THE COURAGE TO LEAD INTERVIEW SERIES

8. Trina Jones

This is a story about leadership learned at a very early age, and the lessons learned are on display for everyone.
Trina Jones is the CEO for Homelessness NSW and has held that role for nearly 6 months now.
I worked with Trina several years ago now when she was the Manager for the Homelessness Unit for City of Sydney Council.
Trina is one of the best leaders I have ever had the privilege of working with. She has an innate, ingrained ability to work with and influence others, who she has no authority over or with, to get an amazing outcome, working together.
Throughout this interview it will become obvious where this depth came from.
Trina sought out her first job at 12 years old and then tells the story she was the longest serving 21 year old Night Club Manager in Ireland, because she lied about her age for 5 years.
She was influenced by other leaders who had the adage, "If I see a problem I walk towards it, " and Trina definitely has that style.
There are some absolute gems of quotes that Trina lives her life by, at a leadership level and as a mum.
"Back yourself as a leader"
" Reflect regularly on what you did to cause a problem"
As a mum - "Learn to let it go and don't give yourself a hard time."
"Leadership is held loosely and given freely"
"Leading from the back like a gardener. Our people are the flowers and we work with them seeing them grow and succeed."
Trina as a Leader, a wife and a mum, there is a constant juggle of glass balls and rubber balls.
The glass balls can't be dropped, they are marriage, parenthood, friendships, passion for her work, her health.
The rubber balls are the laundry and doing everything for everyone. Rubber balls can be dropped at anytime without any real consequence.
In the middle of this interview there is a very simple explanation around what Homelessness is and why it is important to all of us that we solve Homelessness, if we all work together to solve it. Trina is a walking, talking google search engine on all things Homelessness so comprehend what she has to say on this issue that is solvable.
Trina finishes with some simple advice for other leaders.
Have a go, don't be afraid, shape it, change it with others, be loose about it, and have a go, if you don't try you will never know.

7. Len Sicard

SPECIAL FAMILY ADDITION OF THE COURAGE TO LEAD WITH UNCLE LEN.
In nearly all of our interviews so far our leaders have shared with us that they were inspired by a family member or relative to go down the leadership path they chose. The inspiration came from a grandparent, a parent or an aunt or uncle. Not every leader, but a high majority.
The Sicard family has Uncle Len. He is due to celebrate his 100th birthday in early December 2022. Uncle Len has a story to be told. Rest assured Uncle Len, didn't want to tell his story. He has listened to some of the Courage to Lead series and feels he has nothing to offer.
Leaders do not have to be the Commander of a Submarine, or the CEO of a Football Club. Leadership starts at home.
This interview is Len's Story. It is a story about growing up in a very small country town, delivering the meat with his dad, the local butcher on the cutting cart - wait till you hear the description of the truck.
A story about getting the call up for World War II and being the rear gunner in a Halifax Bomber. His recollection about the training, where they went and what they did and how they did it is amazing.
A story about falling in love with his best friend and spending the rest of his life with her, but there is a great twist in this romance story and it will leave you with a smile on your face.
Then there is Uncle Len's dedication to his fitness. To this day he still does the routine he will describe in detail during this interview. The numbers 50 to 300 feature regularly along with a 100 second plank, all at the young age of 99.
Then there is the story about community and the true support of neighbours.
I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did. He is an absolute gentleman.

6. Daniel Strickland

A former NSWPF officer for 6 years, who went on to become a Leader in Mission Beat and Mission Australia in both the City and Country. One of the best media presenters you will ever see who is a Voice for the Voiceless. He is now an elected Councillor in Goulburn City Council and a Funeral Director. In the middle of all this he is the principal organiser of the Goulburn Mens Walk where men walk in the cold environment of Goulburn every Tuesday at 6am to Walk, Talk and Support each other. An incredible story with Leadership lessons in every story Daniel tells.

5. Peter Scott

I have been waiting to share this one with you. Peter Scott's story is incredible and one that really none of us have an idea of what his life and experiences would be truly like.
Peter has over 35 years experience in leading specialist teams in complex and demanding environments. Joining the Royal Australian Navy as a 17 year old Midshipman in 1983, he rose over three decades to be the professional head of the Navy's elite: The Submarine Arm.
During that journey, Peter survived and led others through at-sea fires, floods and explosions, passing the most demanding military command course in the world, and commanded the longest deployment ever conducted by an Australian Submarine.
He has served in 20 different command and leadership appointments over 34 years. He holds a Masters in Coaching Psychology from University of Sydney and now works to unleash the courage, compassion and wisdom of leaders.
His memoir Running Deep. An Australian Submarine Life, will be published by Fremantle Press in early 2023.
Peter is married with an adult daughter and runs trail ultra-marathons for fun and relaxation.
I met Peter through Kelly Irvings Expert Author Academy and besides having a common interest in writing our first books, Peter has become a good friend. His story is incredible and shows that the truly exceptional leaders have equal amounts of courage and compassion to achieve unthought of outcomes by empowering others to do their best.
Peter has been extremely honest during this interview and in his book(which I have been privileged to read an early draft). Peter talks about a long battle with alcohol and also having to address anxiety and depression.
His book is unputdownable. This is a word I saw it on the latest advertisement for Apple Books top ten titles. I truly hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.
The link for the interview on our website is down below and it is also on our Apple Podcasts show as well.

4. Steve Van Zwieten

Steve’s story is riveting so here are some highlights.
Steve is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor, and mentor to many many people. He is also one of my closest friends. One of those people you can go to, if you are having one of your worst days ever, he is there for you.
Steve has been and still is in the Security industry for decades. You may be asking how does a former high ranking Police Officer and a Managing of a Security Company become close friends.
Steve is one of the most ethical people I know and takes painstaking efforts to ensure he and his team deliver outcomes that reflect highly in excellence, building productive relationships and reputation.
Steve has been the longest serving presenter for Police Leadership Workshops that I ran every year from 2011-2020 to upcoming leaders and his story has influenced many new leaders to become better leaders.
Steve’s story is similar too many good leaders.
There are mistakes, wasted opportunities, then an awakening, a life changing decision, the support of a mentor when it would have been easy not to, then a myriad of decisions around ethics and best practice strategies that form who Steve Van Zwieten is.
I trust you will enjoy this interview there are some real gems of insight in here that every leader faces including the doubt many leaders are faced with when a new challenge appears - am I good enough or am I an imposter? The biggest gem is how Steve empowers others to do their best and through that building trust and innovation through others.

3. Erin Longbottom

Erin is the Team Leader for the St Vincents Hospital Homeless Health Team. An incredibly humble leader with enormous skills to lead people to make a difference and provide dignity for homeless people who need medical and other forms of support. A former ICU specialist nurse, decided to leave the high demanding environment to go onto the streets and provide support for the forgotten people sleeping rough on the streets of Sydney. A story about leading an award winning response during the Covid Pandemic to ensure homeless people had support during the most demanding times of the pandemic. A story about how to influence policy and funding changes just by building relationships and providing evidence. A story about leading a team of people when they are dealing with people in despair but at the same time providing hope. Perhaps the most special part of Erin's story is there is always hope and always and ability to make people's lives better if you care. I wish we had more leaders at the level and calibre of Erin Longbottom, the world would be a better place. At the same time Erin is the mother of two children with her wife, living in the inner suburbs of Sydney. If you enjoy this interview please leave your rating and review on Spotify, Apple podcast or Soundcloud.

2. Mick Willing

How does a boy from Dubbo join the NSW Police Force in 1990 and rise to the rank of Superintendent as the Commander of the Homicide Squad for 6 years, then the Assistant Commissioner of Counter Terrorism then lead the Recovery Strikeforce for the South Coast Fires in 2019/2020 after being asked to "Turbo Charge" the Recovery Strikeforce by Commissioner of Police Mick Fuller, on New Years Day. Mick Willing brought a level of leadership and coordination that had never been seen before for a level of disaster that had never been contemplated after the fires destroyed over 2000 homes and disrupted the lives of whole communities.
Mick is also a Harvard Business School Graduate, having the privilege to receive lectures from the world Change Management Expert and Guru, John Kotter (so jealous).
Mick was then promoted to Deputy Commissioner and interviewed for the role of Commissioner of Police. He was nominated as the preferred candidate for the role of Commissioner of Police by one Premier, but a change in Premier saw him loose the nomination and shortly after loose his job completely.
The interview will leave you in awe of the dignity and professionalism of Mick Willing after this challenge created new opportunities for the next chapter of Mick Willing's life.
A common theme in Mick's chat in this interview, is that all leaders are essentially the same, it's just the situations and arenas they work in that changes, and how they lead in those arenas.
I apologise for the quality of the audio in this interview, we had to go to phones rather than direct video link due to Internet Challenges. The responses and answers given by Mick Willing were too good to try and recapture, so I encourage you to listen as the interview is good enough to capture everything Mick Willing says.
It was a privilege to do this interview as it is a story of some excellent skills and achievements, and despite all those significant attributes and good standing, a story of incredible challenges. It was only through the support firstly of family, close friends and a trusted medical team do we see who comes out the other side. An inspiration to all of us, about never giving up.
If you like this interview please leave a rating and a review so others can learn the wisdom, resilience and dignity shown.

1. Wayne Larden

Wayne Larden - Managing Director of Pont 3 the company that has the rights to the Sydney Marathon.  How does a boy from Mount Druitt end up with the rights to the Sydney Marathon from 2005, turning it into a world class event that is being short listed as a World Marathon rated marathon at the same level as the London, New York, Boston and Tokyo Marathon Events.  A true example of leadership, attracting and working with the best people, and maintaining relationships across govt and community.