THE COURAGE TO LEAD INTERVIEW SERIES

95. LANA BOLAND

Police officer. Survivor. Author. Advocate.
Lana Boland author of Aftershot, joins The Courage to Lead for one of the most honest and deeply personal conversations ever recorded on the podcast.
Lana speaks openly about childhood trauma, policing, PTSD, leadership, ADHD, organisational culture and the long journey towards accepting herself exactly as she is.
Her message is simple but powerful:
"Leadership isn't about rank.It's about authenticity.It's about genuinely caring for people."
This is not simply a conversation about mental health.
It is a conversation about courage.
It explores what happens when organisations fail to support their people, why genuine human connection matters more than ever, and how our greatest struggles can become our greatest purpose.
Throughout the interview Lana reminds us that healing doesn't come from pretending to be someone else.
It comes from finally giving ourselves permission to be ourselves.
A remarkable conversation about resilience, vulnerability and hope.
3 words that sum up Lana:
 
Authentic. Courageous. Unbreakable.
 
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.
 

94. PETER COOK

In one of the most personal episodes ever recorded on The Courage to Lead Interview Series, Allan Sicard sits down with his father-in-law, Peter Cook, a man who has lived an extraordinary life filled with adventure, friendship, sport, success, hardship, addiction, recovery and service to others.
Just one week before this interview, Peter was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver and lungs. Rather than retreat, he chose to share his story.
Peter reflects on his childhood in Melbourne, his talented father "Mac", his sporting career as a cricketer and wicketkeeper, playing representative cricket, travelling to England in the 1960s, lifelong friendships spanning six decades, and a successful business career that saw him become one of Australia's leading flooring specialists in the hospital sector.
Most powerfully, Peter shares his decades-long battle with alcoholism. After years of drinking, rehabilitation attempts and self-loathing, he found hope through Alcoholics Anonymous at age 79 and has remained sober for more than five years. Today, even while facing terminal illness, he continues to support others struggling with addiction.
This is not simply a story about leadership.
It is a story about redemption.
It is a story about resilience.
It is a story about what really matters when time becomes precious.
Three words that sum up Peter's story
COURAGE, FRIENDSHIPS, SERVICE
 
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.

93. SCOTT HORWOOD

In this powerful episode of The Courage to Lead Interview Series, Allan Sicard sits down with former NSW Police Sergeant and current Principal Investigator with the NSW Rural Fire Service, Scott Horwood.
Just weeks after undergoing major brain surgery to remove a large tumour, Scott shares his remarkable story of resilience, vulnerability and leadership.
The conversation explores:
✅ Discovering a life-threatening brain tumour✅ The importance of asking for help✅ Leadership lessons from policing, sport and hospitality✅ Why tough conversations matter✅ Building trust through authenticity✅ Leadership during times of uncertainty✅ The power of treating people with dignity and respect✅ Creating capable teams instead of having all the answers
This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about rank or authority—it is about people.
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.

92. MIKE WASSING

In this episode of The Courage to Lead Interview Series, Allan Sicard speaks with Mike Wassing, Commissioner of the NSW State Emergency Service.
Mike leads an organisation of more than 11,100 volunteers across 262 units, supported by over 600 staff, with responsibility for floods, storms and tsunamis across New South Wales.
This conversation explores Mike’s leadership journey from under-16 cricket captain, park ranger and Country Fire Authority officer, through to senior emergency management roles in Victoria, Queensland and now NSW.
Mike shares powerful insights on volunteer leadership, listening, being present, building trust, learning from mistakes, supporting people through crisis, mental health in emergency services, community resilience and the future of disaster management.
His three leadership words are
humility, empathy and courage
— values that sit at the heart of this thoughtful and deeply human conversation.
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.

91. MARK LAYSON

In this deeply reflective episode of The Courage to Lead Interview Series, Allan Sicard speaks with Reverend Dr Mark Layson — researcher, disaster recovery chaplain, former NSW Police officer, Anglican pastor and author of The Unexpected Poison: Betrayal and Moral Injury in Your Workplace.
Mark shares his remarkable journey through policing, emergency services, ministry and academia, exploring how workplace culture, leadership and betrayal can profoundly impact mental health and wellbeing.
The conversation dives into:
Moral injury and how it differs from trauma
Why workplace betrayal can damage people more than critical incidents
Leadership, psychological safety and “Just Culture”
The dangers of blame cultures
Organisational trust and the Edelman Trust Barometer
Curiosity, accountability and self-leadership
Lessons learned from emergency services and ministry
The inspiration behind Mark’s groundbreaking book
This is an honest, insightful and powerful discussion for leaders across every industry who want to create safer, healthier and more compassionate workplaces.
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.

90. ALEX GREENWICH MP

In this compelling episode of The Courage to Lead Interview Series, Allan Sicard sits down with returning guest Alex Greenwich MP to explore leadership under pressure. Alex shares his deeply personal journey over the past three years, including the impact of public attacks, mental health challenges, and the turning point that came from asking for help.
They discuss the importance of stability in leadership, working across differences, and staying focused on outcomes that genuinely help people. Alex also reflects on the role of kindness in leadership, the reality of political life, and why vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.
This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about courage, compassion, and continuing when it would be easier to stop.
Follow Allan Sicard on LinkedIn, Instagram and ALLANSICARD.COM.
The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.

89. ROB ROGERS

In this episode of The Courage to Lead, Allan Sicard sits down with former NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers.
Rob reflects on 45 years of service, including leading through Australia’s most devastating bushfire season. He shares insights into crisis leadership, organisational transformation, and the complexity of decision-making in high-stakes environments.
From managing 100+ simultaneous fires to navigating COVID challenges across a 70,000-strong volunteer workforce, Rob offers practical leadership lessons grounded in experience.
Now in retirement, he’s embracing new challenges—learning to fly and redefining life beyond leadership.
This episode is a powerful exploration of
Resilience   Humility   Learning
the true nature of leadership.
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.

88. KATE BAKER

In this episode of The Courage to Lead Interview Series, Allan Sicard speaks with former NSW Police sergeant Kate Baker, founder of The Kind Rebellion and author of Staying Kind in an Unkind World.
Kate shares her journey from hospitality to policing, her mission to improve relationships between police and the queer community, and the leadership lessons shaped by exceptional mentors and challenging environments.
This episode explores the power of kindness in leadership, the importance of team culture, and the courage required to pivot when personal capacity is reached.
A must-listen for leaders seeking to build resilient, inclusive, and high-performing teams.
KINDNESS, COURAGE, CRAFT
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.

87. KYLEE DENNIS

In this powerful episode of the Courage to Lead interview series, Allan Sicard speaks with Kylee Dennis, Director of Two Face Investigations, forensic romance scam investigator, author, and winner of Micro Business of the Year 2025 at the Women Changing the World Awards in London.
Kylee shares her remarkable leadership journey — from growing up in a policing family, to serving as a detective and negotiator in some of NSW’s toughest policing environments, to navigating the deep personal loss of leaving a career she loved.
The conversation takes a moving turn as Kylee explains how her mother becoming the victim of a romance scam in 2023 reignited her sense of purpose and led her to establish Two Face Investigations.
Drawing on her policing, investigative and negotiation experience, Kylee now helps individuals and families identify romance scams, understand offender tactics, and escape the devastating emotional and financial damage these crimes cause.
This episode is a deeply honest conversation about leadership, identity, reinvention, service, resilience, and turning pain into purpose.
If you want to hear what authentic leadership really sounds like, this is an episode not to miss.
Be you. Give things a go. Stay curious.
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.

86. AMANDA DAVIES

In this episode of The Courage to Lead Interview Series, Allan Sicard speaks with Professor Amanda Davies, PhD — currently based in Dubai, leading research acceleration with Dubai Police and supporting policing curriculum at their academy. Amanda shares how a single opportunity (sparked by supportive leaders and family) led her from Charles Sturt University and the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn to senior academic leadership roles in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Amanda explores the power of mentorship, how inclusive leadership means listening to the people closest to the work, and why informed decision-making matters — especially in high-stakes policing environments. She reflects on earning credibility as a non-police academic in policing settings, leading as a woman in predominantly male environments, and the importance of checking how communication lands across cultures and languages.
This is an inspiring conversation about service, courage, and the quiet leadership choices that change lives — including your own.
3 words to describe Amanda's leadership style:
Thoughtful   Courageous  Generous  
 
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The Courage to Lead - The Book
Listen now to The Courage to Lead Podcast and explore more stories of leaders who are redefining courage into action, empowering others to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.