Emotional Resilience Be Decisive, Be Influential, Get Results

About Us

Noelene Dawes

Noelene specialises in developing sustainable personal power to grow leadership and sales results.

She created Unlocking Potential in 2000 and specialises in transitioning managers into leaders by building strategic decision-making, communication and influence skills. Noelene provides strategies for her clients that allow them to build new perspectives to address current issues and solve recurring problems. She has inspired many people to proactively change their behaviour and achieve lasting results.

With many years experience in senior management positions in the corporate world in Australia and Asia, Noelene has assisted hundreds of people make a mindset shift towards action and success. She has a world of experience in effective communication and training. Her particular area of expertise is her ability to motivate and mentor, to inspire leaders to identify their desired outcomes and actually implement what they learn. Her success in this area has resulted in a direct positive affect on the bottom line through the success of individuals and teams.

Leaders who have benefited from Noelene’s brand of self-management say “She’s a real motivator!” Noelene clearly understands how mobilising leaders achieves desired business results.

During a sixteen-year corporate career with GIO Australia, Noelene was a high achieving Life and Investment Sales Person, Divisional Sales Manager, Manager of the Indonesian Office for the Reinsurance Division, and National Sales Manager Personal Insurance.

As National Sales Manager Personal Insurance, she was responsible for building a telephone sales force by developing the skills and attitudes of several hundred sales and service people, helping them make the shift from public service thinking and behaviour to a proactive and accountable sales and service culture. This resulted in an annual increase in profitable sales of more than 25% per annum over four years, a sales staff attrition rate of less than 10%, and training initiatives that boosted customer retention through proactive customer contact and service.

Noelene is a Certified NLP Coach, Certified NLP Master Practitioner, and a Certified Master Facilitator (certified by Philippa Bond, Master Trainer of NLP, Inform Training and Research Pty Ltd). She also has a Certificate IV qualification in Workplace Training and Assessment.

Noelene is a member of the NSAA (National Speakers Association of Australia), Past National President, Fellow and Life Member of Business Swap International. Business Swap is an international network dedicated to the professional and personal development of its members.

Additional Career Highlights

As National Sales Manager Personal Insurance (1995-2000), she was responsible for building a telephone and branch sales force by developing the skills and attitudes of several hundred sales and service people, helping them make the shift from public service thinking and behaviour to a proactive and accountable sales and service culture. This resulted in an annual increase in profitable sales of more than 25% per annum over four years, a sales staff attrition rate of less than 10%, and training initiatives that boosted customer retention through proactive customer contact and service. A key part of this role was the influential development of 27 technically capable people into sales managers.

As GIO’s woman in Indonesia (1991-1995) Noelene reduced the company’s risk exposure through effective market intelligence. In addition to her reinsurance responsibilities she assessed the potential for life insurance joint ventures with local players. Noelene served the local community as a charter member of the Soroptimist International organisation bringing local and expatriate women together to assist the community at large.

During her time as Divisional Sales Manager Northern Hunter (1987-1991) she was awarded “Hunter Regional Woman in Management 1989”, given by the AIM for leadership, communication and community service.

Community Service

As National President Business Swap, and Board Director (2004-2005), Noelene had responsibility for overseeing the operations and influencing the direction of the then 550-member organisation. At that time Business Swap had 12 clubs across Australia from which volunteers ran weekly seminars. In addition to driving several organisational changes Noelene’s term culminated in convening a successful 4-day National Convention in Cairns attended by 130 people in October 2005.

Noelene Dawes

Ian has a passion for facilitating leaders through the process of dissolving conflict.


In a competitive market where the performance of leaders is a critical factor in business performance, Ian provides coaching to help leaders to be the best that they can be. No matter what the catalyst, Ian has the will and skill to help them through the change whilst building their capability and providing new perspectives.

Ian is a results driven problem solver and communicator who has the ability to go right to the core of an issue and help achieve the best solution possible.

During a 35 year IT career in the financial services sector with organisations such as international insurance systems specialist Computations, State Bank of NSW, GIO Australia and AMP, Ian developed strong skills in communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

He has led senior business executives from independent business units in the development of a group Ecommerce strategy, negotiated IT heads of agreement for a planned alliance between two major financial services organisations, and run a major cultural change project moving an IT organisation to a project management culture.

Ian has intervened and resolved communications issues between general manager level executives and facilitated groups of executives in conflict in the development of agreed objectives. He has facilitated staff to find their own solutions to their HR issues, provided career planning, and developed a successful staff retention strategy during a major project restructure.

In addition to his work with Unlocking Potential, Ian manages projects for organisations such as NRMA, Pillar Administration, Zurich, the Commonwealth Bank, and AMP on a contract basis through Adaptra.

Ian is a Certified NLP Coach and Certified NLP Master Practitioner (certified by Philippa Bond, Master Trainer of NLP, Inform Training and Research Pty Ltd).

Ian helps leaders achieve success and truly unlock their potential.

Testimonials

Anne Rolfe Chair, Business Swap Board of Directors

"Thank you for facilitating the Business Swap Strategic Planning Retreat. We achieved all of our outcomes: Thoroughly discuss issues; Make considered strategic decisions; and Determine the actions necessary during the year. The processes that you introduced us to is one we can continue to use for even more effective board and executive meetings. Your skills kept us on track and on time, while allowing flexibility to explore all issues. We felt engaged and energised and very satisfied with the entire event, which has positioned us to effectively move forward and grow."

Carlo Lauricella Director, Applied Training Solutions P/L

"Removing myself from the day to day issues has always been my biggest challenge, Noelene has challenged my thinking to allow me to strategically operate at a higher level therefore ensuring that my time and energy is directed at the activities that add value to the longevity of the business, I highly recommend this course to any senior manager who is stuck in the day to day issues BUT knows they need to be working on the bigger picture within their organisation."

Gordon Sneddon Executive Manager, E-Systems & Automation, CommInsure EIT, Sydney, NSW

"In charge of a large team responsible for multiple applications across differing technologies and platforms, I found my managerial team (all skilled and capable technologists) lacked the skills to effectively define accountabilities, delegate meaningfully and report transparently. They also saw me as the problem solver instead of resolution facilitator, stumping their professional growth. I worked with Noelene to devise a program to address these needs. Combining personal and team goals, the program addressed soft skills needed to change their day to day work practices, in the framework of becoming a high performance team leading high performance teams. The results were excellent. 90% of the managerial team "got it" (10% moved on) and over time they changed the way they operated. Trust and collaboration between team members improved markedly, leadership skills improved, agreed managerial team goals were set and met. The ensuing professional growth energised both the direct report team and their downstream teams. As I move to my next assignment I will seek Noelene out to deliver similar programs for me."