WORKING WITH MARY HAS
BEEN DESCRIBED AS
An Emotional
INTELLIGENCE MBA
WORKING WITH MARY HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS
An Emotional
INTELLIGENCE
MBA
Mary’s work is a powerful instrument in
promoting positive, sustainable SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
Specializing in working with political, business and spiritual leaders across the globe, Mary’s career has seen her work with leaders from the World Bank, European Union, OECD, United Nations, the military, top level politicians, diplomats, CEO’s, executive teams, whole system organizational development teams and carefully selected, high potential, emerging leaders,
Mary has an uncanny ability to produce work that is dynamic, inclusive, and inspiring with impact.
Mary truly is a citizen of the world, having worked with leaders from Myanmar, Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Sweden, America, UK, Europe, Iceland, Burundi, Sudan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands to name but a few.
QUALIFICATIONS
&
experience
Full Circle Group – Asia Pacific
The Leadership Circle, Accredited Facilitator, Whole System Leadership Development Facilitator – Asia Pacific
High Potential Leadership Program
Harvard University – USA
Process Work Leadership, World Work, Deep Dialogue and Conflict, Resolution Programs – USA, Australia, Greece
Master International Facilitator, Trainer & Practitioner, NLP and Time Line Therapy – USA, Australia
Role of Economic Actors in Post War Conflict Prevention and Dialogue and Mediation Resource Facilitator, Folke Bernadotte Academy, Sweden
Art of Hosting, Collective Leadership – Australia
Australian Institute of Company Directors
Accredited Strength Deployment Inventory™ Facilitator
The Richards Trauma Process Practitioner
Graduate, Anthony Robbins Mastery University – USA
The Flourish Initiative, Femme Q, Leading with Grace and Resilience – UK, Australia
Member – St. James Ethics Centre
Former nurse and midwife
Personal & Professional
DEVELOPMENT
hidden closed module
2020s: Deepening Leadership & Consciousness
2024
Invite only Call of the Time, Australasia Leadership Dialogue in Bali led by the Brahma Kumaris, Indonesia.
Week long Intensive Progressive Retreat led by Dr. Joe Dispenza Texas, USA.
A private retreat to Michael Singer’s Temple of the Universe. Florida, USA
A 5-day retreat led by the Brahman Kumaris in upstate New York. USA. Three of these days was in total silence.
2023
The Florence Academy of Fine Art. The techniques of the Masters. Oil painting. Florence, Italy
2022
Dare to Lead with Dr Polly McGee Hobart, Tasmania. Covering the four skill sets of courage: Rumbling with Vulnerability, Living into Our Values, Braving Trust, and Learning to Rise.
2021
The Richards Trauma Process Certification, Australia
2010s: Integration of Leadership & Process Work
2018
5-Day Intensive, Eckhart Tolle, Queensland. Australia.
2017
The Flourish Initiative, Femme EQ, Leading with Grace and Resilience, United Kingdom.
Worldwork International Conference and Training. Greece.
2016
Dare to Lead with Dr Brene Brown. London. Covering the four skill sets of courage: Rumbling with Vulnerability, Living into Our Values, Braving Trust, and Learning to Rise.
The Leadership Circle, Accredited Facilitator, Whole System Leadership Development Facilitator, Asia Pacific, Sydney, Australia. A specific and strategic system to transform leadership and culture at scale.
2014
The Leadership Circle Accreditation. Sydney, Australia.
The Art of Hosting Training, Queensland, Australia.
2013
Week-long retreat. Plum Village. Thich Nhat Hanh, France
2011
Worldwork International Conference and Training. Colorado, United States of America.
Quantum Conflict Transformation. Dr Max Schupbach, Sydney, Australia.
2000s: Global Training & Spiritual Study
2009
Dialogue and Mediation Program, Resource Facilitator, Sweden
Role of Economic Actors in Post War Conflict Prevention – Sweden, Resource Faciliator
2008
Global Leadership Retreat, Mt Abu, Centre for Spirituality. India. Hosted by the Brahma Kumari’s this retreat was for top tier leaders and included group dialogue and meditation training. At the core of the summit was the idea that self-transformation and spiritual principles enhance personal and professional domains.
2007
Leadership Retreat, Wilsons Promontory, Brahma Kumari’s. Melbourne. Australia. My first contact with this amazing group of people. The BK’s is the largest spiritual organisation in the world that is led by women. In their constitution only women can hold the senior positions. The work includes running schools, hospitals, feeding 1000’s, global leadership and sustainability projects to name but a few. They welcome every religion and the basis of their practice is meditation.
2002
The Passion and the Possible. Dr. Jean Houston. Melbourne. Victoria. Australia. Dr. Houston is noted for her ability to combine a deep knowledge of history, culture, new science, spirituality and human development into her teaching.
2001
Master Facilitation Training. Inform Phillipa Bond, Sydney, Australia.
2000
Internationally recognized NLP Train the Trainer. Dr Tad James Hawaii, United States of America.
High Potential Leadership Program, Harvard University, Boston. United States of America.
1990s–1980s: Foundational Years
1998-9
Mastery University. Tony Robbins. Hawaii. United States of America.
1998
Unleash the Power Within. Tony Robbins. Sydney, Australia. Staff
Internationally recognized Master Neuro Linguistic Programming Certification, Eriksonian Hypnosis and Time Line Therapy Certification. Dr. Tad James. Hawaii, United States of America.
1997
Basic Neuro Linguistic Programming Certification, Eriksonian Hypnosis and Time Line Therapy Certification. Dr. Tad James. Hawaii, Australia.
1996
Unleash the Power Within. Tony Robbins. Sydney, Australia
1991
Conflict Resolution Program. Lyn Russell. The Human Dimension. Hobart.
1990
Initial counselling program with Steve Biddulph, Collinsvale, Australia. Stephen Biddulph AM is an Australian author, activist and psychologist who has written a number of influential best-selling books; and lectures worldwide on parenting, and boys’ education.
1987
Specialist Bereavement Counselling program led by Di McKissock OAM and Mal McKissock OAM, internationally recognised experts in the field of child bereavement and grief counselling at the Bereavement C.A.R.E Centre, Sydney, Australia.
Post-Graduation Midwifery Training. Queen Victoria Hospital. Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
1984
Attended Dying to Live Retreat led by Dr Elizabeth Kubler Ross in Adelaide. Australia. My first foray into studying under luminary leaders.
1981-4
General Nursing Training, Launceston, Tasmania. Australia.
CLIENT FEEDBACK
Mary is an inspiration to people all over the planet – magnifying their vision, and equipping them with skills to carry forward their dreams. She consistently sees the big picture and thinks laterally as to who could do what, and how. She is a joy to work with.
Working with Mary as she guided me through a life-changing Executive Leadership Development Programme was invaluable. She supported me to uncover new inspiration and truths about myself and others. Her focus on values, and her encouragement to align my future path with those values left a lasting impact.
Mary’s book, The Final Act of Grace is a very, very powerful story, which will enlighten the whole matter of dying, death, grieving and falling in love. See more about The Final Act of Grace here
Recent
PROJECTS
01.
Co-Construct Alive,
Leadership Program
Co-Construct Alive is a comprehensive and innovative leadership program designed to shift leadership beyond the limiting model of competition and into whole system collaboration.
This 5-month program had three concurrent streams; large group forums, optional coaching, and a web-based pre and post forum leadership development program.
By collaborating with the cohort, prototyping and modelling the framework, this program achieved a 99.8% attendance rate with 95% of attendees accessing optional coaching leadership support.
02.
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies Cambodia, Transformational Peace Leaders Program
In addition to organizational development, Mary has travelled across the Asiatic region delivering a core leadership module within the CPCS’s Peace Leadership Program. During this delivery she’s worked with key leaders from Myanmar, China, Cambodia, The Philippines, Malaysia and Sri Lanka in sectors including the Military, top levels of Government, Education, the Judiciary System, Religious organisations – across all faiths, the Diplomatic Corp, Armed and Not-for-profit groups.
03.
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO), Values Based Development
We have worked closely with the TSO over several years as they consolidate their identity as a value based organisation. They lead to shape the future of music in Tasmania with Aritisty, Connection and Integrity. Their values reflect an intentional move away from ‘excellence’ that traditionally underpins performing arts organisations. The dangerous thing about ‘excellence’ is that it’s often conflated with perfection – which makes you play small and safe.
“It’s ugly cousin is shame, so that wasn’t really a healthy dynamic we wanted to have at the heart and soul of the company. So we really interrogated that, and came up with ‘artistry’, and respect for everything that’s gone before us.” Carolyn Sharpen CEO
04.
Various Individuals,
Coaching & Personal Leadership Development Program
Mary has coached leaders through Impact Solutions International since the mid-1990s, supporting CEOs, politicians, and changemakers across six countries. Her work focuses on strategy, creativity, and complex decision-making — always tailored, often long-term. For those seeking deep personal growth, she also offers a Personal Leadership Development Program. Similar in structure to her executive work, it shifts the focus from role performance to inner transformation. Confidence and confidentiality are assured.
05.
Impact Solutions International,
Master Consultant Training Programs
In recent years, Mary has led two advanced training programs to pass on her decades of expertise.
The first — a 10-day Master Facilitator Program — was designed to expand Impact Solutions International’s reach by licensing its intellectual property to highly experienced applicants. Entry is by application only, requiring a minimum of 20 years in personal or professional development. The program condenses over two decades of learning into a practical, high-impact curriculum.
The second program focused on Mary’s Executive Leadership and Personal Transformation work — a proven process that delivers consistent, outstanding results. As with the facilitator training, rigorous selection has helped ensure each graduate’s success.
06.
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies – Cambodia, Organizational Growth and Leadership Program
Co-Construct Alive is an innovative leadership program designed to shift leadership beyond the limiting model of competition and into whole system collaboration.
This 5-month program had three concurrent streams; large group forums, optional coaching, and a web-based pre and post forum leadership development program.
This program achieved a 99.8% attendance rate with 95% of attendees accessing optional coaching leadership support.
07.
The Inner Path of Leadership and Collaboration
Who we are as leaders, how we serve life, has a direct impact on our ability to collaborate for a future of new possibility. One of our recent leadership programs with 22 leaders focused on co-construction and collaboration for leadership excellence. We explored what was possible when the group sat in deep presence and listened, to themselves and others, and when they engaged in this way new concepts and ideas of “doing” rose. We wonder what would happen if all business leaders did this… the possibilities are endless!
08.
Various Organizations,
Executive Leadership Development Program
All great leaders have trusted mentors and support. Impact Solutions International’s Executive Leadership Development Program is a highly tailored individual leadership program which normally extends over a 6-month period. This program is exclusive, highly personal and reserved for those leaders who are at the top of their field. We guarantee confidence during this program and we will never share the fact that we have worked to support leaders or organizations in their leadership journey.
09.
Various Organizations,
Conflict Transformation
Conflict is inevitable. It is an opportunity for growth and development and sometimes you need a helping hand to unpack the issues at hand. Impact Solutions International has worked to help unlock deeply ingrained conflicts within many organizations over the years and have travelled the world to learn and grow in their expertise in this area.
No two conflicts are the same which means that no two solutions are the same but some common skills employed in the transformation of conflict include:
- Strength Deployment Inventory – Dr Elias Porters
- Deep Democracy and Process Work – Dr Arny Mindell, Dr Amy Mindell and Dr Max Shubach
- WorldWork – Greece and the USA
- Skills of Presencing – Dr Peter Senge
- Dialogue and Mediation Skills
Mary was a valued resource for several years at the esteemed Folke Bernadotte Academy in Sweden where she supported international training in Dialogue and Mediation and the Role of the Economic Actor in the Resolution of Violent Conflict.
10.
Author of
The Final Act of Grace
The Final Act of Grace is Mary’s most recent project where she shares her personal account of life, death, love and grief. With courage and candour she delves into the discomfort of our darkest moments, braving our death-phobic culture to take readers on a journey of how to master a peaceful death.