Welcome
Excellence in community leadership
- Councillor induction and development
- Coaching for Mayors and Chairs
- Leadership programs for mid-tier managers
- One-on-one mentoring and coaching
- Masterminds
- Workshops and training for Councillors and Officers
- Facilitation
The sector can be genuinely rewarding, but it can also be tough at the local government ‘coal face’. I know this because I’ve been there as a contracted employee and as a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor.
I will help you make sense of the political complexities of local government so you can make relevant and meaningful contributions in a way that safeguards your wellbeing and enables you to step into your full potential.
Community leaders often face unique challenges, including:
- A sense of isolation
- Competing priorities and agendas
- Communication hurdles
- Team and relationship dynamics
- Staff attraction and retention
- Shifting and varied community expectations
- Growing reliance on advocacy
- Finding time for personal and professional development
- Burnout and exhaustion
o2 Advisory’s suite of programs will help you to:
- Better understand yourself and others
- Set clear goals for genuine impact
- Create a plan to achieve those goals
- Overcome obstacles and challenges
- Become the leader you aspire to be
- Set boundaries and take care of your personal wellbeing
- Make a positive difference for your community.
The o2 Advisory difference
Our programs are holistic in nature. You are, after all, first and foremost a human being. One of the hallmarks of excellence in leadership is the ability to know and reflect on your own motivations, values, character and aspirations. And this is where we will always begin.
Councillor allowance
As a sector, local government acknowledges how important it is for Councillors to continually develop their skills and capabilities. This is why Councillors and most Officers have an allowance for training and professional development.
Speak with your CEO about what is available to you.
About Karen
Hello! I’m Karen – a sitting Councillor (current Mayor) with a wealth of knowledge in community leadership.
I started my career as a Journalist, later establishing a successful PR and Marketing agency. These skills helped me to hone my brand and my messaging to ultimately become an elected official, a role that has both challenged and inspired me in equal measure!
A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, I am an active Non-executive Director on a number of Boards and an experienced Board and Independent Chair. I have also spent many years coaching and mentoring women.
I am a keen, life-long learner with a particular fascination for personal development, leadership and what constitutes a ‘good’ leader.
I am so proud of my own community of Port Fairy in beautiful south west Victoria, just as I’m sure you are of yours. Right now I work with local governments across Australia to help Councillors and Officers level-up their leadership.