About

Trained as a physical educator with the highest coaching qualifications, Chris quickly moved into the world of coaching and was the first full time coach in the world employed to coach athletes with disabilities. Working at the Australian Institute of Sport between 1991 and 2000 specialising in this area, Chris transferred to be the Head Coach of the Athletics program in 2001 before undertaking a business challenge and establishing Canberra’s biggest swim school in 2006.

Prior to the 2008 Paralympics Chris was appointed as the Manager for Coach Services at the Games and as soon after appointed as the Senior Manager for High Performance for the Australian Paralympic Committee. Chris’ ability to build a Team was reflective of the “unity” experienced by members of the 13 sports representing Australia as part of the 2012 Paralympic Team which is regarded as the best “Team feel” ever experienced at a Games.

This has been achieved by Chris’ understanding of people and his ability to determine the appropriate methods for self-improvement, complimented with an understanding as to how each individual contributes to the Team environment.

Chris has a passion for people working towards reaching their potential. As a motivated individual himself he has the ability to find the opportunities which arise through adversity, provide an oversight to what a balanced life should look like and help establish goals aimed at a successful outcome. He has assisted athletes and coaches throughout the Pacific Islands represented at regional and Paralympic Games.

Experience

Order of Australia Medal (2002), the Dawn Fraser Coach Award (2000), Paralympic Coach of the Year award (1998) and the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of the work he has done during his time as a coach. He was inducted into the ACT Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

Internationally recognised for his leadership qualities and strategic thinking Chris has been a Keynote Presenter at conferences in Singapore, England, Sweden, Ireland, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and throughout Australia.

Chris is now an international consultant working with Olympic and Paralympic Committees with an emphasis on coach development, leadership and mentoring. He considers the critical factor in leadership is for the individual to understand themselves before attempting to lead others. Organisations that invest in their people will achieve a higher level of performance. “Build a better person, get a better result.”

Areas of Expertise

• Mentoring
• Coaching

Qualifications and Memberships

• Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument – Practitioner
• Diploma of Leadership Coaching and Mentoring – FIREUP
• Cert IV – Business Management – Blended Learning
• Cert IV – Training and Assessment – Blended Learning
• Graduate Diploma of Coaching