About Dr Josie McLean
Our complex world needs leaders seeing clearly, speaking straight, and acting wisely to transform our human systems now.
Dr Josie McLean is a speaker, author, and catalyst for systemic change. With a wealth of expertise garnered from her research, her involvement as a member of a multidisciplinary research team with the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility and her practical engagement with individuals, teams and organisations, Josie connects with people to foster transformative shifts within them and their organisations, organically reshaping cultures. She helps leaders apply the principles of complexity or living systems to their leadership challenges and lead effectively through uncertainty.
Josie is also internationally recognised as a pioneer of the Australian coaching industry and was awarded the 2009 International Coaching Federation’s Global President’s Award. She co-founded the global Climate Coaching Alliance and in 2020 received the Coaching At Work Award in recognition of CCA’s services to climate coaching.
For the last decade, Josie has been a lead facilitator for the Governor’s Leadership Program in South Australia and is well-known for her bold work in developing leaders and teams. One example is being recognised as a key contributor to cultural change within the City of Marion. With her involvement, the council transformed from an organisation with long-term persistent operating deficits, high staff turnover and major project failure to one of the top 3 financially managed councils in South Australia, winners of several cultural transformation and business excellence awards.
Along with several other city councils in Victoria and South Australia, Josie’s client list includes organisations such as BHP Billiton, Coles Supermarkets, CommBank, NAB, Universities across South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania and the other two tiers of government in Australia. She also works with a select number of international clients seeking to support humanity’s transition to a regenerative culture.
Josie’s portfolio encompasses her award-winning doctoral work Embedding Sustainability into Organizational DNA, the influential book Big Little Shifts: A practitioner’s guide to complexity for organisational change and adaptation and the acclaimed collaboration with coaches worldwide Ecological and Climate-Conscious Coaching: A Companion Guide to Evolving Coaching Practice. Complementing these are peer-reviewed academic papers, systems journal chapters and case studies. Josie’s latest book, to be released in 2024, is Purposeful Cultures: A Practical Self-Leadership Guide.
Our successes
Our programs deliver success systemically. So benefits are apparent on at least three different ‘levels’: individually (both personal and professional development); across teams (engagement, productivity and relationships); and organisationally (culturally).
The level not as strongly represented in this appreciation of outcomes is the influence our work has as our clients go about their work. But you will hear it mentioned. We value it greatly – and of course so do our clients!
What our clients say about our work
What participants say about their experience
“we used adaptive leadership tools to start moving into the solutions space... we got some amazing outcomes from this fascinating beginning, and it will shine a light for us to see the NEXT STEP”
Alex Gaut, Team Leader City of Holdfast Bay
Josie McLean and her team have worked with myself and the leadership team for over a year now. Her unique approach both challenges and nurtures team beliefs and assumptions… Staff have come away from these sessions with greater clarity on our direction, improved collegiality and respect for one and other and a renewed sense of vigour in achieving our goals.
Ben Stockwin, CEO, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
“Her deep understanding of complexity...and exceptional coaching skills, have allowed our team to test ideas and become confident navigators in complexity.”
Tania McDonald, Urban Sustainability Team, Department of Environment and Water, South Australia
“Josie's wise advice and facilitation skills were the perfect mix in supporting our successful transition to a high performing small team .
Her empathy and care created a safe space for my team to share their dreams for the future.”
Gilbert Rochecouste, Managing Director, Village Well
Meet the Team
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Dr Josie McLean
FOUNDER and PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
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Dr Sam Wells
SENIOR CONSULTANT
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Fiona Toy
CHIEF OF STAFF
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Carole Rogers
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DESIGNER
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James McLean
CREATIVE CONTENT PRODUCER