored with Gisela Wendling, Ph.D. David is also a designer of the Grove’s Sustainable Organizations Model, the Drexler/Sibbet Team Performance System, the Grove’s Visual Planning Systems, and author of The Grove’s Facilitation Series. He holds a master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, a BA in English from Occidental College, and a Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs. In 2013, he was awarded the Organizational Development Network’s Lifetime Achievement Award for creative contribution to the field of OD. He is also president of California Poets in the Schools. For further information—www.thegrove.com and www.davidsibbet.com.
SUSAN KELLY - Board member
JACQUI PHILLIPS - Board member
SUSAN KELLY - Board member
With a few others, Susan started the International Forum of Visual Practitioners (IFVP) in1995 by hosting annual conferences to bring together kindred spirits in the visual practice world of that time. She was a founding board member of IFVP when, in 2002, the organization was legally recognized with a tax status and a board of directors.
With a few others, Susan started the International Forum of Visual Practitioners (IFVP) in1995 by hosting annual conferences to bring together kindred spirits in the visual practice world of that time. She was a founding board member of IFVP when, in 2002, the organization was legally recognized with a tax status and a board of directors. She has continued with IFVP as a member since its inception and as a contributor to the annual conferences at various times throughout the years.
Susan learned her visual trade beginning in 1980. After having spent 10 years at a major community foundation in San Francisco, CA, she decided to take the plunge and start her own graphic facilitation business. That was born in 1984 and she has never looked back. She was fortunate to work with several leading organizational development consultants, facilitators and leaders that allowed her to add those pieces to her resume.
KATI ORAV - Board member
JACQUI PHILLIPS - Board member
SUSAN KELLY - Board member
Kati's mission is to help people rediscover two innate abilities – drawing and imagination – and make them work to their advantage. She applies her skills and knowledge as a visual practitioner, researcher, teacher, author, and public speaker to promote the field of visual practices and bring it to as many people as possible. Her stronges
Kati's mission is to help people rediscover two innate abilities – drawing and imagination – and make them work to their advantage. She applies her skills and knowledge as a visual practitioner, researcher, teacher, author, and public speaker to promote the field of visual practices and bring it to as many people as possible. Her strongest message is that visual facilitation helps us bring out playfulness and courage, and then true learning, creativity, and cooperation start. She is also an educational innovator and wrote her master's thesis at Tartu University on the potential of visual facilitation in education. Kati has been a member of IFVP since 2021 and an Institute board member since 2024.
Kati is the Estonian Educator of the Year 2023, an award-winning impact speaker, and a TEDx speaker. She is co-author of “The Visual Facilitation Cookbook” and author of the book “Visual Facilitation: How to Use Drawing and Imagination to Live a Bold, Playful, and Meaningful Life.”
Kati is also the leader of the educational initiative (EdTech) Claar Education, which deals with empowering educational leaders through visual facilitation. The approach was chosen from the 11 finalists of the 2023 edition of the DigiEduHack Global Awards.
JACQUI PHILLIPS - Board member
JACQUI PHILLIPS - Board member
JACQUI PHILLIPS - Board member
Jacqui Phillips is an award-winning, best-selling author dedicated to inspiring others to embrace their unique divine purpose. She authors the children's book series "The Adventures of Stushy and Bello!" to promote love and kindness among children. Her #1 Amazon Best Selling book, "RESET," guides readers through overcoming setbacks in hea
Jacqui Phillips is an award-winning, best-selling author dedicated to inspiring others to embrace their unique divine purpose. She authors the children's book series "The Adventures of Stushy and Bello!" to promote love and kindness among children. Her #1 Amazon Best Selling book, "RESET," guides readers through overcoming setbacks in health, relationships, finances, emotions, appearance, and faith, endorsed by notable figures like Judy Collins and Chazz Palminteri. Jacqui's nonprofit RESET program and prison ministry empower individuals nationwide. She holds a Master of Arts in Public and Organizational Relations from Montclair State University. She is a second-year doctoral student in the Doctor of Education in Instructional Design Leadership and Technology program at Franklin University. Jacqui actively collaborates with several professional organizations using her passion as a communications specialist leveraging AI technology.