About

A values-driven woman with a passion for learning, Donna has a varied and colourful story... so far. An obsession with travelling as a way to get to know the world and its people, Donna has taken every opportunity to explore; as a young woman seeking the right of passage as an Aussie Backpacker, as a new mum with her daughter as co-pilot in life, as a volunteer supporting communities build themselves up - if it could include travel throughout Australia or across the seas, Donna was up for it.

Home base has always been Melbourne in between adventures - an appreciation for the cultural and culinary delights as well as rainforest and seaside within easy reach for the nature getaways means that home is where the heart is.

Experience

Donna’s firefighting career was forged in flames at the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), where her natural sense of social justice drove her to become a champion of diversity and inclusion.

In 2003 she joined the operational ranks of MFB - a passing out parade that tipped the percentage of women to just 1%. She went on to become the first woman in the state of Victoria to achieve the rank of commander.

While working in 'the most trusted profession in the world', she was tested in the unpredictable environment of emergency response, fraught with danger and adversity, where no two days were ever the same. She strove to model courageous leadership in the face of many challenges. These experiences nurtured her passion for variety, and a capacity to thrive outside her comfort zone. They also galvanised the belief that all high-performing teams need authentic and courageous leadership to truly excel.

Donna previously trained as a Gestalt Psychotherapist working in family violence outreach and trauma-informed private practice for 10 years. She describes this period of her life as deeply purpose-driven, aligned with her strong sense of values and ethics. She credits her mother with instilling in her the core values that continue to motivate and empower her path today. Having worked and volunteered on five continents, Donna retains a keen awareness of the privileges of being born in this unique time and place, and a desire to continue learning and giving back to her community.

Areas of Expertise

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
• Leading Complex Teams - consultation, collaboration and direction
• Risk Assessment - a thorough grasp of theoretical frameworks and practical application of risk management tools
• Incident Management - managing time-critical, dynamic and complex situations
• Developing Trust, Communication and Collaboration in teams
• Coaching - professional and personal
• Psychotherapy - Gestalt therapy with a trauma-informed, person-centered commitment

Key Skills

• Exceptional communication skills
• An ability to see, hear and feel the individual I am working with - providing a supported ground on which to explore the growing edge
• Keynote presentations on women in leadership within the Emergency Services and Military
• High-grade facilitation of panel presentations across numerous conference settings
• Group facilitation for education and exploration of DEI within organisations

Qualifications and Memberships

• Graduate Diploma of Applied Management (Emergency Services) - Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM)
• Graduate Certificate of Applied Management (Emergency Services) - AIPM
• Advanced Diploma of Public Safety - MFB RTO
• Advanced Diploma of Fire Fighting - MFB RTO
• Post Graduate Diploma of Gestalt Psychotherapy - Swinburn University
• Post Graduate Certificate of Health Counselling - Victoria University
• Bachelor of Science - La Trobe University