Session 0: Framed by Prof. James Thomas

“But I Meant Well…” – Setting the Tone

Framed by Prof. James, this opening reflection sets the tone for the Collaborative Unlearning Labs by naming a familiar tension in development practice: the gap between good intentions and lived outcomes. It invites participants to sit with the discomfort of “meaning well” while recognising that intention alone does not always translate into equitable or effective practice.

The session opens up space for honest reflection on mindset, assumptions, and the everyday decisions that shape how development is done. It establishes the foundation for the Labs’ approach to unlearning—encouraging participants to move beyond defensiveness, engage with practice as it is experienced, and begin the work of rethinking how intentions interact with power, systems, and relationships in development.