Duncan Sutherland

Sydney (He/Him)
Duncan Sutherland JP PCC headshot

Background

Duncan is a strong believer in the importance and value of the public sector. His career and executive coaching experiences have been in both the public sector and with not-for-profits whose focus is on building public good. Strongly influenced by the writings of Steven Covey and Simon Sinek, his particular interest is in leadership effectiveness. He is very clear about what it takes to be an effective leader, as well as the commonly observed phenomenon of “super-managers” occupying leadership positions.

Coaching philosophy

Duncan believes that leadership effectiveness starts with clarity of purpose and the values that underpin them. Self-awareness is the essential starting point for growth as a leader. He is a trained and experienced practitioner with The Leadership Circle 360 tool and believes his role as a coach is to help the coachee find their answers from within themselves based on reflective thinking and asking why. 

Professional Snapshot

Areas of expertise

  • Developing performance in organisations
  • Selecting and developing senior leaders and increasing leadership capability  
  • Training curriculum design, delivery and assessment
  • Coaching, senior leaders, executives and teams  
  • Coaching in cross cultural contexts
  • Project development and management, including in international contexts
  • Business planning and management
  • Policy research, development and analysis  
  • Professional writing 

Qualifications and accreditations

  • Master of Educational Administration, University of NSW
  • Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Sydney University  
  • Diploma in Education, Sydney University
  • Graduate Diploma in International Studies (Chinese language and Culture), University of Technology, Sydney
  • Graduate Certificate in Applied Management, Australian Institute of Police Management
  • Diploma in Correctional Administration, Brush Farm Corrective Services Academy
  • Level 3 Executive Coach Accreditation, Institute of Executive Coaching  
  • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, VETAB  
  • Accredited Team Management Profile (TMS) Facilitator
  • Accredited Facilitator of The Leadership Circle 360 leadership effectiveness assessment tool
  • Accredited Executive Coach Australian Public Service Commission  
  • Accredited Executive Coach NSW Public Service Commission  
  • Accredited with The Leadership Circle
  • Practicing Certified Coach with ICF
  • Justice of the Peace in NSW
  • Member, NSW Justices Association 

Group and team coaching

Duncan has experience as both a secondary school teacher and as a team coach. 

Talent assessor

Duncan is accredited for The Leadership Circle leadership effectiveness development tool and for the Team Management Profile for the assessment and development of team effectiveness. He also uses a range of other tools including the VIA Signature Strengths analysis, Big 5 Personality assessment, and DISC analysis. He has extensive experience in face-to-face and on-line coaching delivery including the use of TEAMS, Zoom and SKYPE online coaching

Success stories

Duncan’s public sector clients include NSW Treasury, Workers Compensation Commission, WorkCover WA, Corrective Services NSW, Family and Community Services, and NSW Office of Water. Corporate clients include Telstra, New Intelligence, Health Perspectives, Team Management Systems, Horticulture Australia and Harris Bromly, as well as pro bono coaching for The Smith Family and The Tedd Noffs Foundation.

Current clients include Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, and Australian Submarine Authority. 

Coaching Experience

Executive level coaching experience

SES Band 1

Senior Executive Service Band 1 / Director / Senior Executive

SES Band 2

Senior Executive Service Band 2 / Executive Director / Vice President

SES Band 3

Senior Executive Service Band 3 / CEP Managing Director

Executive Level 1 (EL1)

Manager / Senior Manager / Project Manager

Executive Level 2 (EL2)

Senior General Manager / Department Head

Experience working with

Disability
Neurodiverse
Cultural & Linguistic Diversity