About CODI
The Canadian Organization Development Institute (CODI) was formed in 2005 by Marilyn Laiken, Ingrid Richter, and Jeff Solway.
CODI’s comprehensive, in-depth program is unique in Canada. All our programs are theory-based and highly pragmatic. They are designed for practitioners. Our programs reflect a commitment to experiential and small group learning, and are taught by leading OD professionals.
CODI’s training and certification in organization development and change will significantly increase your marketability as a change agent, whether you work internally or independently. Additionally, the SEEC/CODI Masters Certificate in OD, offered in partnership with the Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC) of York University’s Schulich School of Business, offers essential business acumen, essential if OD and change professionals are to work at the highest executive levels.
Many of our participants have been working in the OD and change field, but without formal training. Others are exploring the field. Some are internal OD and change specialists, some are external consultants, and some are managers committed to a deeper approach to management. Most are mid-career professionals.
At present, we offer programs in five streams:
- OD and Change Essentials, a 2-day intro to OD
- OD and Change Intensive, a 3-module, 12-day program in depth exploration of OD theory and practice.
- SEEC/CODI Masters Certificate in OD (MCOD). The MCOD consists of the CODI Intensive program; SEEC’s four-day course, Business Acumen for OD Professionals; and the SEEC/CODI OD Practicum
Academic Directors:
Marilyn Laiken, PhD is past Chair of the OISE, University of Toronto Department of Adult Education & Counselling Psychology, Professor Emeritus of Adult Education in Workplace Learning and Change, and Director of the Masters Certificate Program in Adult Training and Development co-sponsored by Schulich Executive Education Centre at York University and the Canadian Organization Development Institute. She is also Principal of Laiken Associates, a Toronto consulting firm that, since 1975, has served hundreds of clients in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, and Academic Director of the Canadian Organization Development Institute, Inc. (CODI). Marilyn combines an interest in adult education and organizational change through her research, teaching and field development, and speaks internationally and has published widely in these areas.
Ingrid Richter, PhD has been facilitating learning strategy, leadership development, and organizational change, nationally and internationally, for twenty years. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Toronto and an independent consultant. Her research interests focus on societal change. As a consultant, she often works in international projects involving multi-stakeholder engagement, organizational learning, and capacity-building through leadership development.
Managing Director:
Jeff Solway, MES: is an entrepreneur and communications professional. As an independent consultant he has engaged in research, facilitation, and the preparation of public discussion papers for NGOs and for policy units at all levels of government. For many years he also operated a manufacturing business, producing high-end canoeing products.
The Faculty:
CODI’s faculty are all senior OD practitioners, adult educators and coaches.
They bring experience from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, and have spoken and consulted internationally, published widely, and held senior positions within organizations.
Diane Abbey-Livingston, MEd: multi-stakeholder projects, strategic planning, organizational and community change, citizen engagement, leadership development, partnering processes; has held executive positions in non-profit and private organizations; adjunct faculty, OISE/UT.
Rod Brazier, BSc, MEd:
leadership development, learning strategy, collaborative processes, citizen engagement, whole-system change interventions, Appreciative Inquiry; has held senior positions in, and consulted with, several prominent high tech companies.
Ray Gordezky, MPH: MPH
large scale collaborative change processes for organizations, communities and countries; organization transformation; leadership development; has held management roles in the telecommunications industry and non-government organizations.
David Kelleher, PhD: learning, strategy and organizational change, in Canada and internationally; various roles with Amnesty International; formerly, an internal OD consultant for the City of Toronto, and a professor of Applied Social Science.
Karon West, MES: strategy alignment, organizational change, leadership and team development; clients in Canada and internationally, often in cross-cultural settings, often in health and community-based organizations.
Jon Wagner, BASc, MASc: strategic planning, organizational transformation, technology implementation, large group collaborative processes, leadership development and working across boundaries of time, space and culture with virtual teams, remote management and collaboration technologies; held senior positions in global technology and mining companies and the Ontario Public Services and consulted in private, public and not-for profit sectors.
Russ Milland, BASc, MASc: organizational transformation; business process design & optimization; technology implementation, leadership development and working across boundaries of time, space and culture with virtual teams, remote management and collaboration technologies; held senior positions in the petroleum, aerospace, financial, education and online marketing sectors
Lisa Watson, BSW: Strategy development, systems transformation, organizational learning and development, partnerships, strategic facilitation and writing; has held senior executive positions in government and the non-profit sectors. University of Waterloo-McConnell Foundation graduate diploma in Social Innovation.
Kathleen Howard, MED: Insights Discovery Team and Organization Transformation, Integrated Leadership Program (ILP), executive/leadership coaching, large group change technologies, women’s leadership programs (Courage to Act™), expert facilitation and strategic planning
