Why we exist

Leadership that is self-aware, resilient and authentic

In a rapidly-changing and complex world, we need leadership that is both agile and flexible but also grounded and authentic. Our aim is to support the development of this kind of leadership in organisations. Leadership with self-awareness and mindfulness at its core. Leadership that is open-minded and creative. Leadership that is ethical and values-based.

If you are motivated to bring this kind of leadership into your organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

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Our team

Committed to making a difference

James Donald, PhD.

James is passionate about developing self-aware, purposeful and authentic leadership. James is an experienced coach and facilitator, with a particular interest in mindfulness-based approaches to building leaders' effectiveness and resilience. Since 2007, he has delivered over 300 mindfulness and well-being workshops in the private, public and community sectors.

James has worked with organisations including the World Bank, Commonwealth Bank, Qantas, IBM, the Commonwealth Treasury, and the ABC, leading resilience programs to enhance staff well-being and performance.

James has a PhD in behavioural psychology from the Institute of Positive Psychology & Education at the ACU. His PhD research explored the impacts of mindfulness-based approaches in reducing stress and building resilience in high stress workplaces.

As well as research, James is a lecturer in leadership and management at the University of Sydney Business School. Prior to undertaking his PhD, James worked in health policy with the Commonwealth Treasury and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Claire McKendrick

Claire is a highly skilled, intuitive and purposeful facilitator, coach and leader who thrives when bringing together diverse perspectives, working with ambiguity, and navigating a way forward through complexity.

For over 15 years Claire has designed, facilitated and led significant reforms to complex issues such as Aboriginal health, mental health, reforming Non-Government Organisation (NGO) funding, shifting hospital culture and performance, and assessing and building organisational capacities across NSW Health and SA Health.

Claire has co-designed and facilitated transformational and immersive leadership and learning programs for executives and social purpose leaders to explore, experiment and reflect on their leadership, and discover new ways of being and relating to deepen their impact in the world.

Working with over 1,000 leaders in government, academic institutions, NGOs, and social enterprises Claire has facilitated programs ranging from workshops to two- and six-day retreats, three-month immersions and ongoing capacity building, in Australia and internationally.

Knowing that true innovation and creativity emerge at the learning edge of systems, Claire artfully holds individuals and groups at this edge, helping leaders to work with greater self- and system-awareness to move beyond the current challenges.

Alongside a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies and formal qualifications in economics, politics and journalism, Claire is a lifelong learner and draws on a rich suite of adaptive and transformational approaches.

This includes advanced training in adaptive leadership and system dynamics, system transformation, conflict resolution, dialogue and communication, facilitation, coaching, team coaching, mindfulness, neuroscience and mind-body awareness.

From being introduced to transcendental meditation at age 10 to now, Claire has trained with leading international mindfulness and meditation teachers. She brings authenticity of experience living the practices of mindfulness in her daily life, and takes time regularly to deepen this practice through retreat.

Atousa Khadem, LLB

Facilitator and Coach

Atousa is a skilled and experienced conflict management and conflict resolution practitioner. She was admitted in 1990 as a Solicitor of the High Court of Australia and Supreme Court of NSW and has over 25 years of experience working in a range of legal roles as a litigator, policy adviser, legal management consultant and conflict resolution professional.

As a consultant Atousa has assisted agencies in formulating and conducting quality reviews for teams and organisations. She has also assisted in the implementation of recommendations arising from such reviews, providing support to management to ensure the success of the recommendations made. This support includes providing management mentoring and coaching, team building, training, reviewing and drafting policies and legal instruments.

Atousa has been passionately studying and teaching philosophy and mindfulness for well over a decade and brings this valuable knowledge and practice to all of the work she does.