Sue specialises in academiccoaching.

Support for Academics at All Career Stages

Academic life can be deeply rewarding—but also demanding, isolating, and full of invisible expectations. Whether you're returning from a break, facing promotion hurdles, navigating leadership roles, or planning the next chapter of your career, coaching offers a space to think strategically, align your goals with your values, and move forward with clarity and confidence.

Who It's For

  • Mid-career and senior academics

  • Women balancing academic life with caregiving

  • Academics returning from parental leave or career breaks

  • Those ready for promotion, funding applications, or leadership roles

  • Academics exploring what’s next—within or beyond academia

This includes

Academic Leaders and Decision-Makers

Department Heads and Academic Administrators

Professors and Researchers

Academic Teams and Research Groups

Mid-Career Researchers

Early-Career Researchers

High Potential Future Leaders

Coaching for academic leaders: unlock your full potential.

Tailored Support: Coaching offers personalised guidance, addressing unique challenges that academic leaders face.

Networking: Expand networks and foster collaboration for innovative initiatives.

Work-Life Balance: Manage responsibilities and avoid burnout by optimising time management.

Confidence Boost: Build confidence, overcome imposter syndrome, and lead with conviction.

Continuous Growth: Evolve as academic landscapes change, ensuring sustained success.

Skill Enhancement: Develop crucial leadership skills like communication, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking.

Self-Awareness: Improve emotional intelligence and self-awareness for effective leadership.

Decision-Making: Enhance decision-making and problem-solving abilities in complex academic environments.

Change Management: Equip you to navigate change and handle conflicts with resilience.

Goal Achievement: Set and achieve goals with a coach's accountability and strategic planning.

Elevate your academic leadership journey with coaching. Experience real transformations and achieve lasting impact.

What are the benefits?

Executive coaching is primarily designed for top-level executives and senior leaders within your organisation. These individuals often face unique challenges and responsibilities, such as strategic decision-making, leading teams, and managing organisational change. Executive coaching helps them enhance their leadership skills, gain clarity in their roles, navigate complex situations, and drive organisational success.

When researchers and educators transition from individual contributor roles to leadership positions, they often face unique challenges. Executive coaching provides essential support during this transition, helping you develop the mindset and skills required to succeed as a leader. Coaching assists you in understanding your new responsibilities, managing the expectations of your team members, and adapting to the demands of your new role. It helps you to develop a leadership style that inspires trust, fosters collaboration, and drives performance within your respective department.

Identifying and developing high-potential future leaders is crucial for succession planning and building a strong leadership pipeline. Executive coaching plays a vital role in developing these people for future leadership roles. By providing personalised guidance and support, coaching helps high-potential employees refine their skills, expand their capabilities, and prepare for increased responsibilities.

Sue has worked with academics from a range of universities, TAFES and research institutes in Australia.

Coaching can support you.

Sue provides you with the opportunity to work closely with a skilled coach who understands the unique challenges and dynamics of the academic world in Australia. Over a twenty year period she worked at four universities and a medical research institute in teaching, research and translation roles. In this time she successfully navigated a path from lecturer/research officer to Associate Director and Research Group Leader, leading international collaborations.

Sue has coached and mentored academics for more than ten years and can help you successfully navigate the intricacies of the academic environment and support you to gain insights, develop effective strategies, and leverage your strengths.

By working with Sue as your coach, you will:

  • advance your career,

  • increase your professional satisfaction, and

  • achieve your goals.

Sue offers a safe and confidential space and provides a supportive partnership that empowers academics to navigate their career imperatives with confidence and clarity

Are you ready to thrive in your career? Book a free 30 minute appointment to meet Sue and discuss your needs.

What’s included in your coaching program?

Your program will include:

  • a program induction, including a Commencement Survey and Welcome Pack

  • a 90-minute establishment session

  • nine x 60-minute coaching sessions via phone, Zoom or face-to-face (where practical)

  • a system for recording coaching actions and outcomes.

Your Coach:

Sue West

Sue is an executive, leadership, and life coach who has worked in universities and research institutes for 20 years and has coached and mentored many academics over the last five years. Sue has coached and mentored academic leaders including Professors and Assoc Professors as well as upcoming leaders and non-academic staff.

Sue is certified as a Global Executive Coach and is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).