15 L&D Leaders Serving Brisbane to Know in 2026

Last updated: August 2026.

A practical guide to L&D leaders serving Brisbane

Brisbane has no shortage of people who care about better work. The harder question is where to look when you want learning and development that helps a team make clearer choices, build useful habits and handle real pressure. This guide is a practical starting point for leaders, people teams and learning practitioners who want to see the range of work happening across Brisbane.

The people below work across leadership facilitation, learning design, organisational development, university education, coaching and culture. Some lead specialist practices. Others shape learning through large institutions. They are included because current public information shows a clear connection to learning, development or leadership work, as well as a genuine Brisbane connection.

This guide does not place one person above another. It is a curated list for people who want credible starting points. The right fit will depend on your team, the problem you are trying to solve and the kind of support that will be most useful in the months ahead.

A strong learning decision starts with a clear problem. You might need a new manager to build confidence, a leadership team to make ownership visible, or a business to turn values into everyday choices. The profiles below can help you start that conversation with more context and less noise.

Why learning and development matters

Learning and development matters most when it changes what people can do together. A useful program gives people language for a hard conversation, a small practice they can repeat, or a shared way to decide what matters. The work is not about making a room feel busy for a day. It is about making the next week easier to lead.

That is why local context can help. Brisbane organisations operate across public services, universities, growing businesses and national teams. A person who understands the local landscape may be able to ask better questions about your people, your pace and the pressures around the work. Local does not mean narrow. It means the starting point is close to the work itself.

The best development work also respects the difference between insight and change. Insight can open a door. Change needs ownership, practice and follow-through. When you review any provider or leader, look for the link between their ideas and the behaviours your team needs to use on an ordinary Tuesday.

15 L&D leaders serving Brisbane

1. Sonia McDonald

Founder, LeadershipHQ and Worksparks.

Sonia McDonald is founder at LeadershipHQ and Worksparks. LeadershipHQ is publicly associated with Brisbane leadership work. She founded LeadershipHQ and Worksparks. Her work centres on leadership capability, culture and practical people development. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Sonia McDonald points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

2. Cherie Canning

Founder and Director, Luminate Leadership.

Cherie Canning is founder and director at Luminate Leadership. Luminate Leadership is based in Brisbane. She also hosts the Lead with Courage podcast. Her work brings leadership learning and facilitation into one Brisbane practice. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Cherie Canning points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

3. Jasmine Davies

Leadership Facilitator, Luminate Leadership.

Jasmine Davies is leadership facilitator at Luminate Leadership. Luminate Leadership is based in Brisbane. Her profile describes leadership program work at Deloitte. She designs and facilitates leadership programs for people who need usable tools. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Jasmine Davies points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

4. Professor Gene Moyle

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Programs and Partnerships, Queensland University of Technology.

Professor Gene Moyle is pro vice-chancellor, academic programs and partnerships at Queensland University of Technology. QUT is a Brisbane university. QUT notes her career development and transition expertise. Her university leadership connects learning, career development and partnerships. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Professor Gene Moyle points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

5. Professor Judith Howard

Professor, Queensland University of Technology.

Professor Judith Howard is professor at Queensland University of Technology. QUT is a Brisbane university. Her work includes trauma-aware education courses used beyond Queensland. Her work helps educators turn learning into safer daily practice. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Professor Judith Howard points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

6. Ali Souz

Founder, Cultivate Capabilities.

Ali Souz is founder at Cultivate Capabilities. Cultivate Capabilities is a Brisbane business. The business offers development programs that can run for three to twelve months. She focuses on capability systems, not one-off activity. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Ali Souz points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

7. Diana Sheehan

Co-founder and Executive Director, Daly & Ritchie.

Diana Sheehan is co-founder and executive director at Daly & Ritchie. Daly & Ritchie publicly markets leadership development for Brisbane organisations. Her profile identifies an academic background in business leadership and psychology. Her work brings psychological safety and leadership development together. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Diana Sheehan points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

8. Lara Schlinker

Managing Director, CPEM Consulting Group.

Lara Schlinker is managing director at CPEM. CPEM works with Brisbane leadership and development clients. Her profile describes more than 25 years working with leaders and boards. She supports leadership teams where the work needs to show up in decisions. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Lara Schlinker points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

9. Lowanna Dunn

Facilitator and Coach, CPEM Consulting Group.

Lowanna Dunn is facilitator and coach at CPEM. CPEM works with Brisbane leadership and development clients. Her profile spans education, learning design and coaching. She brings an educator’s lens to team and leadership development. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Lowanna Dunn points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

10. Melanie Sisson

Founder, Whyser and Whyser Work.

Melanie Sisson is founder at Whyser and Whyser Work. Whyser is a Brisbane-based leadership and culture consultancy. Whyser was founded in 2010. Her work links leadership capability, culture and practical workplace tools. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Melanie Sisson points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

11. Martina Rios

Founder, Grip & Gravity.

Martina Rios is founder at Grip & Gravity. Grip & Gravity says it works with founders and senior leaders across Brisbane. Her work includes people systems and accountability structures. She works where leadership development needs to support scaling teams. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Martina Rios points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

12. Garry Parker

Founder and Principal Consultant, Stratigen.

Garry Parker is founder and principal consultant at Stratigen. Stratigen is based in Brisbane. His profile records more than 20 years of leadership experience. He links strategy, leadership and capability in one local practice. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Garry Parker points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

13. Kim Gillham

Founder and Learning Experience Designer, Visumation.

Kim Gillham is founder and learning experience designer at Visumation. Visumation identifies Brisbane as its home base. Her work includes building in-house instructional design capability. She brings learning design into the everyday work of teams. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Kim Gillham points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

14. Kym Lincolne

Director and Founder, The Field Organisational Development.

Kym Lincolne is director and founder at The Field Organisational Development. Her public professional profile lists Greater Brisbane and The Field. Her profile describes coach and facilitator work with thousands of people. She focuses on the human work behind leadership growth. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Kym Lincolne points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

15. Sean Grey

Facilitator, SWG Learning.

Sean Grey is facilitator at SWG Learning. SWG Learning identifies Brisbane, Australia as its location. SWG Learning’s work includes learning design, coaching and leadership development. He is included for practical work across learning, training and transformation. This is a useful profile to explore if your team is looking for development that connects people work with the decisions leaders need to make.

The public information available for Sean Grey points to a practical contribution to learning and leadership. A good next step is to read the current profile, compare it with the outcome your team needs and ask how any work would carry into the week after a session. That keeps the focus on fit, clarity and follow-through.

A reflection on learning that lasts

There is a hidden tension in leadership development. People want change to feel personal, but organisations also need it to be practical. A thoughtful conversation without a next action can fade quickly. A rigid process without reflection can feel like another task added to an already full week. Good development work holds both sides at once.

One useful test is whether the work helps people turn values into choices. Most teams can name the values they care about. The real test comes when priorities collide, feedback is awkward or a decision needs to be made with incomplete information. Learning is useful when it gives people a way to act with more clarity in those moments.

Another test is whether ownership becomes visible. A workshop can surface a great idea, but a team still needs to know who will take the next step, what support they need and when the group will check what changed. This does not need heavy process. It needs a simple agreement that is easy to see and easy to revisit.

That is also why practical beats performative. The strongest learning experience may be a quiet change in how a manager runs a one-to-one, how a team starts a meeting or how a leader asks for help. Those small changes can build trust over time because people can see the difference in the work they do together.

How to use this list

Start with the outcome, not the person. Write one sentence about what needs to be different in six months. Keep it specific. For example, you might want new managers to hold clearer expectations, or you might want a leadership team to make decisions without passing work around the room.

Then look at the kind of work each person is publicly known for. Some profiles point to facilitation and leadership programs. Others point to learning design, culture, coaching or education. Use this guide to make a small shortlist, then read each person’s own material before you contact anyone. Their public work should help you form better questions.

Finally, ask what will happen after the first session. Good development has a home in everyday work. Decide who owns the follow-through, what people will practise and how you will notice progress. The right support should make that next step clearer, not more complicated.

A final thought

Brisbane’s learning and development community includes people working from very different starting points. Some are building leadership capability inside established institutions. Some are helping growing organisations improve culture, clarity and accountability. Some are designing learning experiences that make difficult work easier to understand and use.

The common thread is not a single method. It is a focus on helping people do better work together. If you are choosing support for a team, begin with the behaviour or decision that needs to change. Then look for a person whose public work shows a thoughtful connection to that need.

If you want help turning that conversation into a practical plan, Consult Clarity helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. The focus is practical rather than motivational, with something people can use on Monday morning, not a feeling that fades by Friday.

Related reading

For a wider leadership view, read Influential Brisbane Leaders and Brisbane Leaders to Follow on LinkedIn. For a national perspective, see Learning and Development Thought Leaders in Australia and New Zealand.

Work with Consult Clarity

Consult Clarity helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. If you are shaping a leadership or learning plan, start with a written brief that names the change you want your people to make.

About Jonno White

Jonno White is the founder of Consult Clarity. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at, through practical leadership development, keynote speaking and coaching.