The new leadership playbook
The reality of leadership is messy. The deluge of theories and ‘shiny new models’ only makes it harder.
As the former CEO of Leadership Victoria, I’ve seen what’s missing: A genuine, practical framework that moves beyond theory. Leaders are stuck between a disconnected choice between ‘hard skill’ systemic issues (i.e. management and processes) or ‘soft skill’ human issues (i.e. leadership, collaboration).
My programs are designed to bridge this gap.
We install a new cultural operating system, grounded in my Systems-Aware Leadership framework. Powered by the disciplined practice of the Curiosity Mindset, these workshops and advisory programs equip your leaders with the tools to see the whole picture, navigate complexity with confidence, and drive the meaningful action that delivers real results.
Who I work with:
My approach has been forged through work with a diverse range of leaders, all wrestling with the same core challenge: How to unlock the potential of their people. This includes:
- Executive Leadership Teams in Government
- Management teams in large corporate organisations
- Principals and teachers in secondary and tertiary education institutes
- Business owners and social impact entrepreneurs
Program 1: ACTION Program for Emerging Leaders
Imagine a leadership program that not only upskills emerging leaders but also practically addresses a complex organisational challenge. That’s the ACTION Program.
There’s no abstract theory or filled with fun ‘icebreakers’. It’s a 6-month, project-based journey that’s designed to be low-touch yet high-impact. By bringing people together to diagnose challenges relevant to your organisation, we cultivate leadership skills through the experience of solving it.
Who it’s for:
From frontline team leaders starting their leadership development journey, through to middle management seeking to elevate their leadership impact. Think of this workshop as a jumpstart for leadership development.
Program Outcomes:
- Identify personal and team-based fixed mindset triggers and apply techniques to shift perspective.
- Practice systems-thinking and collective sense-making to diagnose organisational issues.
- Utilise Curiosity Mindset thinking tools to approach challenges and learning opportunities more effectively.
- Frame and engage in feedback conversations that genuinely foster growth and development.
- Implement practical strategies to build resilience and encourage learning from mistakes and setbacks.
- Create a team environment that actively values effort, learning, and progress over innate talent.
Workshop Details:
- A 3-hour kick-off workshop followed by five 1.5-hour check-ins to reflect and learn from progress, delivered over 6 months
- Can be delivered virtually or in-person
- Participants: 6 to 30
Book a free 30-min strategy session
Program 2: Executive Leadership Impact
Moving beyond abstract leadership theories requires a different approach. This unique program is designed for Executive Leadership Teams seeking to embed practical, human-centred leadership and drive real cultural change.
Through a deft blend of confidential 1-on-1 coaching and collaborative group workshops, we co-create a tangible ‘Leadership Impact Statement’; your team’s clear commitment to the behaviours you wish to see. This light-touch, high-impact process fosters profound shifts, making effective leadership a lived reality and your legacy.
Who it’s for:
This program is specifically designed for established Executive Leadership Teams and Senior Management Groups who are committed to moving beyond theoretical leadership models and want to embed a practical, human-centred leadership culture.
Program Outcomes:
- Develop a shared, practical definition of impactful leadership tailored to your unique organisational context.
- Co-create a clear ‘Leadership Impact Statement’ outlining specific, agreed-upon behavioural commitments for the team.
- Identify and commit to concrete actions designed to embed desired leadership behaviours across the team and organisation.
- Strengthen executive team alignment, fostering greater trust and more effective communication regarding leadership practices.
- Build a robust foundation for intentional culture evolution and a lasting leadership legacy.
Program Details:
- One round of 1 on 1 coaching conversations with individual members of the Executive Leadership Team to elicit deep insights
- A 1.5 hour workshop with the entire team to reflect on insights and to co-design strategies, behaviours, and actions, summarised into a draft Leadership Impact Statement
- A second round of 1 on 1 conversations to check-in on progress
- A second 1.5 hour workshop to reflect on progress and to finalise the Leadership Impact Statement for distribution
- Can be delivered virtually or in-person
- Participants: 4 to 10
Book a free 30-min strategy session
Program 3: Activation Summit
What if changing the world didn’t require waiting for permission or a title? The Activation Summit is a radically practical alternative to traditional leadership programs, built on a simple truth: Anyone can create meaningful impact.
This program ditches the focus (and pressure) on being a ‘leader’ and instead equips passionate individuals with the tools for doing the work that drives real change. Participants learn to blend essential ‘soft’ skills (like influence and collaboration) with practical ‘hard’ skills (understanding organisations, taking initiative) to feel empowered to create change.
Step up, get skilled, and start making your difference – today.
Who it’s for:
The Activation Summit is for organisations and communities keen to mobilise action at a large scale. It’s specifically designed for:
- Large groups of passionate leaders wanting practical skills to contribute more effectively to the organisations or causes they care about.
- Intrapreneurs and emerging leaders within organisations who seek to drive positive change and influence outcomes from any level.
- Individuals seeking the confidence, clarity, and know-how to translate their desire to help into demonstrable, real-world results.
Participants in the Summit will:
- Develop the confidence and mindset to initiate meaningful action without needing formal authority.
- Master practical tools for understanding group dynamics and how organisations really function.
- Enhance interpersonal skills essential for effective collaboration, communication, and influence.
- Apply curiosity and critical thinking to diagnose challenges and design effective interventions in real-world settings.
- Learn proven methods for moving ideas into tangible impact and results.
- Build a supportive network of fellow leaders.
Program Details:
- This signature program is bespoke to your needs, and can range from 1 to 3 days depending on the goals you’d like to achieve.
- Additional speakers and subject matter experts will be brought in to provide a well-rounded experience
- For businesses and organisations, this program can be delivered in-house, across multiple groups
- For associations, councils, schools, and community leaders, this program can be delivered across communities
- In-person preferred, though hybrid options available
- Participants: 20 to 100
- Fee: Negotiable
Book a free 30-min strategy session
Endorsements
If I had to describe Scott’s superpower in one word, I’d say “energising”. Whether he’s leading curious-minded ideation work, or encouraging leaders to think more systemically about hard challenges, Scott enables people to look upwards and outwards for ways to make progress – when they might otherwise find themselves stuck in a hole. Oh, and he asks terrific questions too – the kind that really get you thinking differently – so that every conversation offers new learning and insight. Scott’s strengths are so much needed in this complex world we’re leading in.
My team had the pleasure of attending a workshop on nurturing curiosity, led by Scott. His engaging approach and insights transformed the way we think about curiosity, the power of questions, exploration in our work and challenging the status quo. Scott created a supportive environment that encouraged open dialogue and creativity, leaving us inspired and equipped with practical tools to foster curiosity in our team. We left feeling energized and eager to apply what we learned. Highly recommend!.
Scott is a skilled facilitator. We asked for a free-flowing format, that invited open and frank discussions with minimal input from the facilitator. Scott guided the program and took us through the agenda but did not interfere or inhibit the conversation. He kept us on course and summarised the outcomes with full insight into what we were trying to achieve. He was not the ‘main game’ as happens with many facilitators but only involved himself to clarify the discussion, record the main points and determine actions and responsibilities. The ideas were all ours and made sure we got through the agenda, ensuring everyone participated. It was a very productive and rewarding couple of days and we all left feeling inspired and confident.
Scott is personable and inspirational, with a sound grasp of how to draw together ideas into an achievable set of goals, whilst working with a disparate group. We will engage him again when we build on this session to prepare our Strategic Plan. He was a great find!
Scott is such a great thinker, quick, and totally got who we are, why we are, and where we are heading. He is so in touch with all the challenges that a social enterprise struggles with, and his advice and guidance is really relevant and practical. In addition, Scott gave us vital tools that we could implement immediately – especially in the current Covid environment where we have had to learn and connect remotely.
Past Projects
Developed and implemented the Project Management Framework for the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Authored the public discussion paper for Victoria’s Gender Equality Legislation.
Project managed the merger of Responsible Alcohol Victoria and the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation into the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR).
Re-designed the CEO reporting workflow for Good Shepherd.
Authored the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s (VCAT) annual Customer Satisfaction Survey from 2016 to 2019.
Facilitated a 3-day strategic planning workshop for the Board and Senior Leadership Team at Elder Rights Advocacy (ERA).
Pioneered the design and introduction of visual reporting mechanisms across DHHS and the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) that persist to this day.
Developed automated reporting tools for Freedom of Information (FOI) requests for the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
Developed the end-to-end process manual for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade’s (MFB) Fleet Deployment function.
Created over a dozen new products and tools to help public sector clients improve their ability to serve the public, including interactive stakeholder engagement tools and process re-engineering methodologies.
Developed the 2020 strategic plan for Space2B, a not-for-profit supporting female refugee and migrant artists.
Implemented a human-centred Leadership Impact Statement in a high pressure bureaucratic team environment.