BlueCrest’s Post

On Friday Children's University Trust announced my decision to step down as CEO at the end of the year after nearly 8 years in post. Choosing to leave a job and an organisation that I love has been the hardest decision that I've ever had to make, but it's the right one for me, and now is the right time to make it. Last week I shared a very personal message with my reasons for doing so with the tight-knit Children's University network. I didn't intend sharing this message more widely, but the responses I received from both men and women within that network were so positive, so heartfelt, and so life-affirming (they mentioned #bravery, #honesty, approaches to significant challenges that needed to be shown, #resilience of women, and healthy selfishness) that I wanted people within my LinkedIn network to understand why I've made this decision too and to be reminded that it's important to bring your #authentic self to your professional life - always. When I joined Children’s University, I did so as my youngest daughter was about to start primary school. However, time moves on, life and #priorities change and now my youngest daughter has just started Year 8, the middle one graduated last year, and the eldest is about to celebrate her first wedding anniversary!  In addition, the last 4 years have been hugely challenging for me and the last 12 months particularly so. This time has really put life into #perspective. Covid of course was a huge trial for us all, but for me it came straight on the back of a diagnosis and then treatment for cancer, and then several other health problems. In September last year, I lost my father unexpectedly and in traumatic circumstances, and most recently, we have been tested to the limit as a family as the result of my youngest child being seriously bullied at school. I’ve always considered myself a strong and #resilient person, but I’ve concluded that sometimes you just need to stop, re-prioritise, and work on #rebalancing your life. For me, seeing the positives in Covid – the time I spent with my family, and exploring other interests that I’d missed working full-time for close to 30 years – suddenly really hit home. So, now feels like the right time to take stock, to explore my changing personal #motivations and goals, to enjoy more time with my family, to put my #wellbeing first, to honour my father by thinking about what I really want to do with my life (at the exact same age at which he retired and pursued his real interests), and to think about what might come next.  And what is next for me? Who knows? While I take time to reflect and consider any opportunities that may come my way, I’ll be continuing my non-executive roles as giving back is so important to me and the third sector is baked into my DNA. So there it is, the end of an era, but for all the right reasons and happening because I'm being true to me and what I need to do next. I look forward to considering exciting new openings in due course.

Over the last two years, Blue Cross NC, led by our CEO, Tunde Sotunde, embarked on our Extra Miles Tour. This was an effort to get out of our offices, hit the road (we traveled more than 11,000 miles!) and #listen to the communities and people we #serve.   I’m proud to share with you Blue Cross NC's Extra Miles Tour report.   This was no ordinary listening tour. The conversations and experiences we had along the way are helping us think outside the box. We're exploring how we engage with the communities we serve and where there are new opportunities to convene and collaborate. This report outlines some of the key takeaways from our journey. The lessons and observations gathered here (plus the great ideas that we couldn’t share in such a limited space) are helping us create the roadmap for our work ahead and providing a better picture of where to focus resources and energies.   This report represents an important milestone, but it isn’t a wrap-up by any stretch of the imagination. It’s the first step in the next leg of our journey to make health care better for all. Stay tuned to see what's next! https://lnkd.in/dd4JZThf

I am currently writing an article about psychosocial hazards in the workplace, which includes high job demand as one of the many factors. Jacinda Ardern led the way by acknowledging that 'the tank was empty' and now WA Premier Mark McGowan has stepped down sharing that he's exhausted. We're finally seeing honesty and vulnerability when it comes to mental health at work but where does that leave us? When we talk about psychosocial hazards in the workplace, our minds might go to places like consulting and legal establishments with their focus on 'utilisation' and 'billable hours' or construction and manufacturing where leadership practices may sometimes be in contrast to our perceptions of a psychologically safe workplace. And now we're seeing it in politics. The demands are just too high. Is it time to radically rethink how we design our roles and workplaces and if you're nodding your head may I ask you....."Where do we start?" because we can't continue 'as is'... #psychosocialhazards #burnout #jobdesign #leadership #jobdemands

Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the UK, on the connection between action and satisfaction: "Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's a day you've had everything to do and you've done it." At the end of the day, it’s action that brings results. Results, motivate us and bring in the sense of satisfaction. So stop waiting & “Just Do it” #lalithundalani #lifecoach #motivationalspeaker #motivationalspeaker #executivecoach

When you work with a great comms director you get to do work that delivers great results.

This past weekend, a new anthem went viral that has touched a nerve across racial and political lines and highlights the real world struggles many of our neighbors, friends, and families are experiencing. I grew up in what would be considered a working poor family. I was taught to treat the janitor the same as the CEO and I have literally been both, my first job was helping my grandfather as a 7 year old cleaning doctors offices in Massachusetts (aka a janitor) to help my family out. Generation X grew-up fast. I have friends across beliefs and many of them as suspicious of concepts of 15 Minute Cities, Vision Zero, Mixed-Use Development, Congestion pricing, and other “ivory tower” planning issues. As planners and engineers, we impact housing cost, mobility, access to food and services, employment opportunities, and so many facets that impact daily people’s lives. People are hurting, people are distrustful, people are mad. It’s partially on us to make sure the policies, plans, developments we create, review, enact are cognizant of their impact to blue collar workers, the working poor, those who feel their voices are ignored. We have a role in improving quality of life, creating opportunities, and bringing back some hope. #oliveranthony #workingclass #thinkbeforeyouplan #hope #opportunity #careforothers

Inductees into the Global Business Hall of Fame by JA Worldwide for 2023 Read More: bit.ly/4436LWq #thesiliconleaders #newupdate #businessmagazine #onlinemagazine

Thoughts on what APPA should be working on for you and the industry?

I spent years convincing decision makers to adopt policies. I'd turn up at the Minister's office, present a new report and talk through how they could get it through the Treasury. The new initiative would get announced. We'd celebrate. Surely this time we'd crack the problem. But then the grand plan wouldn't lead to the outcomes we wanted. And we were back to the drawing board. So I started to think differently, guided by brilliant people like Neil Crowther Patrick Watt and Nana Taona Kuo who I have been fortunate to call my boss. People who belived in dignity, justice and equity. Whose policy toolkit was about evidence, creativity and partnership. People who put people at the heart of policy making and built movements to deliver the change. Today I'm working with organisations who live that philosophy, like Impetus - Backing the best who invest in social leaders and their teams over the long term to deliver benchmark beating outcomes, Shelter whose commitment to deeply listening to lived expereince defines their direction, and now The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP) whose dedication to foster sustained impact by collaboratively influencing the underlying dynamics that contribute to societal issues, breaks every rule in the policy playbook. It is - as they say - a journey. But a better, more inclusive, respectful way of making policy. One that works.

Today we proudly hosted departing Secretary for Digital.NSW and NSW Department of Customer Service, Emma Hogan, who delivered her heartfelt and inspiring Valedictory address where she spoke with the same passion for service which she displayed in her role. Emma shared her observations on the exceptional capability of the public service: - Government only does things that are hard and public servants do hard things – the talent in the sector is extraordinary. - Government is much better at diversity and inclusion than the private sector. We have an advantage of more women in public sector leadership and we need to not let go of this. - The work is never ever done. The public service is an engine of continuous improvement. - We need to continuously improve staff engagement. The world is becoming increasingly intense and it’s more vital than ever that our people feel security at work. - It is 100% necessary to have innovation in government. When long-term ambition is created, people get excited about their part in it. - Context is important and so is timing. The next era won’t be the same but that’s the point. Times change; priorities change. - We’re great in a crisis. I’m really proud of what we did during COVID - politicians and public servants were doing the hard things together. - The learned skill of being able to give frank and fearless advice to ministers is hard. If it doesn’t come naturally, seek advice – there’s always someone willing to help. Throughout her Valedictory, Emma highlighted the importance of understanding your impact as a leader on those you lead: “Please be a visible leader. People do watch leaders. Don’t underestimate the power of role modelling.” Thank you, Emma, for your considered and impactful parting address to the sector. We would also like to thank Scott Alden from our partners HWL Ebsworth Lawyers for facilitating the event. #valedictory #nswgovernment #publicsector #publicservice