Brian Buchanan

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
J. K. Rowling

I have been working with large multi-national organisations for more than 15 years, providing executive coaching services, and I have expertise in the design and facilitation of senior/talent development programs with the focus on accelerating individuals into more senior roles. I am currently working in the UAE and across Asia with a diverse range of corporations including Majid Al Futtaim, BMW, Brookfield Multiplex, The International Rice Research Institute, MTU Detroit Diesel, CSIRO, and UXC.

Prior to leadership consulting and executive coaching, I held senior management roles with a major Australian bank, leading teams in complex sales and human resources environments. This experience has proved to be the best kind of preparation for working closely with senior leaders navigating through complexity and ambiguity.

I am passionate about the development of leaders and have designed and led a number of development centre / flight simulator experiences to front-end senior leadership development programs. I am a well-regarded facilitator with an energetic and engaging facilitation style.Executive Coaching is also a natural fit given my background, and I am very active in coaching and mentoring partnerships with senior leaders.

I hold a Bachelor of Education, Graduate Diploma of Special Education, and a Diploma of Education.

Victoria Brown

“It’s still magic, even if you know how it’s done.”
Terry Pratchett A Hat Full of Sky

My role at HCI can be hard to explain, as it is constantly growing and changing. In addition to running our hub in the Melbourne office, I take care of all our desktop publishing and graphic design, from proposals to course materials, helping to ensure that our clients always get a unique program that’s catered to their needs. I also project manage a number of our programs, which involves working with clients across Australia and Asia.

My attitude to problem solving is to take the problem and look at it from as many angles as possible before deciding the best way to untangle those knots. HCI is a very diverse and talented group of people, and I am kept busy supporting them all on various projects. Every task has its own unique challenges!

My background is in creative writing and visual media, including a Bachelor of Creative Arts and an Advanced Diploma of Advertising and Graphic Design.

Jayne Dunn

“The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust

What really excites me is the opportunity to partner with others to make transformational change happen. Imagine a leader who discovers a talent within and really starts to shine, or a team who connects for the first time and realises what is possible, or an organisation that breaks through the disruption that has previously held them back. Having the courage to step out of the box, turn issues on their head and see landscapes through new eyes leads to the creation of future possibilities. Then, together, taking one step at a time, it happens. While it might feel daunting, in my experience, the results usually exceed expectations!

I have been fortunate to work with some amazing people on some amazing projects in Australia and the United Kingdom. I’ve had the opportunity to lead the change management for a hospital move, design a learning framework for 160,000 staff who provide social services across Scotland, facilitate an enterprise wide culture change initiative in the resource sector, design and deliver countless leadership and team development programs and coach a wide range of executives and senior managers just to name a few. I love what I do and learn something from every experience!

I hold a range of qualifications and certifications which give me a theoretical grounding to combine with practical experience. This includes a masters in management, post-graduate qualifications in executive coaching, leadership mentoring and management and an undergraduate degree in education. My certifications include MBTI, Genos Emotional Intelligence Assessment Scale and Prosci Change Management.

I have worked in transformational change for over twenty years and I can’t imagine doing anything else. There is something very satisfying in finding your niche!

Andy Foster

“When we think we lead, we are most led.”
Lord Byron

During my 30 year career I have balanced “doing” leadership – as an Army officer who saw operational service in 3 theatres, and as a senior executive in a Big 4 firm – with sharing my leadership expertise as a leadership consultant, facilitator and accredited executive coach.

My passionate view is that there is a leader to be developed inside every individual and I am dedicated to helping give organisations their best possible chance of tapping in to the latent value that is sitting at senior levels – individually and in teams. What I enjoy most in the leadership space is in the end-to-end aspect: helping organisations to define and develop the leadership skills and culture they need to deliver on their strategy, both now and in the future – and this inevitably starts with a focus at the CEO and executive team level.

I have helped to develop senior leaders across multiple organisations and industries during my career as a talent specialist, both in Europe and Australasia. In recent years this includes Coles (top 300), ANZ (Global Finance), Defence (Collins Class Submarines Transformation Board) and UXC (top 200).

Peter follett

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
Mark Fields

Isn’t that quote great? It’s a quote from Mark Fields and I use it as the core of my work. For me, it’s all about culture.

I facilitate integrated processes so that senior leaders across any organisation can develop the strategy, culture and leadership talent they need to run with the bulls and come out the other end without broken limbs. Some of the elements that are critical to the success of any program like this are strategic planning, culture assessment and development, executive team building and leadership development, but, as I keep on saying, most important is leading change and managing projects. That’s how I create real value for our clients.

I come from the world of management and executive roles, and I’ve worked in four states – like some of my colleagues at HCI I’ve got a finance background. I studied Industrial and Organisation Psychology and I’ve got post-grad degrees in Business Admin and in Training and Development. I’m also accredited to use a range of psychometric instruments, including Strengthscope, DiSCand Mindex.

We work across the public and private sector and a I’ve worked with to a terrific stable of clients. Commercial or not-for-profit – the issues are similar but the cultural differences are vast.

Yda Gray

“You will not be good teachers if you focus only on what you do and not upon who you are.”
Rudolf Steiner

At first some people struggle with the pronunciation of my name. But it’s very easy as you simply say it the same as the colour ‘grey’. And in case you’re wondering, my first name is pronounced ‘Aida’.

I am known as an insightful and adaptive strategy, culture and leadership development facilitator and executive coach. I find it very rewarding to help leaders gain self-insight and make meaning of their world so that they can fulfil their true purpose and potential. I have a special interest in evaluating the impact of leadership development on individual, team and organisational performance.

My strengths are my creative, yet strategic approach to learning design and facilitation coupled with empathy, flexibility and loads of energy and drive.
I have worked in the field of education, training and development for over twenty years and have had the privilege of working with corporate and not-for-profit organisations in Australia, The Pacific, South Africa, the UK and the Netherlands across a vast range of industries. I have a Master’s Degree in Multicultural Education and gained first-hand experience of managing highly talented individuals at an academic institution before entering the world of organisational learning and development.

Carl Harman

I come to this work of leadership from a very practical base of senior and executive leadership experiences in Banking and Finance, as well as the aviation industry where I was global head of sales and distribution strategy for a major airline.

British born, but now an Australian citizen, I was Head of the National Australia Bank’s Private Bank before taking on a role as Dean of the Bank’s Leadership Academy. This set me well on the path to wanting to position my career as a leadership educator focusing on leadership assessment, development and executive coaching.

Qualifications mostly centre around marketing, but my more recent personal learning journey has focused on Adaptive Leadership (Harvard Kennedy School in the US) and Leadership Assessment and Coaching through Zenger Folkman.

Since being in this field I have enjoyed working across many industries including health, finance, energy, retail and professional services, to name a few.

Michael Howard

“In the long run we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”
Eleanor Roosevelt

I have a passion for developing the capabilities of leaders. Working with individuals and teams, often in a workshop environment, it is very satisfying to foster and hone skills that contribute to personal and organizational success.

My time working in the financial services sector was pivotal my own leadership development. I thrived on the challenges as I moved through several different areas – Learning and Development, Product Management, Business Planning, Sales and Regional Management. I still draw on my corporate experience most days; it gave me a great understanding of the issues that organisations and business leaders are challenged with every day.

I play to my strengths when I’m part of a group and deliver some of the great programs we’ve developed. What keeps me motivated is the development I’ve seen in leaders when we’ve worked together – whether that’s in a small organisation on the outskirts of Melbourne, working with amazing people in the Defence Sector in Australia and Canada, or the remarkable intellect of some of the leading minds in science in Australia.

I have business qualifications – the study provided good learning experiences for me. However, the real learning and development in my career has been practical – working with talented people and teams to share and apply insights to deliver results.

James Koch

“The value of a life will be determined by how much of it was given away.”
Andy Stanley

For most of the last decade I have worked closely with senior leaders to improve organisational results through an increase in leadership consciousness, development of team capacity and the building of practical leadership competencies. This privileged work has allowed me to provide 1:1 coaching with leaders, facilitate ongoing talent development initiatives and lead unique organisational development projects.

The opportunity of working nationally, across various industries and at different levels of leadership has benefited me with broad perspective on the issues that leaders face. My working relationships tend to last over many years as I focus on truly understanding organisational context and deeper (often unseen) needs. This leads to bespoke initiatives that engage leaders, creates change and ultimately develops a self-sustaining culture of growth.

Prior to landing in leadership development, my career took a few industry turns including agriculture, manufacturing, finance, not-for-profit and education. Based on my leadership experience and strengths, I like to focus on leadership/talent development programs, facilitation of unique process with teams and 1:1 leadership coaching when connected to other initiatives.

I hold a range of qualifications and accreditations that have benefited me and created opportunities. My greatest qualification and ongoing area of development is fatherhood… Alongside my wife, we have five amazing children to raise. These incredible kids test every leadership theory there is…!

Sharon Koster

“Growth and comfort never coexist.”
Ginni Rometty

I am a Change Maker. I have a unique combination of client-facing Transformational Change experience coupled with Learning & Development – specialising in Leadership Development. As a strategist and facilitator, I bring a broad set of skills to help clients achieve outcomes. During my 25-year career I have been a leader – in the military, and as a senior executive in large consulting firm. I now share my leadership experience and expertise as a consultant, facilitator and executive coach. I have experience across many industries, including oil and gas, mining, Defence, technology, education and financial services. I have worked in Australia, the UK and Singapore (with regional responsibility).

I am a qualified Executive Coach, I have a Graduate Certificate in Change Management from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Business from the University of Southern Queensland. She was awarded the Centenary Medal from the Prime Minister of Australia for her contribution to the improvement of business process and management practices in Defence.

Kwong Yee Leong

I have a strong global understanding and experience of business practices and cultures, and I am skilled at establishing credibility with senior executives and in discussing complex client business issues, particularly around talent management.

I have led very capable and experienced specialists in helping clients, both external and internal, with issues of executive education, talent management, leadership development and workforce optimisation.

I am a certified professional coach, with experience in coaching global and Asian executives. Currently enrolled in the Human and Organizational Development PhD program at Fielding University, I am the founder of TAO Consulting which works across Asia in leadership, consulting and coaching.

Steven Mcinnes

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality”
Warren Bennis

I started my career as a professional tennis player then as an elite coach to others seeking excellence.

Why do I tell you this? Well, to get any sort of ranking as a tennis player it takes a lot of focus, application and teamwork with those who share your vision. It’s just like partnering with the organisations and the thinking leaders that I work with every day.

I believe that having a passion for what you do, being clear about what’s important, building your strengths and working through your limiting weaknesses are key contributors to helping you achieve to your potential. It’s satisfying to work with individuals, teams and organisations to help them reach their strategic goals.

The organisations with whom we partner, share some key attributes including; a desire to build their leadership pipeline, a focus on transforming their culture and a commitment to deliver their strategy through the alignment of their organisational capability.

I enjoy working with leaders who want to grow personally, be more effective and have more impact on their organisation. So whether it’s through executive coaching, facilitating workshops or designing programs, you’ll get the best that I have to give you.

I’ve got qualifications in Marketing and Science and am accredited in a range of instruments including Genos EI, DISC and TLC–The Leadership Circle.

Nick Rakis

I’m a seasoned Lean Startup Practitioner, Business Designer and Facilitator with grass roots in technology combined with years of commercial get-it-done experience helping leaders grapple with complex ideas and translate strategy into execution.
At heart, I am a problem solver, love using technology to create and am a critical commercial thinker. Over the last 14 years, I have worked closely with senior executives and led large teams to deliver over $40m of high stakes and complex outcomes at scale for top ASX such as NAB, Australia Post and CSIRO.
I’ve delivered enough projects in my time to understand that the success of real change is not measured solely on time, cost and quality. My experience has taught me that delivering real value and transformation for organisations means: leading with courage and humility, empowering small teams, challenging conventional thinking and putting people and the customer at the centre
I truly believe that large organisations can become ambidextrous in their ability to deliver against their core business whilst developing and creating new lines of growth. My core skill lies in helping leaders and teams gain the mindset, skills and tools to tackle the complex organisation challenges of the 21st century.
I hold a range of qualifications and certifications which gives me a unique position to integrate practical experience with strong underlying theory across multiple disciplines. This includes Masters in Business Administration, Advanced Diploma in Computer Systems engineers as well as certifications in PRINCE 2, Lean Launch Pad and Business Model Design.

David Romano

“Great leaders are not defined by the absence of weakness, but rather by the presence of clear strengths…”
John Zenger

My passion is working side by side with senior leaders and their teams as to shape their strategy and culture so they can achieve great results .I have had the privilege to aid leaders turn their insights into organisational impact through experiential facilitated workshops, one-on-one and team coaching, talent development programs and being a trusted partner for leading change.

I am privileged to work with national and multinational organisations including Brookfield Multiplex, ANZ (Aust/Pacific/Asia and India), The University of Adelaide, Australian Sports Commission, Jemena, Elders and CSIRO. These relationships typically span over years as I customise development programs that continue to challenge how leaders interact and impact on their people and culture.

My senior leadership experience was grounded in the financial services sector during periods of extreme structural and organisational change. I led the redesign of strategic business processes that transformed organisational performance and consistently enable my portfolios to achieve above expectations. It just affirmed to me what makes the difference between organisational success or failure – it’s the capability and strength of leadership teams.

I hold a Bachelor of Economics and Graduate Certificate in Leadership along with a range of accredited psychometric and profiling tools such as The Leadership Circle (TLC), MBTI, MTRi and Strengthscope accredited partner.

Paul Sedgwick

“Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive it isn’t.”
Richard Bach

I am a founding Director of Human Capital. Since 2012 I have been responsible for the development of HCI’s business in South East Asia where I am predominantly located. My past career experience includes a range of Senior Leadership roles in the Banking and Finance Sector in Australia.

I have designed and lead development programs, and strategy and cultural interventions that have resulted in positive and substantial growth in individual, team and organisational performance in a broad range of organisations in Australia, China, India, the UAE and the Pacific Rim.

The clients I work with span a range of sectors, typically are multinationals or pan Asia, so a lot of the focus of my work is on cross-cultural leadership. I work with some of the leading edge research in the cross cultural area with tools such as Aperian Global’s GlobeSmart ©. I have a highly developed appreciation of the nuances and challenges of working with leaders in organisations that operate in a global environment and with multicultural workforces.

At various times in the past I have worked extensively with senior leaders of three global vehicle manufacturers in the Australia and the Pacific Rim region. Over the last four years I have led Senior and Executive level Leadership Development programs for a global manufacturer which has involved working in China and India, and most recently in Europe and the USA. Some client relationships extend back over 15 years – a testament to the strength of the relationships established and the outcomes that have resulted from this work.

My focus and energy is devoted to working with existing or emerging leaders at Senior Management, Executive Leader and CEO level. My style of working is warm and bold when needed. I am often sought out as a facilitator when the task requires some comfort in working with ambiguity whilst still guiding critical and practical outcomes.

Deepak Shetty

“To lead is to serve – Nothing more, nothing less”
Andre Malraux

During my 22 year career as a facilitator and HR professional, I have had the privilige of serving client partners across countries like Australia, India, Kuwait, Thailand, UK and UAE.

I had the amazing opportunity to lead the HR operations of the largest franchise Marks and Spencer store in Kuwait which had an amazing mix of 20 nationalities. Working with this diverse team, leveraging their strengths and achieving results was magical.

Like my other colleagues at HCI, I have a passion for people development and how this can help organisations achieve their strategic goals. Oraganisations, that I have facilitated projects for are from varied industries and include BOSCH, Cap Gemini, Infosys, JP Morgan, Oracle, Volvo. Most of these client relationships are ongoing for more than 10 years and are a validation of the service provided and results achieved.

I hold a masters degree in management, and certified in a range of instruments like Globesmart, Leadership Dialogue.Based between the cities of Bangalore and Melbourne, my wife is a yoga teacher and we have two young boys. What we have realised is, raising them is just a bit more of a challenge than teaching yoga and facilitating workshops.

Lindsay Underwood

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world”
Mahatma Gandhi

People fascinate me. I am curious about what makes people tick. Human behaviours and their underlying conscious and unconscious emotions are an ongoing source of wonder and intrigue to me.
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to work with, and learn from, a variety of leaders from the banking and education industries across 4 continents. My roles have always focused on people – regional senior leadership in talent management, leadership learning, change management and human resources. My most rewarding roles to date have required applying a psychodynamic lens to deep dive into the understanding of others or team dynamics to facilitate change.

My philosophy is that each client is unique; I embrace every coaching, facilitation, design and delivery assignment with tremendous curiosity, enthusiasm and energy. I like to blend theoretical models with active participation and practicality. I am not one for death by powerpoint!

I hold a BSc in Economics and postgraduate diploma’s in both Psychology and Human Resources. In addition I am a certified Master Coach and qualified to administer MBTI Level I & II, SHL OPQ, LSI and Hay Style & Climate and TLC psychometric tools.

As I am passionate about lifelong learning I am currently enrolled in INSEADs Executive Masters – Consulting and Coaching for Change. This program takes participants deep into the basic drivers of human behaviour and the hidden dynamics of organisations – and to use that knowledge to create more effective institutions.
Without doubt my greatest challenge and achievement is my family. My husband and I have young twins; through them I have learnt how to delegate, communicate and empathize, as well as problem solve and cope with change!

Kerryn Velleman

“Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.”
Rumi

With over 25 years experience in facilitating change, I have established a track record in the application of positive psychology, adult and organisational development and neuroscience to build, optimise and retain talent pools, grow productive teams, support the development of high-performing leaders, and foster thriving places of work. I love to guide leaders in the negotiation and management of their careers; coaching leaders to strengthen their executive presence, leverage collaboration technologies and deepen and expand networks to build relevance and impact.

I work with boards, senior executives and change champions to optimise their influence of large-scale organisational, cultural and sector-wide change. My passion and skill is in developing the capacity and confidence of leaders to create and embed a coaching culture in their professional lives. I believe that creating a discipline of reflective practice supported by nourishing relationships is key to helping leaders to identify and question the assumptions and behaviours that shape decisions and enable them to thrive in their multiple career, community and personal roles.

Currently, I am working with female leaders through my involvement in the Homeward Bound program – an initiative established in 2015 to equip a 1,000-strong global collaboration of women with a science background to lead, influence and contribute to policy and decision-making as it informs the future of our planet within 10 years.

Ally Wilson

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Dr. Seuss

I’m Ally and I love numbers; no really I do.

As Finance Manager, I keep the books in order, no rogue numbers on my watch. I prepare invoices, pay accounts, reconcile the bank and prepare management reports. I bring to HCI eight years of experience as a chartered accountant for an array of businesses, including: motor dealerships, medical consultants, furniture stores, fashion wholesalers, design agencies & publishing companies. I enjoy balancing the books; so the rest of HCI can get on with the great work they do.

I apply the principle of balance to more than just my accounting. When I am not looking after HCI or one of my other clients you’ll find me anywhere in the world there is snow on the ground and a winter chill in the air. When work keeps me closer to home, I make sure I find time for my other passion, volunteering at the local animal shelter.

I’ve found my direction in life. I started with a double degree in Commerce/Arts with a Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting but now I get to do a bit of everything I love. In addition, I get to work with a whole lot of great people, and that’s the key to happiness.