The Evolve Academy

01/09/2026

Leadership is not just about what we know. It’s about what we’re willing to give back. 💚

Today I want to shine a light on our incredible leadership coaching team — women who are generously giving their time, experience and wisdom to invest in the growth of other women within Sutherland Shire Council.

Because when women support women, something powerful happens.

Our coaches aren’t simply sharing their knowledge. They’re creating space for women to see themselves differently and to recognise the transferable skills they already have, build their self-awareness, challenge the stories that may be holding them back and find the confidence to step outside their comfort zone.

And the beautiful thing about mentoring is that it’s never one-way.

Our coaches will walk away with just as much richness from this experience by learning from women working in different areas of local government, hearing different perspectives, understanding the challenges and opportunities across organisations, and seeing the incredible capability that exists within our wider community.

When we connect women across teams, departments and organisations, we are creating a cultural shift:

- We strengthen the organisation as a whole.
- We build networks.
- We share knowledge.
- We challenge thinking.
- We create visibility.
- We open doors to new possibilities.

And sometimes, all it takes is one person believing in you, asking the right question or helping you see a skill you didn’t realise you had.

To our incredible coaching team, Michelle Whitehurst, Melinda McNaughton, Glenda Lord GAICD, PMIIA, Nicole Lewis, Jayme Wilson, Sarah Glennan and Hayley Barnes thank you for giving back, leaning in and being part of something that has the potential to make a real difference in women’s lives and careers.

I can’t wait to see the conversations, connections and growth that come from this experience.

This is leadership in action. And this is what happens when we invest in women.

27/08/2026

Sometimes the best feedback isn’t about the 𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎.

It’s about what someone starts believing about themselves because of it.

We recently received this feedback from a manager about one of the people participating in our Evolve Mentor Program:

“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙗 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙄𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 — 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨.”

That last part really stayed with us. Because confidence isn’t about telling someone they’re capable. It’s about creating the space, tools and support for them to recognise it for themselves.

- To see the skills they already have.
- To communicate with greater confidence.
- To step forward.
- To believe they belong in the room.

And perhaps our favourite part of the feedback?

Their manager said they were almost jealous they were missing out on the experience themselves. 😊

That’s the kind of leadership development we believe in.

Deb is not about creating better leaders for today; she wants to help people see what they are capable of becoming.

26/08/2026

We all know Dolly Parton is an icon.

But hearing of her passing today has had me thinking less about the icon she was and more about the legacy she leaves behind. 💗

Dolly never seemed to spend her life trying to be someone else.

She was unapologetically Dolly.

The big hair. The sparkle. The humour. The ambition. The heart.

And she used the platform she built to give back, create opportunities and help others.

It got me thinking about leadership.

Maybe leadership isn't just about what we achieve.

Maybe it's about what we do with the influence we have.

Who do we give a voice to?
Who do we encourage?
Whose confidence grows because we believed in them?
Who is better because we were part of their story?

And perhaps the biggest lesson:

You don't have to become someone else to become a great leader.

You can be different.
You can be ambitious.
You can be kind.
You can be completely, unapologetically YOU.

Dolly has left a huge legacy.

And it made me stop and ask myself:

What do I want my legacy to be?

Not just what I achieved...

but who I helped along the way.

Rest peacefully, Dolly. 💗

20/08/2026

We’re finalists! 🌿

We are incredibly proud to share that The Evolve Academy has been named a finalist in the Australian Women's Small Business Champion Awards 2026 from over 3500 nominations.

For us, this recognition represents so much more than an award.

It represents every woman who has walked into an Evolve program unsure of what she was capable of—and walked out seeing herself differently.

Every young girl who has found her voice, discovered her strengths or felt safe enough to be herself.

Every mentor who has generously shared her experience.

Every organisation that has trusted us to invest in their people.

And every conversation that has sparked a little more confidence, courage or possibility.

Over the years, The Evolve Academy has evolved from a small business into a growing community focused on meaningful development, wellbeing, leadership and social change.

We don't believe in one-day fixes.

We create experiences that give people the time, tools, connection and support to learn, reflect and embed real change.

From women stepping into leadership, to 950 teenage girls across 28 football clubs, to regional and rural women accessing our programs online—our purpose remains the same:

To help people realise their potential and create positive change in themselves, their workplaces and their communities.

We are incredibly grateful to the clients, partners, facilitators, mentors, participants and supporters who have helped us get here.

This finalist recognition belongs to our entire Evolve community.

Thank you for believing in what we do.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come, grateful for the impact we’ve created, and very excited about where we’re going next.

14/08/2026

Yesterday we launched our next 𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏’𝒔 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 with an incredible group of women from Shire Council and what a way to begin!

We were privileged to have Jodi Tweed GAICD join us as our guest speaker, bringing not only her story but also her lived experience, resilience, and wisdom to the room.

She reminded us that our thoughts are not always facts. Sometimes they are simply moments, and those moments don’t always hold the truth.

We explored the power of positive self-talk, taking responsibility for our emotional well-being and building strategies that help us navigate life when things don’t go according to plan.

Yet we are often far more resilient than we give ourselves credit for.

Jodi’s story showed us how the experiences that shape our lives can influence the choices we make, how we respond to challenges, and ultimately, where we choose to go next.

And sometimes, a sidestep isn’t a step backwards. It can be the momentum we need to move towards the bigger goal.

A powerful part of today was hearing the energy, honesty, and wisdom of these women sharing how they navigate their own lives. There is something incredibly powerful about women learning from women.

And to think, today was just the beginning.

These women have committed to themselves, to the process, and to leaning in. I am absolutely pumped to watch them grow, challenge themselves, build confidence, and step into what’s next.

Thank you Jodi for sharing your story and reminding us of the strength we carry within us.

We are one workshop in with three more to go.

13/08/2026

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28/07/2026

This photo made me smile.

Mum and I had unknowingly dressed almost exactly the same. It reminded me that we’re shaped by our environment in more ways than we realise.

Growing up, Mum would often say to me, “You fix what I didn’t do well.”

Now that I’m raising my own children, I finally understand what she meant.

I catch myself wishing they had parts of my childhood—less social media, more freedom, more simplicity. Then I smile, because I imagine Mum probably wished the same for me.

Every generation wants to give the next something better.

As leaders, parents, mentors and role models, we’re constantly shaping the environment around us. People learn as much from what we model as they do from what we say.

Maybe leadership isn’t about getting everything right. Maybe it’s about taking the best from those who came before us, learning from what they found hard, and creating an environment where the next generation has the confidence to write their own story.

Looking at this photo, I realise we may have worn the same clothes… but the greatest thing Mum gave me wasn’t what I wore—it was the opportunity to build on everything she started.

20/07/2026

The FIFA World Cup halftime entertainment got me thinking... and not just about the music.

What I loved wasn't that it featured one artist or one style. It was colourful, vibrant, soulful, and brilliantly diverse. There truly was something for everyone.

From K-pop to Shakira, Madonna to Justin Bieber, the performances reflected different generations, cultures, personalities, and musical tastes. No one was expected to enjoy the exact same thing, yet everyone could find a moment to connect.

It reminded me why I design leadership programs the way I do.

No two people learn, communicate, or engage in the same way. That's why our workshops are intentionally varied. We combine conversations, reflection, interactive activities, storytelling, practical tools, movement, and collaborative learning because inclusion isn't just about who is in the room, it's about ensuring everyone has the opportunity to connect with the content.

It made me wonder...

💭 How do you run your meetings?
💭 How do you facilitate training?
💭 How do you approach meaningful conversations with your team?

Are you creating experiences that only suit your preferred style, or are you considering what others might need to thrive?

The most engaging leaders don't expect everyone to adapt to them. They adapt their approach to bring out the best in others.

So here's a thought to take into your next meeting or conversation:

Before you speak, ask yourself, "What might this person need from me right now? How can I communicate in a way that helps them feel seen, heard, and included?"

Sometimes, great leadership looks a lot like a great halftime show with enough variety that everyone leaves feeling like they belonged.

19/07/2026

Nothing makes us prouder than seeing the ripple effect of personal growth.

When someone invests in themselves, the impact extends far beyond the individual. It shows up at work, at home, in their relationships, and within their community.

This beautiful review captures exactly why we do what we do. It's not just about developing leadership skills, it's about helping people recognise their strengths, build confidence, and step into the best version of themselves.

Thank you for trusting The Evolve Academy with your journey and for sharing your experience. Watching people discover what they're truly capable of is the greatest privilege.

15/07/2026

Watching the World Cup yesterday, with Spain leading France 2–0, reminded me just how quickly our emotions can change when something is out of our control.

The moment Spain scored, their supporters erupted. Joy. Excitement. Relief. Pride.

Yet almost as quickly, those emotions began to shift. The celebration settled into anticipation… then nervousness… then the anxious wait for the final whistle. Because until the game is over, nothing feels guaranteed.

At that exact same moment, France’s supporters were experiencing something completely different. Disappointment. Sadness. Frustration. Worry. Hope slowly competing with doubt.

One moment.
One event.
Two completely different emotional experiences.

It’s a powerful reminder that our emotions are not facts, they’re data. They give us information about what matters to us in that moment.

Research suggests that the initial wave of an emotion is often surprisingly brief, around 90 seconds, unless we keep replaying the story in our minds. Jill Bolte Taylor’s work also reminds us that when we later tell the story to someone else, we can relive the emotion all over again. The memory itself can trigger the emotional response, bringing the feeling back as if it were happening in real time.

Some people move through difficult emotions quickly. Others need more time. Neither is right or wrong. What matters is allowing ourselves to feel them, rather than judging them.

The lesson extends far beyond football.

Whether you’re leading a team, waiting on an important outcome, navigating change, or facing a setback, there will always be moments outside your control.

The scoreboard.
Other people’s decisions.
The outcome.

What remains in your control is how you respond.

Acknowledge the emotion.
Let it move through you.
Then return your focus to what you can influence.

Because resilience isn’t about avoiding emotions. It’s about learning to move with them, instead of letting them define you.

Have you ever noticed how a story can bring an emotion back to life long after the moment has passed?

What’s one situation where you’ve had to let go of what you couldn’t control and refocus on what you could?