Founders Lynne Stephens and Anna Walker bonded over a mutual observation that the world is tired, stressed and burnt-out. Having experienced the impact themselves, on their families and community, they determined this demanded disruption.
Combining Lynne’s knowledge in learning and development and Anna’s experience in human-centred program design, and with an accumulated 12 career changes between them, they built the dream to help the world make, and grow through, change.
Now based on the Sunshine Coast and in Byron Bay Australia, they know the impact of living and working on terms they’ve designed. And it’s a joy they’re ready to share.
New Leaf mentors are handpicked by us not only because they’re amongst the most wonderful humans we’ve met, but because they’ve lived career change, learned from the highs and lows and can offer clients the shiniest guiding light and warmest hand to hold. Our mentors take the time to understand our clients’ needs and tailor personalised plans and learning journeys to maximise growth and ease the ride.
Unlike coaches, mentors do not provide specialist advice but will support you to plan and execute your journey with support and accountability.
Your New Leaf coaches are leaders in overcoming the most common obstacles to navigating a successful career change.
Our coaches include psychologists, successful entrepreneurs, leadership experts and more. All are qualified coaches with varying expertise across a breadth of fields, positioned to provide you with the best possible guidance and specialist advice.
Ludmila Doneman - Coach
"I love working with people whose voices are often unheard – young people, women, migrants, the elderly, and people with disabilities. I focus on their assets and try to make them visible, so the community can realise how deeply they can and do enrich lives of all."
Ludmila is co-founder of Edgeware Creative Entrepreneurship. Her working life has led her from the mainstream of a rich and critical theatre tradition in Central Europe to re-establishment and training in Australia, from student and ‘laboratory’ theatre in the 70’s into her continuing concern with community development, the arts and social-cultural animation. Currently she chairs the Management Committee of a NFP charity organisation Womenspace Sandgate.
Michael Doneman - Coach
"I help people make a living doing what they love. I create learning experiences which are personalized, meaningful, practical and fun."
Michael co-founded Edgeware Creative Entrepreneurship, a business training and coaching company, and maintains his own coaching practice. He has a background in community cultural development, and finds inspiration in cross-cultural work across business design, coaching and mentoring, and vocational education and training. He is passionately engaged with the Indigenous cultures of his homeland, and continues to learn from them.
Michael has worked in universities in many roles, as a course convenor, lecturer, designer and facilitator, and recently he's worked in social enterprise, innovation, entrepreneurship and health/wellbeing. Now he just does what he loves – research, non-fiction and creative writing, and coaching/mentoring work.
Stewart Hase - Coach
Stewart has experienced several career changes of his own during his life from nurse, to labourer, to educator, to academic, to psychologists in clinical practice, to organisational consultant and trainer, to transitioning to retirement. In addition he has helped many to transition between careers either as part of a life change, rehabilitation due to injury or being made redundant, for example. Stewart is an experienced change agent through his roles as psychologist and educator and has worked in change al ost all of his working life.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and learn, the Arakwal people, the Kabi Kabi people and the Jinibara people and pay respect to Elders, past, present and future. We recognise that First Nations sovereignty was never ceded. This continent always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
