EN

RU

GROUP RELATIONS CONFERENCE KAZAKHSTAN

Leadership and Task:
finding resilience in turbulent times.

Almaty, May 28–31, 2026

registration

Place: Narxoz Business School

To offer memebers the opportunity to explore, understand, and begin recognizing both conscious and unconscious group processes—and to apply this knowledge effectively in teams and organizations.

Purpose
of the Conference

01_________ Goal

Throughout your life, you are part of various groups — from family to organizations — where you may act as a manager, leader, or service provider such as a coach or consultant working with individuals, teams, or entire organizations.

About the Conference

Immersive learning

Leadership development

Learning through personal experience

Expanding and deepening capabilities

Managing and leading teams

Leadership skills and team performance

Organisation effectiveness

02_________About the Conference

We use accelerated immersive learning — that is, learning through direct experience. This conference is radically different from typical leadership seminars or training sessions. The key difference is that memebers don’t just receive information about tools or methods — they learn through their own lived experience

Promotes organizational effectiveness through immersive learning, i.e., learning by experience rather than through traditional instruction.

Memebers form a temporary organization over four days and explore group dynamics “here and now,” including the unconscious influences of emotions.

At the conference the group will have the opportunity to understand their own emotional expressions and become aware of the hidden group processes that arise here and now. As a result, members will be able to view the dynamics within groups and organizations from a new perspective. By applying this experience in their work and daily lives, members will be able to expand and deepen their abilities in team management and leadership, demonstrate their leadership skills, continue exploring their relationships with supervisors, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of team and organizational performance as a whole.

LEARNING METHOD

03_________ method

The learning method takes place through exploration and immersion. Members will be invited to analyze interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup processes occurring "here and now" in a safe learning environment.

Who Is It For?

04_________ for whom

The conference will be of interest to anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the processes occurring within individual groups, teams, and organizations, and to learn how to apply this knowledge for the benefit of their organizations. This includes, in particular:

Company owners

Top managers

Coaches

HR professionals

Organizational development consultants

EMBA and MBA graduates

Facilitators

Nonprofit sector leaders

What Makes This Conference Unique?

05_________ feature

Unfortunately, the results of our efforts often fall short of expectations. Quite often, we encounter the following phenomena:

People tend to believe that their decisions and behavior are driven by rational, conscious, and transparent motives. This is especially true in a work environment, where we put great effort into clearly defining goals, roles, and responsibilities, and organizing all processes to ensure effective performance.

From the moment we are born, we all participate in various groups and are constantly influenced by the processes of leadership, distribution of authority, and the very nature of these groups. That is why it is extremely important to understand group processes, our role in them, and how they affect us.

01

Overlooked group dynamics

02

Hidden assumptions and roles

05

Destructive Groupthinking

04

Emotional and unconscious group forces

03

Behavior under uncertainty

Benefits for Conference members

06_________ result

Experience and work within — and beyond — established boundaries

Understand principles of group formation, leadership, delegation, and power dynamics

Members will:

Gain insight into how groups draw-in individuals and subtly influence them

Reflect on interpersonal, small-group, and large-group dynamics

PAST CONFERENCES

07_________ photo gallery

view all photos →

Conference Program Summary

08_________ program

Almaty, MAY 28–31, 2026

Small group sessions:

Focus on tight-knit team dynamics (like project teams or boards).

Large group sessions

Explore dynamics in larger assemblies where close interpersonal connection is reduced.

Evening reflection sessions each day to process learnings

Intergroup sessions

Study power, representation, delegation as groups interact.

THE ROLE OF CONSULTANTS

9_________ THE ROLE OF CONSULTANTS

The learning process we apply is not teaching in the traditional sense of the word. In other words, do not expect consultants to do what teachers or trainers usually do. Their role is to set the structural framework for learning and to share their observations or hypotheses with participants about what is happening at any given moment and what might help your learning. All the work that consultants do aims to help memebers gain the maximum knowledge and experience.

Conference Directors

10_________ our team

Holds a PhD and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations in London, United Kingdom.

Her work in group relations and group dynamics spans more than 20 years of conference practice in the UK (Tavistock Clinic, Grubb Institute) and internationally, including India, South Africa, France, the Netherlands, and Israel. Her work is characterized by a deep capacity to understand local contexts and to engage with their dynamics, change processes, and cycles.

Since 2007, she has shaped, influenced, and at times led major conferences at the Leicester Conference hosted by the Tavistock Institute. She directed the annual Rice Institute conferences for three years (2016–2018) and, since 2013, has led the Autumn Conferences at Teachers College, Columbia University. Since 2019, she has also been involved with Tavistock Institute China conferences and has led conferences in Lithuania (2012) and Argentina (2013).
Her main areas of interest include leadership, authority, power, and learning in complex and unpredictable environments.

Eliat Aram

CONFERENCE DIRECTOR

Irina is the director and founder of Group Relations Russia, a management consultant and coach within the EMBA programs at the business schools Skolkovo (Russia), EDHEC (France), CEIBS (China) and IMD (Switzerland). In coaching, she uses a psychodynamic and systemic approach.
She holds a Master’s degree from the Financial Academy and experience in business development and personnel management. She also holds a Master’s degree in Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (HSE).
She took part in the conference "Group relations", Tavistock in England in 2016 and 2019, in the conference "Making the Difference" in Poland in 2017, led by Lionel Stapley, in the international conference in Lithuania in 2018 "Leadership and Authority in the time of complex identities".
Certified consultant in the field of small group dynamics (UK).
Has experience working as a consultant at Group Dynamics Programs in the Netherlands, Poland, at the Leicester Conference 2022 and 2023 (Tavistock).

Irina Ponomarchuk

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Administrative Director

Diana Umetayeva is an expert in internal communications and employee benefits. With over 4 years of HR experience, she has organized executive strategic sessions, and developed and implemented benefits programs. Known for her empathy and teamwork skills, she creates solutions that enhance employee engagement and well-being.

For registration, please contact: +7 705 210 2007

Diana Umetayeva

Administrative Director

Conference Consultants

C 2021 сотрудничает c Group Relations Russia & Kazakhstan. Супервизор и преподаватель кафедры психоанализа и бизнес-консультирования НИУ ВШЭ («Карьерное консультирование», «Консультирование команд»), коуч бизнес-школ Skolkovo и INSEAD. Степень магистра в социологии, международном управлении человеческими ресурсами и психологии, повышение квалификации по работе с психологическими травмами.

Rachel Kelly

Rachel Kelly — from the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, based in London in the United Kingdom. I am Company Secretary, and a Principal at the Institute. My roles also include Group Relations consultant, Organisational Development & Change consultant and curating our new office. I have been over 20 years at the Institute and have been on staff in various roles including Director, at 18 Leicester conferences and in other GRCs around the world. With a team, we have produced an introductory online learning course: Team Working: How to Succeed about Group Relations for our website. I also practice the Alexander Technique — an indirect Zen practice for how we perform, express ourselves, move and do things, through studying the psycho-physical — bringing the unconscious to consciousness, with many correlates with Group Relations.

C 2021 сотрудничает c Group Relations Russia & Kazakhstan. Супервизор и преподаватель кафедры психоанализа и бизнес-консультирования НИУ ВШЭ («Карьерное консультирование», «Консультирование команд»), коуч бизнес-школ Skolkovo и INSEAD. Степень магистра в социологии, международном управлении человеческими ресурсами и психологии, повышение квалификации по работе с психологическими травмами.

Denis Kulikov

Lecturer at the Department of Psychoanalysis and Business Consulting at the Higher School of Economics (HSE); organizational consultant, psychologist, and coach. He is a member of the Association of Psychoanalytic Coaching and Business Consulting (APCBC) and the International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organizations (ISPSO). He has 15 years of corporate experience in aviation insurance and risk management.

C 2021 сотрудничает c Group Relations Russia & Kazakhstan. Супервизор и преподаватель кафедры психоанализа и бизнес-консультирования НИУ ВШЭ («Карьерное консультирование», «Консультирование команд»), коуч бизнес-школ Skolkovo и INSEAD. Степень магистра в социологии, международном управлении человеческими ресурсами и психологии, повышение квалификации по работе с психологическими травмами.

Haritha Sarma

With more than 25 years of experience, Haritha Sarma works as an Organisational Development consultant, leadership coach, and gender trainer. His practice has been shaped by a commitment to supporting groups, organisations, and networks engaged with questions of poverty, marginalisation, and social justice.

Haritha is an Associate Member of Group Relations India and has been on the consulting staff of group relations conferences in India and internationally. He brings a deep interest in leadership, systems psychodynamics and organisational learning and is known for creating reflective, supportive spaces for growth and transformation.

C 2021 сотрудничает c Group Relations Russia & Kazakhstan. Супервизор и преподаватель кафедры психоанализа и бизнес-консультирования НИУ ВШЭ («Карьерное консультирование», «Консультирование команд»), коуч бизнес-школ Skolkovo и INSEAD. Степень магистра в социологии, международном управлении человеческими ресурсами и психологии, повышение квалификации по работе с психологическими травмами.

Dana Ferber

Director of LLP "Center for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy BeAlive",
Member of the APA (American Psychological Association, 2023–2025),
Member of the Association for Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy (ACBP, 2023–2024),
Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist.

Currently:
— CHRO of the Cyber Temple (GameDev) and Plexy Group (FinTech) group of companies
— Head of Science at LLP "Codo" (adaptation and psychometric analysis of methodologies for an automated system; adolescent resilience research; trainings on bullying and suicide prevention, resilience development, and integrative program design)
— Director of LLP "Human Factor Consulting" (HR system setup and automation, business trainings, strategic sessions)
— Director of LLP "Center for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy BeAlive" (psychodiagnostics, psychotherapy, well-being services for corporations)

Participation Details

11_________ information

After your registration, you may receive a call from the organizers to adjust your expectations for the program, as the method is innovative and requires verification at the beginning of the learning process.

Language:

Place

Business school Narxoz
Address - 050035, 55 Zhandosov Street, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Thursday - Saturday: 9:00 -19.00 Sunday: 9.00 - 14.00

Study hours:

May 28–31, 2026

Dates of the event:

Participation Details:

The working language of the event is Russian

Members are expected to attend all four days to fully benefit from the immersive method.

cost of participation

12_________ cost

Fees (per person)

Training Group Participation Fee*
Early Registration

This offer is valid until May 12, 2026.

Early Registration Fee and Group Rate (for 3 or more participants)

Fees (per person)

This offer is valid until May 12, 2026.

160 000 RUB

945 000 KZT

120 000 RUB

730 000 KZT

860 000 KZT

140 000 RUB

180 000 RUB

990 000 KZT

Training Group Participation Fee*

Fees (per person)

Standard Fee

Fees (per person)

Applies to payments made after May 12, 2026.

* Note: Training group attendance requires prior participation in at least two Group Relations Conferences, one of which must have been in-person and involved a large group.