Cynthia is a facilitator, coach, mentor, speaker and author with a passion for personal disruption, neuroscience, positive psychology, courageous conversations, human performance and well-being. Her mantra (taken from the latest neuroscience research) is that “Happier people are higher performing,” and she strives to help leaders and teams achieve this in the workplace.

Her first book, Cultivate: How Neuroscience and Well-Being support Rural Leaders to Thrive, helps leaders understand how to use the latest brain science and positive psychology and add to their toolkits with practical ways to thrive in our modern world that is full of disruption and change.

Through her business, Cynthia has created a way to combine her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for developing people to be their best and her skills and talent in facilitation. Her journey of self-discovery, along with her empathy, authenticity, and commitment to courage, growth and self-leadership, enable her to help people, teams and organisations make positive change and achieve professional and personal success.

Cynthia is passionate about working with people to develop their life and leadership skills and to increase diversity and participation in decision-making in industry, government and the community. She’s a strong believer in bringing people together to identify issues, exchange ideas and develop solutions that work for them, their business or organisation, their family and community.

Prior to starting CMA in 2011, Cynthia had an extensive career in the Victorian Department of Agriculture where she worked as a facilitator in the Dairy Business Focus and Farm$mart Programs, as a Business Improvement Facilitator, a farm management economist, an agribusiness project manager, a biosecurity program manager, statewide Rural Women’s Network coordinator and as a leadership facilitator in the wine industry.

She has a Diploma of Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring and a Certificate IV in Personal and Business Coaching. She also has a Master of Agricultural Science specialising in farm business management economics and rural sociology, a degree in Agricultural Science and a Graduate Diploma of Business focused on project and people management.

She’s an accredited facilitator of the Emotional Capital Report (a tool to measure and develop Emotional Intelligence in leaders), the Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) communication tool and is trained in Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead methodology and tools. She is also a participant in the Thought Leaders Business School.

Cynthia’s clients range from federal, state and local governments, to corporates, not-for-profits, industry groups, small businesses and individuals – all of which share a commitment to growth and development.

Outside of her work, it’s the little things that make Cynthia happy. Sewing and gardening get her creative juices going. She is a passionate follower of the Geelong Cats AFL club, enjoys catching up with family and friends, and spends long hours with Alfie the cavoodle at the dog park, chatting with other dog owners, Who knew dog ownership could be such fun!