Short answer: Yes. Someone with the right training AND a level of independence from the outcome of the workshop being facilitated.
Long answer: The role of independent workshop facilitator is becoming more and more central to project and programme teams. Workshops are now the go-to technique for teams to use to get results. Workshops focus on getting the right people in the right room at the right time to talk about the right things (and if it’s part of the objectives for the workshop, to get to the right decision).
Workshops are successfully being used instead of hijacking using project progress meetings to endlessly discuss project issues that more than half of the team either don’t care about or don’t know anything to contribute. Facilitated workshops are allowing teams to have focused discussions with the right audience(s) – all of whom can contribute and collaborate on the right resolution.