MadJ Innovations Connection & Change

About Michelle

Dr Michelle Austin has a PhD in sport psychology and nearly three decades of experience helping people and organisations perform at their best — from elite athletes to senior executives. After 10+ years in sport psych, she shifted gears into the world of organisational change, where she’s spent the last 19 years as a trusted facilitator, coach, and change specialist. Michelle has worked across government, healthcare, NFPs and the private sector, with a knack for turning complex challenges into clear, practical steps — minus the jargon.

Clients come back for her sharp mind, direct style, and ability to connect with anyone in the room. She specialises in leadership development, team effectiveness, 360-degree feedback, facilitation, strategic planning, and helping people tackle the conversations that matter. Whether she’s front and centre or working quietly behind the scenes, Michelle is warm, credible, a little cheeky, and absolutely grounded in deep expertise.

Facilitiation

Let’s be honest — a lot of workshops are a waste of time. They sound good on paper, but you walk away wondering what actually changed. That’s never been my style. With decades of experience, I design and facilitate sessions that are engaging, purposeful, and dare I say… even enjoyable. Whether it’s strategic planning, team development, or making sense of complex change, I co-design the approach with you to make sure the outcomes are clear, the process is energising, and every voice is heard — whether they’re in the room or joining from a laptop screen.

My sessions are known for being highly interactive, psychologically safe, and full of fresh, meaningful activities. I’m particularly mindful of neurodivergent needs, individual preferences, and the dynamics of hybrid delivery. Clients often say it’s the best workshop they’ve ever attended — and then invite me back to do it again.

Team Connections & TMS

Whether you're trying to build trust, navigate team tensions, or just get everyone working from the same page, I use the Team Management Systems (TMS) suite to bring science-backed insight into how people prefer to work, lead, and collaborate. These tools go well beyond surface-level “team building” — they create lasting self-awareness, genuine connection, and shared understanding that people actually use after the session.

TMS tools I’m accredited in:

• Team Management Profile (TMP) – for personal, team, and leadership development
• Linking Leader 360 Profile (LLP|360) – a feedback tool measuring transformational leadership across 13 essential skills
• Windows on Work Values (WoWV) – helping teams align personal values with organisational goals
• Opportunities-Obstacles Quotient (QO2) – for understanding how people approach risk and decision-making
• Team Signals Profile – based on the High-Energy Teams model, focusing on performance, commitment, and energy

Strategic Planning Facilitation

I started facilitating strategic planning workshops because, frankly, I used to hate them. They were often long, vague, and completely disconnected from what actually needed to happen. So I flipped the model: I focus on implementation, helping teams translate the executive vision into clear, practical action. These sessions are energising deep-dives into what needs to get done, by who, and how — minus the corporate waffle and endless post-its.

General Facilitation

I’ve run hundreds of workshops on everything from change impact and restructures to diversity, unconscious bias, and “the subtle art of persuasion.” No matter the topic, I bring energy, empathy, and a flexible approach that’s tailored to your group. Whether it’s five people or 200, remote, hybrid, or in-person, I create an environment where people feel heard, get involved, and walk away with something useful.

Executive & Management Coaching

Coaching with me is not about fluffy pep talks or endless introspection — it’s a structured, focused process that helps leaders see clearly, think strategically, and act with intention. I bring over 30 years’ experience in leadership development, psychology, and organisational change, along with firsthand experience as a senior leader myself. That means I understand the pressure, the complexity, and the weight of leading in high-stakes environments.

My approach is direct, pragmatic, and grounded. Together, we’ll clarify what you’re aiming for, explore what’s getting in the way, and build practical, values-aligned strategies to shift your leadership from good to great. Coaching usually unfolds across a series of conversations — a mix of insight, challenge, and support — designed to create meaningful, lasting change.

Culture & Change Management

Change doesn’t succeed on good intentions and a project plan — it succeeds when people are brought along for the ride. I focus on the people side of change — deep engagement, clear planning, and building trust and momentum across the organisation.

I’ve led change across healthcare, government, and not-for-profits, including cultural diagnostics, stakeholder engagement, capability uplift, and strategy development. From whole-of-organisation transformation to executive coaching, I help teams navigate change with confidence and clarity.

I help turn aspiration into real, sustainable change — one conversation, system, and habit at a time.

Clients include:

• Department of Health and Aged Care
• Department of Defence
• Department of Home Affairs
• Department of Industry, Science & Resources
• Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet
• Calvary Public Hospital
• Numerous private, education and not-for-profit organisations

Michelle is Canberra-based, but always open to travel.