THE COURAGE TO LEAD INTERVIEW SERIES

Ali specialises in leadership, teams, culture and workforce transformation. She is Adjunct Faculty at the Australian Graduate School of Management UNSW and a nationally accredited mediator. She is the founder & CEO of Ality. Where she has designed personality assessments that identify your connection type and motivational drivers in relationships, teams and leadership. Ali is the bestselling a...

Do you want to listen to a story about a international leader who was at the peak of his game, then resigned from his high performing jobs against the wishes of his bosses, and at the same time filed for divorce? This is a story about a leader who learns to let ego go and live their life in service of other people. This is the story of Nick Jonsson Managing Director of EGN an executive support net...

Would you like to hear about a leader, who doesn’t consider themselves to be a leader? Would you like to hear about a leader who has created a community where people have the trust to share their deepest fears and vulnerabilities, with each other, and at the same time genuinely support and celebrate the successes of each person within the community when they succeed in doing something they did not...

Do you want to learn how to be a leader when the most confronting of crisis’s are occurring around you? This is the interview for you. Jamie Caldwell is the Director, Energy Operations Part of the NSW Treasury cluster in the Office of Energy and Climate Change, Jamie has lived the blueprint for how to prepare for leading in a crisis across a wide and varied level of situations simply because he ha...

This next interview is simply amazing in its simplicity. We are about to listen to how Jan Willett was the Director of Events for New South Wales from 2004 to 2021. In that role Jan was responsible for ensuring events such as Mardi Gras, City to Surf, Sydney Marathon, New Years Eve, Australia Day, The Invictus Games were organised and ran to such as successful level that the community did not know...

Our next guest on The Courage to Lead Interview Series is Paul Watson and Author of Lost and Found - why we need adventure. He describes himself as the original nerd. His story is beyond interesting. Paul owned several large pharmacies in rural Victoria and they were very successful. He had the fast cars, the wealth, the house but he did not have a sustainable lifestyle. Paul survived on minimal s...

Matt is the co-founder and creator of wellbeing program The Change Room and author of the book with the same name : The Change Room.   He is best known for his NRL coaching career, but it is his most recent endeavours that are having on impact outside the elite sporting arena and helping everyday people. Combining both his qualifications (a Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sports Science)...

On 30th October 2019, Carlene was appointed NSW State Emergency Services (SES) Commissioner. Carlene leads the combat agency with legislated responsibility for storms, floods and tsunamis. Literally 3 months later in March 2020, the world, New South Wales and the rest of Australia went into Lockdowns because of Covid 19. That meant that none of the 10,500 volunteers in the SES all over New South W...

Emma Doyle and Natalie Ashdown What Makes a Great Coach? Emma is a coach, mentor and keynote speaker who is sought after around the world. She can help turn your motivation into action. She is a former Division 1 US College Tennis Player and has represented Australia as a World Team Coach on 20 occasions. Emma is deeply qualified to know What Makes a Great Coach because she asks the question of al...

Todays guest, Aidan Grimes, is someone very special. Someone I know personally and who has touched thousands of lives for the better. Aidan Grimes is an accomplished coach who, through his unique understanding of history, has helped many people change their perception of the past, equip them to live in the present and empowered them to design the future they wish to have. In 2022 Aidan led his 125...

TODAYS INTERVIEW IS WITH MARK BERRIDGE- AUTHOR OF A FRACTION STRONGER THE INSPIRING STORY OF ONE MANS SURVIVAL AFTER A LIFE CHANGING ACCIDENT, AND FINDING POSSIBILITY IN LIFES DARKEST MOMENTS IN A SPLIT SECOND, MARK BERRIDGE'S LIFE CAME CRASHING DOWN. HIS BICYCLE UNDERSTEERED THROUGH A CORNER, CATAPULTING HIM HEADFIRST INTO A STORMWATER DRAIN. A LARGE PIECE OF DISLODGE VERTEBRA COMPRESSED HIS SPIN...

Before the interview starts I wanted to give a teaser about what you are in for. I loved doing this interview. Today's guest is Rebecca Pinkstone - CEO of Bridge Housing - a Community Housing Provider in New South Wales, Australia that provides housing for people who are homeless or can no longer afford to live in the home they have. Too much of their income goes to housing and not enough to live....

This week we have David Knoff, Author of the fantastic book 537 days of Winter. David had embarked on the adventure of a lifetime as station leader of Davis Research Station in Antarctica when the Covid 19 pandemic hit. After their ride home was canceled indefinitely, what was supposed to be a routine mission became a high pressure cauldron of uncertainty and anxiety that pushed David’s team to th...

Alex Greenwich MP, Independent Member for Sydney, is a wonderful human being. After 12 years in the New South Wales State Parliament as an Independent Member he has achieved some amazing outcomes. Alex has some incredible credentials. - the Co Chair behind the Marriage Equality Act which eventuated in the act being passed into Legislation. - A driving force behind the legalising of Abortion in NSW...

This is a story about leadership learned at a very early age, and the lessons learned are on display for everyone. Trina Jones is the CEO for Homelessness NSW and has held that role for nearly 6 months now. I worked with Trina several years ago now when she was the Manager for the Homelessness Unit for City of Sydney Council. Trina is one of the best leaders I have ever had the privilege of workin...

SPECIAL FAMILY ADDITION OF THE COURAGE TO LEAD WITH UNCLE LEN. In nearly all of our interviews so far our leaders have shared with us that they were inspired by a family member or relative to go down the leadership path they chose. The inspiration came from a grandparent, a parent or an aunt or uncle. Not every leader, but a high majority. The Sicard family has Uncle Len. He is due to celebrate hi...

A former NSWPF officer for 6 years, who went on to become a Leader in Mission Beat and Mission Australia in both the City and Country. One of the best media presenters you will ever see who is a Voice for the Voiceless. He is now an elected Councillor in Goulburn City Council and a Funeral Director. In the middle of all this he is the principal organiser of the Goulburn Mens Walk where men walk in...

I have been waiting to share this one with you. Peter Scott's story is incredible and one that really none of us have an idea of what his life and experiences would be truly like. Peter has over 35 years experience in leading specialist teams in complex and demanding environments. Joining the Royal Australian Navy as a 17 year old Midshipman in 1983, he rose over three decades to be the profession...

Steve’s story is riveting so here are some highlights. Steve is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor, and mentor to many many people. He is also one of my closest friends. One of those people you can go to, if you are having one of your worst days ever, he is there for you. Steve has been and still is in the Security industry for decades. You may be asking how does a former high ranking Police O...

Erin is the Team Leader for the St Vincents Hospital Homeless Health Team. An incredibly humble leader with enormous skills to lead people to make a difference and provide dignity for homeless people who need medical and other forms of support. A former ICU specialist nurse, decided to leave the high demanding environment to go onto the streets and provide support for the forgotten people sleeping...

How does a boy from Dubbo join the NSW Police Force in 1990 and rise to the rank of Superintendent as the Commander of the Homicide Squad for 6 years, then the Assistant Commissioner of Counter Terrorism then lead the Recovery Strikeforce for the South Coast Fires in 2019/2020 after being asked to "Turbo Charge" the Recovery Strikeforce by Commissioner of Police Mick Fuller, on New Years Day. Mick...

Wayne Larden - Managing Director of Pont 3 the company that has the rights to the Sydney Marathon.  How does a boy from Mount Druitt end up with the rights to the Sydney Marathon from 2005, turning it into a world class event that is being short listed as a World Marathon rated marathon at the same level as the London, New York, Boston and Tokyo Marathon Events.  A true example of leadership, attr...