
Completing an executive search to identify a Chief Practitioner to lead an integrated approach to developing practice, strengthening capability and staff wellbeing.

The Brief
Responsible for child protection, prevention of family violence, housing, disability, multicultural affairs, LGBTIQ+ equality, veterans, and the offices for Women and Youth. This organisation responsible for the delivery, stewarding and overseeing Victorian community services, through the work of almost 5,000 Victorian staff and in partnership with funded agencies.
The Chief Practitioner will lead a team of specialists across multiple disciplines to drive evidence-based practice and provide expert clinical advice, for individual clients and at a system-level. Working closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders, the Chief Practitioner will collaborate to deliver contemporary and ethical practice and provide insights and evidence to operational and program areas to drive system reform and practice changes.
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
The briefing process identified the successful appointee would be required to bring strong clinical practice and strategic leadership to enable an integrated approach to developing and leading practice and strengthening capability and wellbeing.
The Future Leadership Executive Search team undertook a search across Australia and New Zealand, supplemented by an online media campaign. Leveraging previously completed searches, this search targeted suitable high calibre candidates with with specialist practice knowledge of an area relevant to Child Protection, disability service, health, and/or clients with complex needs..
The search process yielded a fair response with the panel interviewing four candidates in the first round. Future Leadership hosted the panel interviews virtually.
Emerging Capabilities
Strategy and Purpose
Develops and leads strategy for the function/organisation, taking a broad and long-term perspective. Understands and considers context. Communicates and gains buy-in to the function/organisation goals, direction and vision, promoting change initiatives.
Adaptability and Resilience
Demonstrates positivity, curiosity, and the ability to pivot when confronted with change, pressure, adversity and disruption. Responsive to strategic environmental, social and corporate challenges and opportunities.
Culture and Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Creates an environment that encourages diverse perspectives and facilitates a psychologically safe environment.
Sustainability, Ethics and Integrity
Prioritises the environment in making decisions and leading others. Operates with integrity and aligns self to a high standard of social, cultural and professional standards of conduct. Adheres to moral and ethical principles. Draws on values to inform behaviour.
Stakeholder Relations
Establishes rapport with stakeholders, builds and sustains trusted and collaborative relationships. Identifies and draws on relevant and diverse perspectives and integrates them to support productive interactions.
Critical Thinking
Gathers and examines different data points, testing for assumptions and gaps in logic; reframes problems and presents well-reasoned insights considering diverse perspectives. Analyses, interprets and objectively evaluates information enabling judgements.
The Outcome
At the conclusion of the process, including 360 degree reference and qualifications checks, the successful appointee was confirmed. The successful incumbent brought with them 30 years’ experience managing large, complex and multifaceted service delivery, within vulnerable communities and politically sensitive environments. The appointed candidate presented to the panel as someone with vision and influence, and the ability to harness the potential and contribution of the whole team.