About

I’m building a fire
A flame for always

(“Building a Fire” by James)

Our Fireside Chat is a conversation series that sparks meaningful dialogue around the stories, truths, and futures that belong to us—the everyday thinkers, doers, and change-makers.

In an age of rapid transformation, these intimate, informal sessions invite diverse voices to explore emerging topics across technology, innovation, public service, inclusion, and the rich intersections between them.

Grounded in community and curiosity, Our Fireside Chat is where ideas ignite, connections deepen, and where owning our narrative becomes an act of collective power and purpose.

Our Fireside Chat is an ANANASO initiative.

Why Fireside?

Fireside conversations have historically served as a communal hub for storytelling, knowledge sharing, and decision-making, fostering a sense of unity and continuity within communities. These gatherings around a fire provided a warm, inviting atmosphere that encouraged open dialogue and the passing down of cultural and practical wisdom. These informal yet profound exchanges create psychological safety and human connection that formal settings often cannot replicate, fostering authentic communication, empathy, and shared understanding.

In our increasingly digital and fragmented world, the fireside conversation model remains essential for building trust, facilitating difficult discussions, and maintaining the human bonds that are fundamental to both personal relationships and societal cohesion.

About ANANASO

ANANASO is a collective to share our expertise and experiences in actionable change, creative growth, and critical learning.

You will learn from us, and we will learn from you.

Transformation happens on the stage, change begins within.

Meet the Team

NOAH FANG is a senior advisor, author, and speaker specializing in organizational transformation and business strategy. His work spans transformation, service design, and data analytics for public sector organizations.

Meet him on: Website | LinkedIn

VAL GAUDREAULT is a facilitator, collaborator and super-connector, guiding public service teams’ Digital Transformation journey for 8+ years. She delivers transformative experiences that energize people and move things forward by fostering candid collaboration and nurturing growth with a touch of creative magic.

Meet her on: LinkedIn

NATALIA CHILES is an analyst, researcher and cross-cultural facilitator known for guiding project teams from big mess to massive success. They have worked on high-stakes, special projects by transforming ambiguity into data-driven results. Whether navigating complex stakeholder needs, or pioneering innovative, out-of-the-box solutions, Natalia has a proven track record of driving impactful change.