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Writer's pictureInternational Lawyers Project

Retreating before we move forward: working together to help ILP thrive

Lucy Claridge, ILP’s Executive Director, reports back on our annual staff retreat 


Photo: ILP's Mary Ongore, Oliver Windridge, Maria Cristina Mundin, Lucy Claridge, Louise Curd, Eva van der Merwe and Megan Musni in Amsterdam


The ILP team is fresh back from our annual staff retreat, having spent four days together in peaceful Amsterdam. With staff now based across four continents, the retreat offers a crucial opportunity for us to come together and consider strategic and operational issues, as well as to re-connect on a personal level, and for some members of staff to meet for the first time.  

 

At our last retreat, we developed and discussed our 2024-2026 Strategy, so this year’s retreat focused more on operational aspects. We considered ILP’s strengths, identifying issues such as the ability to help our partners achieve change, the high level of technical expertise amongst our partners, volunteers and staff team, and the ability to deliver impact at a global level. It was particularly rewarding to hear staff appreciate the dedicated, supportive and collaborative nature of the ILP team – a team I am inspired and proud to lead.  

 

But as with every organisation, we should always look to identify and address any challenges so that we can adapt and grow. We spent some time discussing how we might improve our communications, especially given many of us work remotely and across differing time zones. Should we make better use of AI tools? As an organisation working to advance economic and environmental justice, what are the security and environmental implications? There wasn’t enough time to answer that question! Watch this space.  

 

We also benefited from a training session on our new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, sharing examples of how we can ensure our work avoids discrimination – whether sub-consciously or not. As an international organisation working with partners all over the world, it is important to consider how cultural and other differences should shape our approach and ensure that we are ready to address any issues that may arise.  

 

Despite the packed agenda, we also squeezed in time to explore some of Amsterdam’s canals and learn some of the city’s fascinating history - and of course to try some cheese! And as I return to the office, I feel more ready for the coming 12 months, working with the ILP team to help it thrive.  


Photo: Amsterdam Centraal Station


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