Working in the environment is not what people imagine it to be. It is not all koalas, and rainforests and reefs! The practical reality is often a constant stream of negotiation.

Quite often our work requires that we have difficult and challenging conversations with our clients, our people and the sectors we serve.

Anticipating and getting ready for difficult conversations is a major stressor for many team leaders, and for those new to the role of dealing with clients and stakeholders. However, there are well practiced methods that can help you!

This session will equip you for your more difficult conversations, providing practical and tactical advice on how to prepare, how to listen, and what to ask to help your colleagues and clients move towards the answer that you want.

In this workshop Dr Kimberley Swords, former Deputy Secretary in the Australian Environment Department and McKinsey Associate Partner will share practical tips and tricks, and help you practice and better prepare for these conversations in this safe and engaging online workshop.

This one hour workshop is a ‘taster’ of an area we know is of interest to members – the leadership skillset, with one day workshops offered for the first time in 2025. More information on these events will be available shortly.

This event will run off Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT). Due to the nature of the workshop and working with break out rooms in Zoom this event will not be recorded. You will need to attend the session live to participate.

Meet the facilitator

Dr Kimberley Swords

The consistent themes of Kimberley’s work are impact at scale to the benefit the environment, and the development of people. She holds a Masters of Business Administration, is an ANZSOG Executive Fellow, former Deputy Secretary of the Australian Environment Department, and formerly a management consultant at both Nous Group and McKinsey and Company.

Currently she is Chief Executive of Riffle Advisory, a boutique leadership and advisory firm. Riffle builds on decades of experience in sustainability & environmental leadership in the public sector, in consulting and advisory, and in the development of the people who will change our world. Kimberley works with leadership teams on operating models and strategy and how they can help their organisations work better.

She also coaches individuals and teams, and advises on biodiversity and environmental topics.

Kimberley is a member of the Board of CS Energy, and the Governance Advisory Panel for the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits which has been working to set global standards for biodiversity credits. You can read about their work here HOME (iapbiocredits.org)

Kimberley has coached, trained and taught hundreds of people in the environment field how to be more persuasive and impactful.

This workshop will be evidence based, and highly interactive, providing you the opportunity to learn and practice new skills in a fun and engaging format.

Not an EIANZ member?

Consider joining as a student, associate or full member today! To receive the member rate to the symposium make sure you apply for membership prior to registering for the event! Join here →

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