James Kingsland is a senior executive with over 25 years’ experience leading business teams in the areas of Human Resources, Transformation and Technology. After serving for seven years as an Officer in the Royal Navy as a submariner, James embarked on a business career in a diverse range of complex private, public, local and global organisations. James has significant experience in executive leadership, coaching, strategy, organisation design, leadership development and change management in industries including government, telecoms, utilities, construction, IT, education and not-for-profit.
As a seasoned executive leader of People & Culture, James has practical experience in driving change in large government departments and commercial organisations. As Executive Director People and Culture at DELWP, James delivered a people strategy aimed at creating culture change in response to feedback from the People Matters Survey and the LSI culture feedback tool. James and his team worked closely with leaders and managers to ensure they understood their role in building a positive culture, increasing their capability to create an environment of respectful workplace behaviours, their ability to have positive challenging conversations and to understand their role in preventing actual or perceived bullying and harassment. James’ most recent achievement in DPC was the development and launch of the Digital Academy for the VPS, which included a blend of on-line learning, in person executive leadership development, digital re-skilling programs and the introduction of new technology diversity pathways into the public service.
James has extensive executive coaching experience at all levels of organisations from senior executives to emerging leaders. Organisations, teams and individuals get bogged down in the same way of thinking and when confronted with a new problem or unique issue they will employ that same way of thinking to it. James has always had a passion for working with individuals and teams to challenge their mindsets and create the environment that enables the ‘lightbulb moments’ of breakthrough thinking which then leads to practical and tangible actions and outcomes.
James has successfully delivered people oriented business and technology change in large, complex business transformations that have included changes to culture, business model, structure, skills & capability, and technology. In a recent role, James led digital transformation across the VPS, driving alignment of common systems and processes across departments, supported by an enabling change in culture.
James’s style is inclusive and collaborative, and he partners with leaders to achieve success in the context of their unique challenges and organisation environment. As an experienced business leader himself, James understands first-hand the challenges faced by leaders in organisations today and gets intense satisfaction facilitating the unleashing of potential in individuals and teams in order to achieve practical outcomes, long-term growth and lasting change.
The organisations James has worked with in the role of either leader or external consultant include DELWP, DPC, Melbourne Business School – University of Melbourne, White lion, City West Water, Barwon Water, Victorian Transport Accident Commission, Siemens, Oce, Bechtel and UK Department of Defence.
