Compassion in Organisations

Brought together by the Australian Compassion Council (ACC) Network in partnership with the Body, Heart & Mind in Business Research Group at the University of Sydney.

International speaker

Prof Michael West - Leading with Compassion for Hope in Challenging Times

Michael is Professor of Organizational Psychology at Lancaster University in the UK, where he has led the development of strategies and leadership for health and social care. His latest book is Compassionate Leadership: Sustaining wisdom, humanity and presence in health and social care. In his presentation, he draws on research particularly from the public sector to answer the question: How can we develop cultures of high-quality performance in the challenging circumstances we face? The session will provide the practical guidance necessary to ensure that compassion, high quality work, and innovation are at the heart of health and care systems and all organizations.

Australian Speakers

Dr Elizabeth King – The Mindful Compassionate Board: Navigating Complex Choices with Humanity

Elizabeth has worked for many years as a Leadership Development Advisor, helping organisations build competencies and cultures required for navigating complexity. In her presentation, she will explore the essential role mindfulness and compassion play in guiding board members through the intricate balance of institutional interests, economic imperatives, and societal concerns, referencing an innovative diagnostic tool, the Mindful Board Assessment Survey (MBAS).

Prof Narelle Lemon - Compassion in Higher Education: Humanizing how we are and who we are with each other

Narelle Lemon is a Professor at Edith Cowan University and an interdisciplinary scholar across the fields of arts, education, and positive psychology. Her research expertise is in fostering wellbeing literacy in the education sector and her most recent edited book is Practising Compassion in Higher Education: Caring for self and others through challenging times. In her presentation, Narelle will discuss the need to redefine our work and humanize our learning spaces. The importance of compassion, especially self-care and care for others, will be highlighted with a focus on how kindness and compassion play a pivotal role in shaping community bonds.