Liz Skelton

Originally from Scotland, Liz now lives, works and plays on Bundjalung country, Northern Rivers NSW. Liz is known globally for her deep expertise in designing and developing systemic leadership with multisector collaborations to address complex adaptive challenges in an increasingly complex world.

Over the past three decades Liz has pioneered practice in systemic and adaptive leadership for equitable and inclusive social change, including firsthand catalysation of systemic change initiatives in Australia and the UK.  Liz is now working alongside place based systemic change collaborations as part of her research as a PhD Candidate at the School of Cybernetics, College of Systems and Society, ANU.  She is researching the systemic leadership required for navigating Polycrises.   Additionally she is Director and founder of The Adaptive Practice, Cofounder and former Director and Chair of Collaboration for Impact (CFI), a leading Australian for purpose intermediary supporting people to collaborate to change the way systems work to create positive social change. There, she advised and supported  hundreds of cross sector leaders in place and issue-based systemic change initiatives; she also co-created the practice of Deep Collaboration, working with First Nations leaders and other Australians on collaboration for racial equity. Her deep practice and expertise was built on foundations as Principal Consultant with Social Leadership Australia, The Benevolent Society.

She has co-authored two books: "The Australian Leadership Paradox: What it takes to lead in the Lucky Country" Allen & Unwin, and the critical thought leadership piece “Lost conversations: Finding new ways for black and white Australians to lead together”.

Liz is aiming to develop her PhD research into a practical resource for change agents working on systemic change.