Anyone who has ever worked with me will know how strongly I believe in evidence-based approaches. Let’s face it – without objective analysis, we’re forced to rely on opinion and assumption to make decisions which often leads to uncertain and potentially suboptimal outcomes. Through objective analysis we gain clarity and insight, and these are essential if we are to make well-informed choices that will give us the best chance of success. I see this very often in the leadership coaching profession, both in terms of the diversity of coaching services and styles in the marketplace and the array of ..read more

What an amazing year it has been here at Kim Vella Coaching! The team and I have had the opportunity to design and deliver many exciting leadership programs, which I have completed alongside my 1:1 executive coaching.  One aspect of this year that stood out was the insights that have come from engaging with so many talented people within the public service. Our programs and workshops were so well attended that I’ve had the privilege of speaking with more than 500 leaders across an array of Commonwealth and state government departments. These conversations have proven a definite shift in p ..read more

Any successful business owner will tell you that the key to success is to surround yourself with amazing people. Particularly for leadership coaches, the ability to leverage the diverse insights and skillsets of others in complementary fields adds a robustness to your approach that you simply can’t get from working alone. Despite what my business name suggests, there is more to Kim Vella Coaching than just me. Over the years, I have been fortunate to find and partner with a number of professionals who I consider to be masters in their domain. Behind the scenes of Kim Vella Coaching These exper ..read more

Touted as the new gold, organisations across the globe have cottoned onto the value of data as a way to unlock deep insights about the nature of their business.  When we think of the power of data though, it often conjures images of complex dashboards displaying detailed statistics on sales or operations. We don’t think about data in the context of a humble team, and how we could possibly use it to enable authentic conversations and build trust and cohesion. Yet the capability for this certainly exists – developed by thought leaders in psychology and behavioural science to help individual ..read more

It’s estimated that millions of Australians changed jobs in 2022 (aptly dubbed ‘The Great Reshuffle’), with the disruption of COVID causing many to re-think their careers or go in search of roles offering greater flexibility and benefits. This trend is set to continue in 2023, particularly as our nation grapples with a serious and ongoing skills shortage. The opportunities are abundant, and ripe for the picking for anyone ready to make a change or take that next step in their career. Yet applying for a new role isn’t always easy; especially if you’ve been in the same job for many years. Having ..read more

Despite enjoying academia’s autonomy, Professor Barney Dalgano prefers to collaborate and engage with others. Barney’s approach to academic leadership is centred on promoting curiosity. As well as promoting curiosity about research and big questions facing his sector, he facilitates conversations with his staff about their own careers and professional development. A professor at the University of Canberra, Barney Dalgarno is the Faculty’s Executive Dean. Among Barney’s research contributions are: the relationship between learning technology and learning theory; learning in polysynchronous lear ..read more

How many times have you thought, “If I only had the perfect tool, I could manage my time better!” Or, “If I just had the skills to stop procrastinating, I’d get more work done!”. In today’s age, we tend to believe that the more we throw at something the better it will get. If we’re struggling with overwhelm, we simply need more tools to make everything easier. When we can’t achieve goals, we think we lack the necessary skills to overcome whatever is hindering us. But what if this obsession with more tools and more skills isn’t the answer? In fact, what if we had every tool and skill available ..read more

Nicola Verkerk understands her own leadership style and brings her strengths as a leader to the numerous roles she’s had in systems engineering, safety engineering, project management and engineering management over her 13-plus years in naval shipbuilding. Through these roles, she discovered her passion for tackling complex problems. As an introverted leader, she only speaks when she’s got something to say. She’s not the loudest person, so she’s developed non-traditional ways of leading with influence. Nicola was drawn to engineering in her final years of secondary school due to her love of ma ..read more

Having worked in leading organisations worldwide, across public, private and not-for-profit sectors, Heidi Hauf knows first-hand that achieving her vision of sustainable development requires compassion, transparency and collaboration.   Heidi is a strategist and facilitator who uses design thinking and taps into diverse networks to tackle ‘wicked’ challenges. She’s passionate about creating a fair and prosperous future for everyone, thinking big and driving positive social change.  Heidi’s purpose and values have fuelled every step in her career, from being an Intelligence Offic ..read more

Captain Sebastian Due Madsen joined the Royal Australian Navy in 2001 through the Australian Defence Force Academy. After completing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Sebastian served in ships HMAS ANZAC and Toowoomba, carrying out operational service on Operations Catalyst and Manitou. Sebastian’s career has seen him leading teams to deliver complex outcomes, specialising in maritime acquisition projects. He is currently the Project Director of a project that is upgrading the combat system of the Hobart Class Destroyer.  Sebastian adopts and applies new tools and methodologies,  d ..read more