About Us

History

The Australian Adaptive Leadership Institute (AALI) grew from an idea proposed by a small group who had participated in ‘The Art and Practice of Adaptive Leadership’ program at Harvard, established by Marty Linsky and Ron Heifetz. Each year, a number of Australians and New Zealanders have enrolled in this program and then returned to work in the field of Adaptive Leadership in Australia. The initial proposition was that we ought to be doing our own development here in Australia. In 2016, what was then the Australian Adaptive Leadership Initiative, ran the first Masterclass in Melbourne.

Over the following couple of years, the community of Adaptive Leadership practitioners grew and spread, with people becoming part of the community from different pathways and experiences, guided by an active group of volunteers.

In December 2018, the Australian Adaptive Leadership Institute was established as a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee.

Board

AALI is currently governed by a Board of four people. The Board takes a governance role for the work of AALI, to ensure we meet our legal obligations on behalf of the company. All Board positions are honorary. The work of the Board is currently supported by a Committee, members of which take up a variety of roles to support the work of AALI.

Jon Eddy

Chair
Read Bio

Hamish Alexander

Hamish Alexander

Treasurer

Djuke Veldhuis

Djuke Veldhuis

Claire McKendrick

Claire McKendrick

The community of Adaptive Leadership practitioners can access the different workshops, programs and meetings as a way of continuing their professional development and building their networks.

Founding faculty members

Maxime Fern

Maxime Fern

Maxime Fern (Vantage Point Consulting) is known in the Australian adaptive community for their contribution to the original Harvard Kennedy School program, the Art and Practice of Leadership Development, commonly known as APL. She taught in this program with Marty Linsky and Ron Heifetz for over 15 years and have run their own consulting and development practice from Australia since 1988. Recent clients include Google, BHP, Sistema Italy, the APSC, Bank Intesa San Paolo (Italy), AIPM, Cobel Darou (Iran) and the Scottish Government.

Michael Johnstone

Michael Johnstone

Michael Johnstone (Vantage Point Consulting) is known in the Australian adaptive community for their contribution to the original Harvard Kennedy School program, the Art and Practice of Leadership Development, commonly known as APL. He taught in this program with Marty Linsky and Ron Heifetz for over 15 years and have run their own consulting and development practice from Australia since 1988. Recent clients include Google, BHP, Sistema Italy, the APSC, Bank Intesa San Paolo (Italy), AIPM, Cobel Darou (Iran) and the Scottish Government.

"I attended the AALI Master Class in Sydney in March 2020 and I am so glad I did. I got to spend time with superb leaders and facilitators who created an engaging learning environment. It was a transformative experience for me that built and enhanced my adaptive leadership skills and ideas which I have directly input into my leadership work through this pandemic period. We have not only survived but we have thrived in this complex uncertain environment."
Jason Tuazon-McCheyneCEO
The Equality Project
“The work of AALI, nurturing leadership development capacity in Australia, touches my heart. In the times in which we live, there is an urgent need for people who have the courage and skill to help others exercise leadership, mobilize communities, and make progress on the most daunting challenges facing us. To its great credit, AALI is taking on that responsibility. The work is difficult and not without risk. AALI is a young initiative, but I believe it is up to the task and hold high hopes for the contributions it will make going forward.”
Marty LinskyCo-Founder Cambridge Leadership Associates And Faculty
Harvard, Kennedy School Of Government, Executive Education
"I attended the AALI Master Class in Sydney in March 2020 and I am so glad I did. I got to spend time with superb leaders and facilitators who created an engaging learning environment. It was a transformative experience for me that built and enhanced my adaptive leadership skills and ideas which I have directly input into my leadership work through this pandemic period. We have not only survived but we have thrived in this complex uncertain environment."
Participant, Masterclasses Of 2017, 2018 And 2019Masterclasses Of 2017, 2018 And 2019
"This Masterclass is an opportunity for both new and experienced Adaptive Leadership practitioners to experiment with and extend their current repertoire, to practice and share with colleagues and to be a part of a uniquely Australasian leadership development profession."
ParticipantMasterclass Of 2019

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AALI’s mission is to build and strengthen the capacity of Adaptive Leadership practitioners through education and training.

© 2025Australian Adaptive Leadership Institute

John Eddy

Acting Chair and Secretary

Jon is a leadership development facilitator, coach and a team development consultant. He has a strong private sector business background and now consults in the public, private, government and for-purpose sectors.  Jon completed the ‘Art and Practice of Leadership Development’ program at the Kennedy School in 2011 and joined the Board of AALI in 2020.

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Frances Feenstra

Director, Programs

Frances is an organsational psychologist who works mainly as a leadership development facilitator and coach (team and individual). She has a deep and abiding interest in the issue of women in leadership and creating opportunities for more women to take up leadership positions in Australia. She works with leaders at all levels in the public, private, government and for-purpose sectors.  Frances completed the ‘Art and Practice of Leadership Development’ program at the Harvard Kennedy School in 2012, joined the Faculty in 2015, and has been on the Board of AALI since 2019.

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Cameron Bowles

Director, Community & Communications

Cameron has studied, worked and taught with ideas around the Adaptive Leadership starting with a course at Harvard Kennedy school in 2011.  He has applied these ideas predominately in the sectors of international development, social development, governance and education within government, not-for-profit and university contexts.  His interests include leadership development, coaching, social change programs and organisation dynamics and how adaptive leadership may be useful in these areas.  He joined the Board of AALI in 2020.

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