Shawn Callahan is managing director of Anecdote Pty Ltd, a firm specialising in helping clients harness informal knowledge.

Shawn is the former knowledge-management practice leader for IBM Australia and regional leader of IBM’s Cynefin Centre. He has more than 15 years’ experience as a consultant and researcher, and has undertaken a wide variety of projects—including community-of-practice development, knowledge-mapping, knowledge strategy, and using narrative techniques to tackle seemingly intractable issues (such as trust, cash economy, and workplace safety).

Shawn has had papers published in Knowledge Management and HR Monthly, and has recently had a book chapter published on the topic of communities of practice. He has also presented papers at conferences in Australia and internationally.

As co-founder of the ACT Knowledge Management Forum, an international community of practice for knowledge management in the public sector, Shawn has helped to develop the group from eight members to more than a thousand. He now convenes a community of practice interested in applying complexity theory to management practices.

Shawn’s work also includes the facilitation of strategic retreats, conducting sense-making workshops, training in complexity techniques, and coaching in the Cynefin Method and creative-thinking skills.

As a teenager, Shawn once played Wally Masur (now Australia’s Davis Cup coach) in a tennis match—and was thoroughly trounced, winning only two points in eight games. This spelt the end of Shawn’s tennis career, but other sports, such as basketball and golf, have provided many years of pleasure.