Shawn Specht, a compassionate and dedicated holistic practitioner and coach, weaves her diverse expertise in health and wellness to empower individuals towards holistic well-being and emotional freedom. Shawn Specht radiates warmth and openness, curating workshops, retreats, and courses that inspire genuine personal growth. By integrating her knowledge of SVA Ayurveda and Nonviolent Communication, she empowers individuals to navigate conflicts and challenges across all spheres of life with grace and authenticity.
Learning and Growth: Influenced by her father's holistic chiropractic practice from an early age, Shawn embarked on a transformative journey, earning a B.S. in Health and Human Performance. Her comprehensive education encompassed a spectrum of disciplines, including psychology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, chemistry, and biology. Balancing her deep understanding of modern Western medicine with hands-on experience in holistic alternative therapies, Shawn embarked on a personal quest to foster deep healing and transformation in others. Her consistent meditation practice, augmented by immersive experiences such as the 10-Day Vipassana courses, has further enriched her spiritual and emotional learning. Her passion for growth and making the future generations more socially-emotionally resilient brought her to work as a teacher in a Waldorf-inspired school, in Northern California for ages 7-14.
She loves to read and some of her favorite books are:
My name is Giorgio Ravioli. I have lived in Switzerland since my birth in 1980. I’m a passionate practitioner and a trainer candidate of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), as well as a night owl and avid river swimmer.
My life and work both are guided by creating spaces and possibilities to be open and authentic. In a way that we can live and act out emotions and needs freely in shared experiences, without being hindered by our own judgments and fears. I see NVC as a general attitude of life. A way to connect with myself and others in our human nature.
After studying, I worked as a risk analyst and expert in disaster management for over ten years. During that time, I organized workshops, conferences and participated in exercises. As one of the organizers I gladly bring these skills to the IIT as well.
Having had the opportunity to attend two IITs myself, I am thrilled to be on the organizing team for the one in my own home country. I experienced that these training sessions could enrich life immeasurably. Each one has brought me joyful laughter, heartfelt tears, and moments of clarity, where growth as a group was happening.
As we gather here in the heart of the Swiss mountains, I feel full of gratitude to welcome you here as one of the hosts. May the Switzerland 2027 IIT be a place where true belonging manifests, where we can practice and learn together.
I’m looking forward to going on this journey with you here in the Kiental in Switzerland.
My journey with NVC started in 2014 when I received a copy of the book "Life Enriching Communication " as a gift in a German translation. Initially, I sought a way out of anxiety and depression with the help of Nonviolent Communication. Along the way, I noticed that my life became so much more colorful, easier, and fulfilling than I ever could have expected. Since then, I've been learning and teaching NVC and I am currently in the certification process. I love to contribute to creating spaces where people can meet themselves and others lovingly and mindfully and where personal development is possible.
Pedro's background is from Physics, having worked with several universities and research centers in Europe and former Eastern Bloc countries. The need to reach others in a more effective way led him to choose to become a primary and secondary school teacher, with the dream of changing the world through families and young people.
He grew up in a family where conflicts were avoided and communication was very poor or absent. He needed to deconstruct his rigidity and fear of conflict and rebuild the adult he had become. Immersed himself in different areas, such as Theater, Philosophy for Children, Yoga, Buddhist Meditation, Creative Writing, Systemic Constellations, Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Mediation.
His experience of almost 30 years as a teacher and 10 years as a Conflict Mediator with families and young people in regions of great conflict and violence, has given him a very accurate understanding of the dynamics and nuances of the conflict and proof of the effectiveness of Nonviolent Communication.
In 2021 he wrote his book “From Conflict to Love – Nonviolent Communication in School and Life”, published by Astrolábio Editions, in Portugal and Brazil.
He loves meaningful human relationships. Meaning, Contribution and Purpose are three human needs that are very present in everything he does. That's why he’s here!
Wayan Rustiasa is an educator and facilitator from Bali with over two decades of experience in education, community development, and personal growth. A certification candidate with the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC), he is dedicated to cultivating spaces where individuals can reconnect with authenticity, empathy, and shared humanity. Through his leadership with Campuhan College and the Karuna Bali Foundation, Wayan integrates values-based education, deep listening, and compassionate leadership to foster meaningful transformation within individuals and communities. His work is grounded in the intention to make spiritual practice practical and accessible-nurturing healing, connection, and resilience within communities.
Christine is a creative focused on inspiring connection through events. She's practiced NVC for 5 years and is the co-host of the Courageous Conversations podcast which can be found on Spotify! When she's not designing and managing events, she's attending concerts, exploring local coffee shops, creating mobile photo sets and enjoying the sunshine in AZ.
Local NVC group, member of NVC Chinese Net, that specializes in family education and alternative education for children.
Ina encountered Nonviolent Communication eight years ago and has been engaged with it ever since through ongoing learning, trainings, and practice. For the past three years, she has been co-organizing and facilitating NVC practice groups within the Slovenian NVC community, contributing to spaces for embodied learning and mutual support.
Alongside her involvement with NVC, Ina is a trained graphic designer with over ten years of professional experience. She is interested in how visual language can support awareness, clarity, and connection, and she holds a long-term vision of integrating Nonviolent Communication and design into one coherent practice.
Joshua Patroba is a dedicated Certification Candidate in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) from Kenya with a wealth of experience spanning over a decade. Since delving into the world of NVC in 2008, Joshua has honed his skills through close collaboration with esteemed trainers and facilitators. His journey has led him to create and lead transformative retreats, workshops, summer camps, and events that integrate NVC principles for life-changing experiences.
A standout achievement in Joshua's NVC journey was his pivotal role in organizing the Nairobi IITs in the 2014, 2017, 2022, and 2023 ten-day retreat in Nairobi, organizer of the 2024 Nigerian IIT and 2025 Kenyan IIT. Joshua's passion for spreading NVC extends to the educational, corporate, family, and church settings, where he has effectively applied NVC principles. Joshua is now part of the team of NVC practitioners who are implementing NVC and Sociocracy for Social Change projects in Kenya and Uganda. Beyond his NVC endeavors, Joshua is an accomplished environmental expert, specializing in electronic waste recycling, environmental policy, and curriculum development. His diverse skill set also encompasses team-building, counseling, and business consultancy in change management and leadership, mediation, and litigation. As a mentor and community member of NVC Kenya and Founder of NVC African, Joshua is committed to nurturing NVC beginners and fostering a supportive environment for skill development.
With a focus on intuition, empathic presence, and creating safe spaces for growth, Joshua's approach to NVC transcends conventional boundaries, emphasizing body language and non-verbal communication.
Nessa Dertnig discovered NVC for the first time while on a permaculture course in 2011, and since then has studied with a variety of trainers in the United States and Europe. The practice of NVC has helped her create more connected and fulfilling relationships with many people in her life, and feel more balanced, aware, curious, and open. She is currently deepening her practice as a candidate for trainer certification.
Nessa lives and works on a small organic farm in southern Austria with her husband and two teenage children. She also teaches in a local secondary school and is eager to learn more about how to bring NVC into a public school setting and share NVC with students, parents, and teachers.