Meet the team > Coaches and Mentors

Dale Cleaver

Dale brings more than two decades of chief executive experience leading organisations across health, disability, government-funded services, and international aid.

Having served as CEO across five organisations, including Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and Australian Red Cross, and Royal District Nursing Service Dale understands the practical realities, operational pressures, and isolation of senior leadership. His coaching combines direct commercial experience with active listening to help leaders navigate complexity, build capability within their teams, and lead with clarity.

AREAS OF COACHING FOCUS:

  • Executive and C-Suite Transition: Stepping into senior roles, establishing authority, and managing the demands of executive office.

  • Board and Governance Dynamics: Managing board relationships, preparing for Non-Executive Director pathways, and aligning executive execution with board expectations.

  • Organisational Turnaround and Culture: Guiding structural reform while maintaining team engagement and stability.

  • Strategic Clarity: Developing research-grounded strategies that hold up under stakeholder and board scrutiny.

  • People Leadership and Workplace Diversity: Developing emerging leaders, expanding pathways for women into senior roles, and embedding disability inclusion and diversity considerations into culture and governance.

EXECUTIVE TRACK RECORD:

  • Guide Dogs NSW/ACT (CEO): Grew the balance sheet from $65M to $98M, lifted staff engagement to among the strongest in the sector, and partnered with the Board to deliver a long-term, research-backed strategy.

  • National Employment and Community Services (CEO): Returned a $70M operation across four hundred staff and 100 locations to profitability within six months by resetting internal culture and operational accountability.

  • Australian Red Cross: Led the national integration of eight state and territory entities into a single body and directed the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Appeal.

  • Governance and Directorships: Non-executive director experience across state, national, and international boards.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

  • Bachelor of Arts (Social Work), University of South Australia

  • Certified International Executive and Organisational Coach (IECL)