About us
About us
SMG is Australia’s premier leadership development advisor. Since 1998, we’ve partnered with exceptional talent to elevate leadership skills and unlock organisational potential.
Colleen is a senior executive with over 30 years of HR experience across multiple continents, specializing in organizational design and culture. She has led impactful initiatives, including the Everyday Respect Report at Rio Tinto.
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Expertise
30+ years experience
BS in Organisational Industrial Psychology
Industry Professional
IECL Certified Organisational Coach
Experience and background
Colleen is a senior executive with deep expertise in organisational design, culture and leadership. With a career spanning more than three decades and continents, she’s held various HR roles in Australia, Canada, the UK and South Africa. Colleen has worked with and coached executives and their teams in a range of sectors including resources, manufacturing, engineering, financial and professional services.
An authentic and values driven leader, Colleen has crafted strategies that shape organisational cultures and nurture leaders around the world. A significant milestone was spearheading the workplace culture review at Rio Tinto. In a powerful partnership with Elizabeth Broderick of EB&Co, they conducted one of the most in-depth reviews into bullying, sexual harassment and racism in the mining industry resulting in the ground-breaking Everyday Respect Report. The public release of the report, together with the commitment to create a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace, ignited waves of transparency and change throughout the industry.
During her time as head of Talent at Rio Tinto, Colleen facilitated the smooth transition of two executive leadership teams within a span of five years. Her accountability included succession planning and leadership development allowing her to have a real impact and develop deep leadership insights.
These diverse experiences give Colleen a unique perspective making her ideally suited to work with leaders aspiring to hone their leadership style, magnify their impact, and thrive through career transitions and organisation transformations.
Colleen's approach
Known for her strategic mindset and empathetic approach, Colleen combines deep understanding of human behaviour with practical business wisdom. As a leadership coach, Colleen takes a holistic approach, tailoring her methods to meet the unique needs and goals of each person. Through a fusion of evidence-based coaching techniques, thought-provoking questions and unwavering support, Colleen empowers leaders to find clarity, harness their strengths and confidently navigate their careers in complex business landscapes.
Qualifications and memberships
- Bachelor’s degree in Organisational (industrial) Psychology (UNISA)
- Certified organisational coach (IECL).
Personal insights
Colleen enjoys nature and extending a helping hand. In addition to coaching executive leaders, she volunteers her coaching skills with a not-for-profit organisation called Project Placed providing career coaching to job seekers. When she’s not immersed in coaching, you’ll find her enjoying the beaches and forests of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) off the coast of Queensland, with her husband and their rescue dog Mac.
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