Working Hard,
Working Kind.

(Strengths: Bravery, Creativity, Humour, Kindness, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence)

Anna Sheppard, Founder and CEO of Bambuddha Group strongly believes the power of Kindness is world-changing. With a deep commitment for creating equality based on her lived experience, Anna began Bambuddha Group to empower corporate leaders and their teams on how to ‘work kinder’. The team at Bambuddha developed an evidence-informed kindness curriculum which minimises risk and improves outcomes across all organisational areas. Bambuddha Group is a multi-award-winning social enterprise that provides leadership coaching, education, and corporate kindness programs.

BACKGROUND

Anna grew up in a caravan park on the northeast coast of England and is one of five sisters, several of whom have physical and learning disabilities. As a child, Anna spent most of her childhood fighting prejudice and finally went into the care system for a short time before braving the world alone, at the young age of 16. As a neurodiverse gay person, fitting into the systems in life has always been a challenge.

The good news? Anna was lucky enough to have found and understood her WHY from a young age. Early life experiences helped her develop a strong passion for equality and a vision for change. Anna worked hard and optimistically putting herself through college, university and a master’s degree.

After working on various community development projects in Europe, Africa, and Asia, Anna had the idea to set up an enterprise with a clear vision for social and environmental change. And so Bambuddha Group was born, to pay forward a percentage of business profits to work towards balancing the scales for equality.

Anna has added value to thousands of companies and inspirational leaders by showing them how to ‘work kinder’. She is also the founder of several other major initiatives, including The Corporate Kindness Awards, Working Kind Collective (the world’s first kind business centre), the Impact Studios, and The Corporate Kindness Project, which is an Australian-based research study focusing on the business benefits of working kind. The first white paper was released in 2019 and is now an upbeat, honest, and feel-good podcast show called ‘Project Good Boss’.

Anna Sheppard and Bambuddha Group have won multiple awards for work in this space, including being recognised as one of the ‘Top 10 Leadership Development Training and Coaching Companies 2021 in APAC’, ‘Top 50 leading light for APAC’, ‘Top 50 most impactful LinkedIn Influencers’, a 2021 NSW Business Awards finalist and currently a finalist for 2022 Telstra Best of Business Awards.

Throughout her career, Anna has raised millions in funds for charities via mutual partnerships created to reduce inequalities. She is an old hand when it comes to showing the big fish how to give back and do well whilst doing so.

Anna likes to keep things simple ‘If you work as hard as you do kind’ success is inevitable’.

Anna’s storytelling is relatable, down-to-earth and fun. She is a real powerhouse who is optimistic and engaging. Anna takes the audience on a journey leaving people feeling educated and inspired to be the change they want to see in the world. Book Anna to speak here.

(Strengths: Kindness, Perspective, Spirituality, Gratitude and Zest ) Originally from the UK, Beth has an extensive background in Psychology working as a Case Manager with vulnerable youths and those with disabilities and mental health illnesses. This experience has helped Beth understand the needs of those who have experienced extreme trauma and hardship in their lives and is passionate that all individuals should be given equal opportunities. Beth also has an intense passion for sustainability and the environment and has a role volunteering at Green Peace Australia. She believes that all organisations have a social responsibility to ensure that their business is positively contributing to the world and its customers. Beth also has a creative side as an actor which helps her to interact with others and come up with creative solutions. Beth is working with Bambuddha Group as the Programs Manager to to support program participants and clients on their journeys.

Winangar Guru is the official Bambuddha Advisory Partner and is a 100% Indigenous-owned consultancy specialising in the execution of Indigenous Australian Inclusion Program and Reconciliation Action Plan development.

Sharon and her team work with your company to develop and implement an Indigenous Inclusion Program and RAP that best fits the company’s principles and end goal that is reflective of the Indigenous communities needs and input. We can assist with the embedding Indigenous Australian
Inclusion into the broader business through:

• Building Cultural Capability
• Community Engagement
• Employment and Training
• Indigenous Business and Supplier Opportunities
• Cultural Training and Workshops
• Development of procedural and knowledge resources and implementation.

Shelly hails from Dublin and has been in Australia for over a decade.  Shelly has a Bachelor of Science in Media and Communications, specialising in television production. She also has a Diploma in Leadership and Management and is the Founder of Dream Culture.

Shelly previously worked as the Training and Development advisor for the Merivale Group which had over 3000 staff. She has managed large teams up to 120 people in her previous roles as General Manager and Licensee. Shelly’s in-depth understanding of people means she can work in a wide range of industries with people from all backgrounds. She is particularly passionate about maximising individuals’ potential which results in a greater contribution to the team.

(Strengths: Gratitude, Fairness, Humour, Curiosity, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence)

Originally from the UK Rachel is our creative of the group. With an extensive background in marketing in both the corporate and NFP sector.

With a degree in design and communication, she works with Bambuddha members and partners to tell the stories of impact from our community and to build impact into every alignment we make.

Rachel set up Aroura Studio to pursue her personal goal of empowering companies to make more social and environmental impact. Her style is very positive and she works with a holistic approach. Rachel is truly interested in supporting businesses behind the scenes, to help accomplish their goals along with working to create a positive social impact, freeing up busy business owners to do what they love to do. Rachel is a trained yoga teacher and meditation devotee, who is passionate about authentic, positive work culture and employee well-being. Rachel works with Bambuddha Group to offer Virtual Assistance including copywriting, FB Ad creation, Pinterest Management, Workshop & Webinar set up, EDMs and more.

As an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) consultant, Jo is driven by a passion for creating environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. With a deep understanding of the complex dynamics of diversity within organisations, she strives to foster inclusive cultures where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive through adopting a strategic approach.

With extensive experience in developing and delivering creative EDI training packages, that equip leaders with the tools and knowledge to champion diversity, dismantle biases, and foster inclusive practices throughout the talent lifecycle. Jo has an ability to breakdown barriers, create psychological safety and encourage open and transparent communication has been instrumental in many organisations success when accelerating their EDI efforts.

Her knowledge spans various areas of EDI, with a particular emphasis on race and ethnicity, women’s empowerment, inclusive leadership and strategy development.

Jo is driven by a commitment to social justice and equity, influenced by her personal intersectionality’s. She is continuously learning and evolving to stay at the forefront of EDI best practices.

A leadership executive who specializes in organisational transformation to support business growth through strategy development, governance, human resources, workplace health & safety, project management and change management.

Adam has been dedicated to the social sector for over 20 years and possesses a genuine passion for the positive impact that not-for-profit organisations can have on peoples’ lives. His experience encompasses a variety of roles from operations, to program development and delivery. Adam brings all of this together with Bambuddha Group offering leadership coaching for purpose-led organisations.

Adam has an MBA as well as qualifications in Human Resources, WHS, Management and Governance.

Adam is also a senior advisor to Bambuddha Group, heading up the Advisory Council and delivers training on Kind Culture in organisations.

I support leaders with achieving their professional goals, whilst furthering their wellbeing and that of their teams. I am an Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, Award Winning Author, and Deloitte University Faculty member with a depth of business experience stemming from over 30 years in the professional services industry.

The intersection of my lived-leadership experience coupled with my training as an Executive Coach provides a unique perspective to provide executive leadership coaching to evolving senior leaders.

My purpose and passion aligns with coaching leaders towards sustainable long-term careers in business roles which match their purpose and values.

Debbie Haski-Leventhal is  an expert on corporate social responsibility (CSR), purpose, and impact. She is the author of five books, including the best-selling Make it Meaningful (Simon & Schuster, 2023); Strategic CSR (SAGE, 2nd edition 2021), and The Purpose-Driven University (Emerald, 2020). She has also published over 60 academic papers, and her work has been covered by the media, including The New York Times. She is a TED speaker and a public speaker on CSR, purpose, meaning, and impact, represented by ICMI.

Passionate about powerful stories of impact and change, Siena brings with her an extensive background in brand development, marketing strategy, and content production.

With over 22 years of experience in strategic marketing and event planning, I lead Best Case Scenario Marketing, a seasoned team of professionals that amplifies customer engagement strategies for technology innovators targeting key sectors such as Government, Healthcare, Banking & Finance, and Enterprise. We work with industry leaders like Microsoft, Broadcom, and NSW Department of Customer Service, delivering data-driven insights, compelling content, and engaging experiences that foster meaningful connections and growth.

As a Senior Executive Coach and Career Strategist, I support you in amplifying your personal and professional success by igniting conversations with curious questions. With a passion for inspiring leaders to get out of their own way and realise their full potential, I help you feel energised and move forward.

I offer a depth of knowledge of global markets having lived and worked in Europe, Asia, the US and Australia and a sensitivity to a wide range of personalities and cultures which informs my coaching style.

As a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation and Strengths Profile Practitioner, I am energetic, focused and results-orientated.

I am an unshakable optimist and believe there is always freshness, cut-through and differentiation if you look hard enough and play to your strengths.

Certified and Accredited Professional Coach

Sustainability Professional

Former Lawyer

Martine specializes in : Psychosocial and Workplace mental health advisory services, Tailored talks & workshops, Wellbeing, Mental Health, Executive Coaching, Stress, Productivity, Relationships, Communication

(Strengths: Zest, Curiosity, Love of Learning)

Mariane is unashamedly obsessed with all things related to human potential. A forward-thinking Clinical Psychologist, Speaker and Executive Coach specializing in neurodivergent leadership. Award-winning entrepreneur, with a notable record of scaling science-backed solutions through The Posify Group that equip today and tomorrow’s workforce to be ‘future fit’.

Driven by a deep purpose to see the end of unnecessary suffering and the activation of potential, Mariane’s work seeks to provide equitable access to science-based knowledge and strategies that promote positive human development and support sustainability.

Bringing both personal-lived experience and professional expertise in neurodiversity, her coaching, speaking, and consulting services have supported major organisations and schools including Microsoft, LendLease, Hollards Insurance, Singularity University, NSW Education, and Hunter Valley Grammar School on their journeys to building neuro inclusive cultures and communities.

KEYNOTES, WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTING:

Equip your leaders and teams with knowledge of best practices seen in neuro-inclusive workplaces. Support diverse minds to develop and deliver on their unique perspectives and strengths.

Topics include
– Benefits of a neurodiverse workplace
– Psycho-social safety and how it relates to supporting different neurotypes
– Practical strategies for neurodivergent success – productivity, communication, environmental support
– Neurodiversity and leadership
– Wellbeing and work-life design for neurodiversity
– Intersectionality: Being neurodivergent and assigned female at birth

(Strengths: Kindness, diligence, fairness and love of learning  – with a few others thrown in to the mix when needed) Originally from NZ and with a long and diverse background from IT to customer service and business development, Fern runs her own Virtual Assistant business (Your PA and More). She is the team ‘Mum’, the glue that holds us together behind the scenes and assistant to Anna. Fern is passionate about getting things just ‘right’ and making sure procedures run smoothly.

(Strengths: Kindness, Perspective, Gratitude, Honesty and Social Intelligence)

With a background in Leadership Development, Diversity, Recruitment & Talent strategy, Georgia is deeply passionate about workaround mindsets and behaviours, diversity in leadership and supporting leaders to find meaning in what they do and lead as the most authentic versions of themselves.

Georgia has spent the majority of her career within the corporate world bringing about change within organisations by embedding strategic diversity practices and designing and delivering programs that support women to build a deep level of self-insight and an awareness of their own purpose and capability in leadership. This has in turn, supported them to thrive and lead in a powerful, authentic way. Her work looks to instil self-accountability and awareness as a way to build effective relationships through openness, kindness and sustainable impact.

With her early career in recruitment & talent strategy, Georgia has run programs and coached leaders through significant periods of change and career transition and supported them to uncover their ‘why’ as a guide to what they do and how they show up.

With her focus on the ‘inner game’ of leadership, Georgia is fascinated by what drives human behaviour and how this then manifests in the relationships people hold with themselves and others. She is all about supporting leaders to use their potential to make a positive impact in the world, reach their goals and have a really good time in the process of doing so!

Danica Lani is a seasoned facilitator and advisor dedicated to supporting LGBTIQA+ inclusion, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her work. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within diverse communities,

Danica is committed to fostering environments where every individual feels valued and included. Working in alignment with Bambuddha Group’s mission, she empowers organisations to create meaningful change by implementing inclusive practices that drive performance and social impact. Danica’s approach is rooted in the belief that true transformation occurs when teams, places, communities, and people embrace diversity at their core, resulting in higher engagement, innovation, and success. Her ability to connect with people, coupled with her strategic insights, makes her an invaluable partner for any organisation looking to elevate its commitment to inclusion and achieve exceptional results.

Simon redefines leadership from the inside out and apply the latest in coaching psychology research along with evidence based assessment tools to create insights that facilitate development and growth. He walks with his clients to develop greater perspective taking capacity to enable them to lead in complex environments successfully.

Simon supports clients every step of the way with sensitivity and pragmatism whilst confronting whatever elephants are in the room. Results are achieved in shorter than standard timeframes thereby reducing cost commitments.

– Individual, Teams, Organisations
– Executive Coaching
– Leadership Team Development
– Accredited assessments & reports
– Supervision of coaches
– Management development programs
– Career Mentoring and Coaching

He has worked for over 20 years in management, coaching and consulting roles in financial services, Government, private and public healthcare, mining and occupational rehabilitation sectors.

A clinical background in mental health and academic qualifications in nursing, HR, IR and coaching psychology. This combination enables a richer understanding of diverse clients and the design of a truly agile coaching plan to meet their needs.

Sarah’s humorous and heartfelt communication style is a unique gift that flows through her words and paint as she creates a unique masterpiece that is bespoke to each client.

Specialties: speed painting, international speaker and team building.

(Strengths: Love of learning, Love, Perspective, Curiosity, Social Intelligence)

Rob is a management consultant with a passion for performance through trust, courage and vulnerability.

His core strengths are facilitation, strategic planning, bringing teams together to achieve a common goal and creating safe spaces for saying what needs to be said.

Rob has worked across corporate and operational strategy roles and have a particular strength in agile program management and team coaching. He is also a 2020 John Monash Scholar and excited to contribute to the Bambuddha community as a Programs Committee Member.

I am passionate about helping people, teams and organisations successfully pursue their potential and achieve peak performance.

I help people lead authentically, navigate change and make courageous decisions in their career and life to pursue their potential. I help people see the positives in, and possibilities of, their situation, help them to plan and implement actions to progress from where they are to where they want to be.

I have a breadth of experience across HR, policy development, cultural change, project management, organisational strategy and IT service management leadership roles.

Specializing in headshots and business branding. Helping people feel confident and relaxed on camera is my specialty.

I work primarily with businesses and help them to create a unified face for their brand through bespoke photography designed around their business objectives.

Described by her team as a ‘kind and supportive leader’, Dominique has demonstrated experience managing the needs of a fast-growing business, building long-term relationships, and influencing and engaging internal and external stakeholders in collaborative partnerships. Her career demonstrates consistent achievement delivering business objectives while increasing business efficiencies, profitability and brand value while navigating a challenging marketplace. She is an influential leader focused on mentoring and developing team members to engage in strategy and deliver performance excellence and is a sought-after trainer and facilitator who uses her considerable verbal skills to inspire others to greatness. Highly skilled in content and creative strategy, for-purpose and not-for-profit organisations, content creation and storytelling

Jo Bowes started her career as a lawyer and risk and governance specialist who made money and reputations all over the world for financial powerhouses. Jo was a Macquarie Bank divisional director and a KPMG director, leading risk management support to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia following the Royal Banking Commission. Jo provides strategic, future-focused guidance and a no-nonsense but fun approach to support exceptional leaders who are ready to do things differently.

Manisha is the chief strategist and visionary at the Centre for Inclusive Design. With a background in strategic marketing, communication, transforming cultures, and creativity she is a thought leader in the power of thinking from the edge.

Manisha has a unique talent for seeing beyond the horizon to emerging trends, defining them, and building powerful communities to bring them into being.

Manisha previously worked in the technology sector and with various government departments in environmental advocacy. With over 20 yrs experience in strategic marketing, communication, transforming cultures, and creativity, she brings together an impressive team of industry experts and global partners to focus on the areas ripe for disruption where we can make the greatest impact.

She is passionate about social justice and business growth and believes that when we combine the two we get gold. She has a PhD in Arts and Social Science, a Masters in Professional Writing, and a Bachelor of Business (Marketing), from the University of Technology, Sydney. Manisha is also on the Board of ADHD Australia and is a published novelist

Charlie is a Leadership and Executive Coach.  He is a strengths-based coach with IECL & Leadership Circle Profile certified practitioner bringing a diverse background as a business owner and leader not only in agencies (20+ years) but also in technology, consulting, insurance, telecommunications, not-for-profit, engineering, and airlines.

Charlie is driven to make a difference, influencing people to understand that leadership is just as much about the people as it is about achieving.  This is best done by creating and sustaining a balance between the person, business (profit) and the planet in the wider system the leader is engaged in.

He has led in many different spaces in a variety of leadership models including business owner, global Director with a team of 20+, industry board member, program manager, head coach of a rugby club, co-coach of a rugby team, club president, business coach (EOS), leadership team coach (TDS certified) mentor, agile coach and consultant.

Charlie’s personal values are: making a difference, sustainability, creating leaders, people first and continuous learning.

Qualified as an Executive Coach (PCC, ICF) and Holistic Counsellor, I am passionate about helping people transform and discover their greatness to enable them to show up as the most empowered and holistically healthy version of themselves.

My style has been described as refreshingly authentic and bespoke which is designed to support my clients in achieving significant professional and personal growth.

Monica is one of Australia’s leading educators and speakers on the topic of communication and storytelling. She has worked in the media industry globally for over 25 years and has helped thousands of people communicate their stories, to an audience of millions.

Monica is on a mission to unleash the true storytelling superpower of leaders, business owners, and individuals so that they can achieve incredible success.

I am passionate about neurodiverse employment and focus my energies on providing inclusive solutions.
My career started in education and has continued in NFP, public health and corporate environments where it has afforded me a deep understanding of the complexity of neurodivergence and equity across children and adulthood.
As a consultant, I understand the strengths, challenges and nuances of neuro-minorities and work across government, enterprise, SME and start-ups to provide context to organisation’s D & I program development, implementation and integration.

Works to provide Qualified Professional Coach Training- for Bambuddha coaches to ensure ethical, legal & responsibly to International standards.

I believe the key to making any business or role successful is to keep it moving forward – to continuously look for the next development, strategy or idea. I believe in creating variety, and looking outside the norm for different avenues of growth. and treating people with respect and integrity.

Helping brands work harder, look better and achieve more.

Align commitments, culture and communication for sustainable growth.

Helping organisations get their great ideas out the door, faster.

We bring a unique skill set to the table, translating technical expertise into practical solutions for SME’s. We are your dedicated partners on your journey, as you and your people grow. We ensure your business remains compliant and drive continuous improvement and HR best practice.

We are commercially minded and help you translate your vision for the business into practical people plans that drive tangible results.

We provide HR services covering all aspects of the employee lifecycle.

Justin specializes in retail and FMCG, his main areas of interest are:

• Privacy
• Modern Slavery and supply chain management
• Personal Property Securities Act
• Distribution, manufacture and supply agreements

Justin provides an amazing insight into the world of modern slavery in Bambuddhas’ online modules.

I am an accredited Strengths Profiler, experienced CEO, Board Director, and Leadership Coach.

I have a deep understanding of the sector and the unique challenges and opportunities it is facing. I bring expertise in the development of innovative, outcomes-focused strategy and strengths-based leadership that cascades through every level of the organization.

Puja Ganguli is a Sustainability and Innovation Strategist. She is passionate about supporting the next generation of global innovators build impact-focused careers. She helps create this network of support through her mentoring, volunteering and advisory efforts.

My work courageously explores themes of identity, belonging, social justice, mental health, and resilience, sparking conversations that challenge and inspire. I recognize storytelling as a transformative tool and lead workshops emphasising authenticity and connection. In these workshops, I guide individuals and workplaces in discovering the deeper meaning and purpose within their own stories, or the stories they wish to tell.

Gillian is acknowledged as one of Australia’s foremost strategists in integrated Health and evidence-based wellbeing marketing & communications and business growth strategy delivering an ROI. Passionate about real impact for people and the planet.

Storyteller & Wordsmith, MC, Comedian, 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards Accelerating Women Winner Queensland.