Conference themes
The Conference will both explore and model leadership coaching with highly interactive sessions across six themes.
These themes are boundaries to shape contributions and we challenge you to cross them.
We invite presentations that engage with one major theme and at least one additional theme.
THE MIND AND NEUROSCIENCE
What limits and expands our thinking to inform human flourishing?
This theme encompasses such areas as mindfulness, the self, adult development, and the application of knowledge from neuroscience.
TECHNOLOGICAL DISRUPTION
How can (and will) technology influence how leaders navigate boundaries?
This theme seeks to uncover what is already working, what is emerging, and how to leverage advantage.
ORGANISATIONAL SYSTEMS, CULTURES, AND VALUES
How does leadership work with boundaries of many kinds to shape and enable organisations flourishing?
This theme is concerned with systems thinking, coaching cultures, complexity, and ethics. It picks up on opportunities for multidisciplinary thinking and action.
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
What is possible for creating a leadership demographic for the future that challenge boundaries that have limited the contribution of women?
This theme continues QUT’s annual exploration of the past, present and future contributions of women in shaping organisations and society.
GLOBAL AND DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES
What different experiences and perspectives are there that can disrupt and refresh some of the accepted norms of leadership?
This theme invites alternative voices, including visitors from around the world.
GROUPS AND TEAMS
How does leadership look when it shifts focus from the individual to groups, teams and the collective?
This theme explores how new models of team coaching, self-directed teams, and group coaching can combat the damaging impact of organisational siloing.
THE CONFERENCE FOR TODAY’S COMPLEX WORLD
Dr Fran Finn
One thing is certain – today’s leaders face the reality of a ‘VUCA’ world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. In times of rapid change, the temptation is to pull back. This conference explores how to step forward and engage with change by navigating boundaries and generating creative tension through conversation, connection and collaboration.
Dr Geoff Abbott
Boundaries can be in many forms – psychological, systemic, cultural, disciplinary, geographical, industry and more. The ‘real world’ boundaries of interest to QUT include the research-practitioner divide; and how the business world can incorporate best practices from the arts and sport.
Leadership coaching describes an adaptive leadership approach. It challenges the rigidity of boundaries, fuelled by curiosity and inquiry. It generates energy through great conversations within and between organisations. Leadership coaching embraces dialogue about meaning, purpose and ethics. This is the space of our conference.
Please join us for the inaugural Leadership Coaching Conference: Crossing Boundaries. The Conference will both explore and model leadership coaching with highly interactive sessions across six themes. The themes are boundaries to shape contributions, and in the spirit of the broader conference theme, we challenge you to cross them! We invite presentations that engage with one major and at least one, or preferably more, of the themes.
Dr Fran Finn & Dr Geoff Abbott
QUT Leadership Coaching
Testimonials
“Whatever my perceptions were of women from the western suburbs of Sydney were have just been totally altered. Amna K-Hassan was without a doubt one of the best speakers I have ever heard. Her life experience and motivation to have the courage and have a go was without a doubt a story of true grit and determination. It is a modern day story of David and Goliath. She has broken all the stereotypes given to women and religion. Her tenacity, humour and genuine authenticity makes her a leader I certainly would follow and aspire to be like.
The afternoon provided some time for real reflection and to get to know some of the other participants on a more personal level. It was a really diverse bunch of people, and I felt privileged to be amongst them for the day.”
– Women in Leadership Conference
“The eclectic mix of speakers and participants at this year’s Women on the Move conference generated an atmosphere of community and curiosity across the day. Spoken Word Poet Anisa Nandaula’s performance jarred the room into a strong self-reflective space and set the scene for the powerful story of advocacy and leadership shared by Amna Karra-Hasan.
For me, one of the thoughts from panelist, Maj Gen Stephen Porter, that resonated most for me was that at leaders and influencers we need to move our focus from being interesting to being interested. Looking forward to watching how our Women in Leadership community can continue to flourish.”
– Women in Leadership Conference
Conference venues
The conference will be delivered across several venues in QUT’s Gardens Point campus, located in Brisbane (right next to the Botanic Gardens) and walking distance to Brisbane CBD, Riverside, Southbank and more.
