Who we are
The Team
Our team is comprised of genuinely gifted minds
Fabian Dattner is the founder, chair and resident visionary of Dattner Group, a leadership consultancy specialising in cultural transformation, executive development, senior leadership development and working with women. Well-known as an inspiring leader, ethics commentator, and women’s leadership activist, Fabian is passionate about challenging leadership paradigms and advocates for engaged and collaborative culture. With over 41 years in a vast array of sectors, Fabian utilises her visionary skill, strategic thinking ability, and deep understanding to help leaders recognise that leadership is a key leverage point for the greater good. Creator of Compass – a leadership program unlocking courage in women, and visionary founder of Homeward Bound – a global initiative which sees women in STEMM journey to Antarctica, Fabian gives women the skills to face critical challenges and amplify their leadership role globally. Fabian has received numerous awards, contributes to media regularly and has penned three books. Read more about or book Fabian as a speaker.
Zoe is the CEO at Dattner Group. She brings a collaborative and innovative approach to problem solving and energising people and is also a senior facilitator and coach. Passionate about getting to the heart of a problem and solving it quickly, Zoë is deeply informed around the effectiveness of conveying complex notions and ideas through storytelling and personal enquiry. Zoë has lectured in digital media and publishing strategies, been the General Manager for Australia’s peak industry body for small publishers, co-founded and lead an award-winning literary publishing house and spent six years as Head of Publishing at Private Media. An accredited LSI coach, Zoë works with many of Dattner Group’s clients, and collaborates with the DG team to remove obstacles, build capacity and enable the company to grow.
As someone who values courage, optimism, and fairness, I bring a pragmatic and insightful approach to coaching and facilitation with executives and leaders at all levels to help them to see what’s possible for them, their people and organisations to achieve sustainable success, personal growth and change commitment. As a Dattner Group and Homeward Bound Projects Director, I’m mindfully committed to social, economic and environmental sustainability and to the ethos that leadership for the greater good is needed now more than ever. Accredited in LSI, GSI, DiSC, MSCEIT, MBTI and GLWS, I integrate a variety of tools into my work with individuals and teams and I know what it means to lead by encouraging others and influencing using enthusiasm and enjoyment, which sometimes means I’m a workaholic. When I’m not working, I love nothing more than spending time with my family and dogs, by resetting my mind, body, and soul at the beach and, when possible, travelling.
Mish (as everyone knows her) has been an integral part of Dattner Group for over 14 years within a variety of key business areas including support, project, and client management. As Director of Strategic Relations, she is connected to all parts of the business, deeply understanding how it works and using her knowledge to manage and support new client acquisition, client engagement and ongoing key client relationships, project management, and business process improvement. She brings expertise, business sense, care for people and a profound understanding of clients’ intrinsic viewpoints and needs, and thoroughly enjoys building authentic and lasting relationships. Mish values fairness, courage, and integrity, grew up in Malta and cherishes her family and adorable Border Collie, Nellie, as well as a good cup of Melbourne coffee.
Joining Dattner Group has given me an opportunity to work in a flexible environment, with a fantastic culture and a passionate team, truly committed to changing the narrative of leadership for business and people. With a finance support background, overseas and in Australia, I have a diverse, collaborative, and meticulous approach to my work. I love a challenge, but also strive to bring a sense of calm, and contribute positively in every aspect of life. As Dattner Group‘s Finance Officer I get the chance to use my skills across the business, reaching across accounts, reporting, payroll, and day-to-day finance administration. Being part-time allows me to balance my family and work life and gives me the opportunity to be there for those important moments in my children’s life.
Czarina brings a client-first approach to commercial leadership. She works alongside senior leaders to translate purpose into progress, building trusted relationships, sharpening value propositions and collaborating on growth and revenue strategies that balance commercial rigour with genuine stakeholder / shareholder impact.
With 20+ years’ experience across business development, strategic accounts and sales leadership, Czarina has worked in complex enterprise environments spanning financial and professional services, government, education, telecommunications, technology-enabled language and content services. She’s worked with Top ASX companies and has successfully led senior partnerships in executive education through one of Australia’s prominent Business Schools. She has also held leadership roles across global and regulated sectors and is valued for being transparent, decisive, and highly adaptable, while investing deeply in mentoring teams to perform at their best.
At Dattner Group, Czarina focuses on building meaningful partnerships and expanding the impact of the team’s work with organisations seeking courageous, sustainable change.
When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me on a padel court competing in club and national tournaments, or at music festivals which bring me energy, connection, and shared experiences with good friends.
Sarah is inherently curious about human behaviour and what motivates or demotivates people to act. She is passionate about amplifying the message of purpose-built organisations and building connections with like-minded people. She has a background in marketing and small business and has been an integral part of the Dattner Group team since 2017. When Sarah is not spreading the Dattner Group message she can be found chasing her two young daughters, eating delicious food and basking in the sunshine.
Christine is deeply passionate about cultivating connected communities and believes in the transformative power of amplifying diverse voices that inspire and influence others. Committed to playing a pivotal role in achieving better representation for women and individuals of all gender identities in government, media, and boardrooms, Christine envisions a future where her daughters witness inclusivity in decision-making spaces, just as she hopes her nephew observes increased male involvement in home responsibilities. With a robust background in innovation, business improvement, fundraising, and event management, Christine's professional journey is marked by a commitment to leading with empathy, fostering customer-centric approaches, and encouraging others to realise their full potential through creative problem-solving and dynamic collaboration. As a dedicated member of the Dattner Group, Christine focuses on fostering strong relationships and ensuring a positive experience for Compass participants and alumni. Outside the professional sphere, one might find Christine engaging in impromptu dance parties with her two daughters or enjoying leisurely walks on the beach with their greyhound.
Having moved from Perth to Melbourne at the beginning of 2022 and working from home, I found it difficult to network and build connections. When the opportunity arose to work with Dattner Group, I jumped at the chance. I love process, structure, planning and organising and I get to combine all of these in my role as Client Services Manager. Having worked in accounting and admin in various industries, mainly mining and the disability sectors, I’ve learnt fantastic decision-making skills, how to back myself and trust my instincts while bringing a high level of professionalism to all stakeholders within an organisation. When I’m not scheduling and putting newfound processes and programs into practice at DG, you’ll find me hanging out with my husband and young kids in a local café, enjoying a good cup of coffee or sitting at a table playing board games or Dungeons & Dragons with my family & friends.
Mel employs her strong logistics background to efficiently manage Dattner Group’s diagnostic tools and systems; and thrives being part of a team that facilitates positive changes in people’s lives. Mel is passionate about fostering inclusivity in the workplace by celebrating diversity and removing barriers to participation. She values people’s innate uniqueness and the infinite possibilities to learn and grow from each other. Mel is inspired by the empowering women in her life and hopes to leave that same impact on future generations, including her daughter. Mel is also an animal lover, fitness fanatic, creative arts enthusiast, and a dreamer.
Domenica has joined the Dattner Group family as a part of the Business Development Team. She arrives with a deep appreciation of the transformational leadership work the team does with organisations, teams, and individuals, having witnessed the power firsthand as a Compass alumnus. With a background in business development, recruitment, partnerships, and marketing Domenica looks forward to helping the team expand their reach and continue to have a profound impact in Australia and globally. Beyond her professional endeavours, she is also a talented actor, having graced stages and screens in various theatrical productions, short films, and commercials.
Nothing gives me more joy than creating and working through a daily to do list, which is what makes my current role at DG the perfect one for me as I get to utilise my organisational skills and connect with people every day. Over the years I’ve maintained my ability to build relationships and trust with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality. And, as a mum of two children, I’m committed to finding a balance between my home life and my work life so I can engage with my community and still find time for my personal pursuits.
For the past 30 years, I’ve either been leading people, or helping others who lead people, to do it better. I do this through individual and team Executive coaching and strengths-based leadership development. I’m also proud to have been on the leadership team of the Homeward Bound Project, a 10-year initiative to equip a 1000-strong global collaboration of women in science to lead, influence and contribute to policy as it informs the future of our planet. I find my clients are looking for three things from me: One, experience in the real world: that I have done the things I’m teaching others to do; two, a track record of achieving results for clients, and three, ensuring people apply the things they learn and create tangible outcomes in the workplace. When working with clients, I take care to ensure that the senior leader/s is personally invested in the development of leadership and culture, and my client’s leadership team are stewards for the development of their people, ensuring line managers take ownership and are accountable for ensuring leadership development is grounded in application and outcomes.
I am passionate about creating safe, engaging learning environments where individuals and teams can generate insights and bring about constructive change – in whole of life. I have been leading, coaching, and developing people for more than 20 years having both lead large teams as a HR Director and more recently, as a Consultant / Coach/ Strategist. My style is pragmatic and straightforward, bringing real industry experience across professional services, banking & finance, IT, FMCG, not for profit, construction, local council, government as well as private clients. I am a proud member of the Compass – Visionary Leadership for Women team and provide support to the Homeward Bound Executive Board and Leadership Team, a 10 year initiative to equip 1000 strong global collaboration of women with science backgrounds to lead, influence and contribute to policy as it informs the future of our planet. I hold accreditations in several diagnostic tools including Life Styles Inventory™ (LSI 1 & 2), Leadership Impact™, Management Impact™, Organisational Culture Inventory and Organisational Effectiveness Inventory™, OPQ, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator™ (MBTI), CILCA 360, as well as being a Certified Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI).
Cathy is fascinated by Positive Psychology scientific research and the use of its evidence-based applications to help individuals improve their work life and wellbeing. It is her passion to share her knowledge and watch how these strategies translate into more meaningful and positive work – and a greater sense of career wellbeing. Cathy has over two decades of career management experience, consulting to hundreds of top ASX listed, private and NFP organisations, successfully supporting over 1,000 people through group facilitation and individual coaching. Using evidence-based career wellbeing strategies and tools, Cathy focuses on supporting clients to develop positive relationships, improve engagement, and boost productivity in their private lives and in the workplace. Clients have gained insights that enable them to focus on strengths, manage emotions, improve relationships and turnaround negative cultures. This uplift in awareness and engagement is incredibly empowering and especially important in times of change and uncertainty. Cathy never tires of seeing her clients build resilience. Accredited in: CILCA 360, Birkman, MSCEIT, 4MAT.
For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by people, how they view themselves, their aspirations and motivations. As a coach I thrive on enabling others to shift mindsets, uncover strengths, recognise potential and navigate the journey forward. I love the privilege of walking alongside someone, providing them with a safe environment based on trust to do some ‘’out loud’’ thinking while helping them explore, challenge and identify where they want to be and what they want. Accredited in: Birkman, and Management Research Group: Individual Directions Inventory (IDI) and Personal Directions (Appraise Your World & World Outcomes).
Rarely does one find a powerhouse of academic insight, observational excellence, and dynamic delivery to shed new light on a topic that’s critical to us all – ourselves! Louise’s inimitable style and deep insight in her field are in demand across USA, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, where audiences can appreciate this high level of expertise PLUS a wicked sense of humour. A foremost expert in body language, voice and human behaviour, Louise has a PhD in Business, and degrees and masters in Organisational Psychology as well as Music. Her skills as a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming pull together her academic study and years of professional performance on the European opera stage (yes, that’s right – the opera stage) to put her in a league of her own. These blended skills bring powerful observation that elicits discernible, positive change to help you ‘be heard’ in hostile environments. Louise is a regular facilitator in our Compass programs.
Liv Downing has over 20 years of experience working with organisations and individuals to support them to work and live to their fullest potential. She is a Registered Psychologist, Coach and Meditation Teacher and offers consulting, coaching, and counselling to individuals, groups, and organisations. Through her business, Liv Mindfully, Liv delivers mindfulness-based workshops to schools and organisations and works with Monash University, to teach within the Medical Faculty. She counsels in private practice one day a week. She is a board member of Meditation Australia (MA) and has recently co-founded an online workplace mental health program called Mind You and offers consulting, coaching, and counselling to individuals, groups, and organisations. Through her business, Liv Mindfully, Liv delivers mindfulness-based workshops to schools and organisations and works with Monash University, to teach within the Medical Faculty. She counsels in private practice one day a week. She is a board member of Meditation Australia (MA) and has recently co-founded an online workplace mental health program called Mind You.
I have been leading, coaching, and developing people for more than 20 years. I consult in areas of culture, leadership development and change management. My passion is to work with organisations to see a shift in culture that brings the best out of their people. I consult across the public and private sector, corporates, SMEs, and not-for-profits. I am an engaging speaker, facilitator and coach who loves to create environments where people come alive. At DG, I am a culture measurement and change specialist; a speaker, trainer, facilitator, and instructional designer; and a leadership and life coach to many business leaders and executives. My specialty is finding those one or two key breakthrough points – the ‘aha moments’ that make the most difference to an organisation, team or personal performance – and then building strategies and skills to make changes in performance evident and long-lasting post-program. Accredited in: LSI, MI, CSS, OCI/OEI, MSCEIT, DiSC, CILCA 360, HILCA 360, HISCA, ISA 360, Business Acumen Gauge, PXT Select.
Passionate, Insightful, Authentic. Graciela brings over 25 years of expertise as an executive coach, organisational consultant, and facilitator. Her journey has been dedicated to empowering organisations and their leaders to reach their fullest potential.
Graciela is an experienced professional who specialises in mindset shifts, steering organisational change, and sparking behavioural initiatives. From strategizing to implementation and integration, she's a catalyst for transformation. She quickly builds trust, establishing enduring relationships rooted in credibility and confidence. Her strength lies in fostering conscious learning among leaders and organisations, involving mindfulness, active engagement, and intentional learning, often emphasising self-awareness, critical thinking, and reflection.
Her extensive experience spans across diverse industries and cultural landscapes. Besides her professional endeavours, Graciela also devotes her time to volunteering and supporting non-profit organisations.Graciela is accredited in a range of diagnostic instruments, including Human Synergistic (LSI, GSI, OCI), Global Leadership Wellbeing Solutions (GLWS), Korn Ferry's "The Leadership Architect," Hogan 360, The Leadership Circle (TLC), and Power Index (DPI).
Graciela is an experienced professional who specialises in mindset shifts, steering organisational change, and sparking behavioural initiatives. From strategizing to implementation and integration, she's a catalyst for transformation. She quickly builds trust, establishing enduring relationships rooted in credibility and confidence. Her strength lies in fostering conscious learning among leaders and organisations, involving mindfulness, active engagement, and intentional learning, often emphasising self-awareness, critical thinking, and reflection.
Her extensive experience spans across diverse industries and cultural landscapes. Besides her professional endeavours, Graciela also devotes her time to volunteering and supporting non-profit organisations.Graciela is accredited in a range of diagnostic instruments, including Human Synergistic (LSI, GSI, OCI), Global Leadership Wellbeing Solutions (GLWS), Korn Ferry's "The Leadership Architect," Hogan 360, The Leadership Circle (TLC), and Power Index (DPI).
Eva Matthews is a long time researcher and writer for Dattner Group with a vision to facilitate meaningful, accurate and relevant communications that will make a positive difference to people’s professional and personal lives. She brings a diversity of life and work experience with a high value around honesty and integrity. She is a strategic thinker, creative problem solver, fast learner and self-starter that achieves quality outcomes for clients.
Ronnie is an executive coach and coaching supervisor with a background in senior roles across various industry sectors. Commercially focused, with deep coaching experience at the executive level, she works with empathy and evidence-based methodologies to support clients to achieve their coaching goals. In coaching supervision Ronnie relies on a systemic model which identifies multiple levels of relationship – coach, supervisor, coach and client organisation. She uses this model to explore issues arising from the coaching practice for the on-going development of the executive coach. Accredited in: Myers-Briggs type indicator, The Birkman Method, Personal Directions, Leadership Effectiveness Analysis 360 tool.
Jo has spent twenty years coaching and leading programs that focus on building authentic leadership capabilities. As a facilitator and coach Jo has worked with many of Australia’s top 100 companies, government agencies and not for profit organisations to develop relevant, practical and useable tools that increase leadership skills and develop positive behaviours that ensure success, harness untapped potential and promote the unique contributions of senior leaders. Jo is renowned for bringing her warm, engaging and authentic style to create trusted growth-oriented environments that enable participants to explore the edges of their leadership capability.
Sarah brings over 27 years of professional experience delivering conflict intervention, education and mediation services across Australia and internationally. From the bush to the boardroom, her experience with complex high conflict situations enables her to bring strategic calm to complex decision making during conflict and crisis. Sarah has designed and delivered bespoke corporate training, university courses and nationally accredited workshops in some of the most complex situations across remote Australia and into the Pacific. She has delivered talks across 9 countries and is a regular contributor in the media on all things conflict, and is an Ambassador for Think Network and Mediate Guru. She is an accredited mediator from National Mediation Standards & International Mediation Institute and holds a masters in Strategic Affairs.
I am an experienced facilitator and qualified coach, with extensive experience across a broad range of portfolios, including government, higher education, not-for-profit organisations, and the creative industries. I am passionate about mindful, authentic leadership, with a particular commitment to helping women develop their leadership skills; and an affinity for working with Indigenous communities. I am an alumna of the prestigious ANZSOG Executive Fellows Program, and I’m accredited in Human Synergistics tools LSI, GSI and L/I. I hold a Certificate IV in Life Coaching, with formal experience in methodologies including narrative coaching, solutions-focused coaching and acceptance and commitment coaching and I’m a member of the International Coaching Federation.
Tamsin brings over 15 years experience at the intersection of people, strategy and culture. A trusted advisor, coach and mentor to leadership teams and executives, Tamsin has refined her leadership experience through leading people functions, general management and board-level engagements. Tamsin thrives on partnering with executive teams to quickly identify and tackle complex problems. She is known for being a highly-skilled communicator who is curious, calm, collaborative and courageous. It is this approach that enables her to uncover and realise individual, team and business performance potential.
As a person who always loves learning and is open to new opportunities, Monica didn’t hesitate to jump into working with Dattner Group. Monica is a chief organiser, planner, and process and administration extraordinaire. She has refined her skills after a long career in government and private sectors.
When she’s not working you can find her having a coffee or lunch with friends or family and trying out the latest foodie hot spots.
