Performance Frontiers are thrilled to welcome our new associate, Laura Clemesha.
Laura is a former member of the Queensland Firebirds turned fully fledged psychologist. She works with organisations to make diversity and inclusion business as usual. Laura’s also got more than a few tactics up her sleeve for high performing teams.
Want to know more? Read on.
What legacy would you like to create?
My key interest area is creating inclusive workplaces and that spans across every aspect of diversity, of which there are so many. Trying to make workplaces and organisations spots where people can show up as themselves and be uniquely valued is what I’m most passionate about.
It’s about working with individuals to have the courage to show up as themselves – but the bigger piece is working with leaders to create spaces that are psychologically safe to encourage people to be their whole selves.
I think my generation, Gen Y, want somewhere we can go and be valued for who we are. We don’t want to have to put on a mask every time we walk through the door or conform to some kind of corporate archetype. And the research tells us that when organisations are more inclusive, they get more out of their people. So it’s a win all round.
What’s a project you’re proud of?
On a recent project, I was invited to develop a suite of tools for the mining industry. The goal was to work with a male-dominated workplace to get them into the diversity conversation.
So often in male-dominated industries, the onus is on women to do the work. But we tried to flip the lens – to work with men and to ask them to step up. It was just an eye-opening experience. So often people have good intent, they just have this paralysis. They want to help, but don’t know how. It helps to have tangible tools people can practically apply in their day-today.
I’d love to do more of this work, to have a greater impact more broadly in society.
What are a few things you can’t get enough of?
It’s probably a bit of an echo chamber, but Brene Brown for sure. I really appreciate her curiosity and vulnerability. How she uses her own stories to illustrate the learnings from her research makes it so clear that she’s walking a path with you. I think she is quite literally changing the world. Her “Dare to Lead” podcast is one I’ll often have in my ears when I go for a walk.
On a lighter note: I can’t get enough of Hamilton the musical – the songs are super catchy. I am also really into Harry Potter – one of my favourite party tricks I like to pull out is I can recite a sorting hat song off by heart.
What’s one thing you learnt as a Firebird that is vital to leaders today?
You’re nothing without the team. Your strength is in your people.
By design, in netball, in my position (as a defender) I could only move in one part of the court. From my position, I can’t win the game for us alone, because I can’t shoot a goal. So it’s up to me to do whatever I can to be good at my position- but then it’s my responsibility to support my teammates in other positions who do the roles that I can’t do.
You’re nothing without the team – that rules plays out every single day in organisations.That’s a living breathing thing.
You can read Laura’s bio here.
Creative provocateur and Global Changemaker, Dr Hayley Linthwaite, is a program designer, facilitator and coach with Performance Frontiers. She empowers individuals, organisations and communities through creative collaboration, social innovation and practical exploration to envision and enable a better future. Hayley has extensive experience in theories, forms, and conventions of applied performance, behavioural and systemic change, strategic conflict analysis, and experiential learning honed within extensive roles as an arts educator, researcher, director and performer.
A dynamo designer and problem-solving prodigy, Kate applies her design expertise and passion for visual learning to our graphic, instructional and product design department.
As a principal, lead facilitator, process designer, writer and executive coach at Performance Frontiers, Dr Martin Challis is dedicated to utilising his creativity and insight as powerful catalysts for facilitating learning and transformational change in organisations, teams and individuals.
Backed by over a decade of national and international experience in education, corporate management and consultancy, Taya’s work as an impassioned facilitator designer, educator and coach at Performance Frontiers expertly balances content and process to elicit powerful learning outcomes and cultivate meaningful change.
Dr Georgia Seffrin is supported by over 15 years’ experience in transformational change and leadership in organisations. She has built a productive career in learning design and facilitation across a diversity of professional sectors including education, health, government, corporate and arts organisations.
As Performance Frontier’s lead graphic and instructional designer, Jason breathes life into complex theory and unlocks new ways of thinking through the production of captivating tools and designs.
Jocelyn utilises her expertise in relationship management, knowledge of integrated marketing communications and skills in word wizardry to establish, maintain and enrichen PF’s professional relationships.
Ed recognises the partnering role finance has in realising an organisation’s strategy. Over six years, Ed has responded to manifold challenges of our rapidly evolving business and has helped Performance Frontiers thrive. His skillful management and refinement of our financial processes and systems help to ensure that we remain agile, responsive and successful. His financial expertise has been built through decades of financial consultation, dedicated bookkeeping, financial reporting and accounting both locally and nationally.
Lowanna uses her 20 years’ experience as a program designer, facilitator, arts educator and academic to help our clients make meaningful change in a way than inspires transformational growth.
Kylie uses her high-level relationship skills, expertise in coaching psychology and facilitation prowess to co-create transformative learning experiences and build human potential.
Dr Jane Austin brings over 20 years’ experience as a registered clinical psychologist to guide organisational and individual development in her work as a designer, coach and facilitator with Performance Frontiers team.
Olga is our office all-rounder and administration superstar. She applies her design acumen and super organisational skills to the task of designing efficient systems processes behind the scenes at Performance Frontiers.