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Adaptive Leadership Program | UNSW Canberra

Lead effectively in a rapidly changing world. Delivered at UNSW Canberra, this immersive residential program equips you with the mindset and practical tools to navigate complexity, challenge assumptions and drive meaningful change.

Next Dates: 22 Sep; View more dates
Duration: 4 days
Delivery mode: In-person
Location: UNSW Canberra City
Price (AUD inc. GST): $7,950

Spots remaining: AVAILABLE
Digital badge credential: 6 CEMD points

AGSM at UNSW students working together with a laptop outside in the courtyard on campus

Course summary

Lead with clarity in complex environments

Delivered at UNSW Canberra, this program builds the confidence, practical tools and strategic capability needed to lead in uncertain and complex environments. Through applied learning and real-world scenarios, you’ll develop the ability to assess multifaceted challenges, work across diverse perspectives and lead with clarity and intent — turning uncertainty into opportunity for progress and innovation.

Who will benefit

Leaders looking to strengthen their capability to lead through complexity, navigate competing priorities and drive meaningful organisational change
Professionals acting as change agents seeking to influence systems, policy or organisational outcomes at scale
High-performing individuals stepping into leadership roles who are managing disruption, uncertainty and rapidly evolving environments

Course is suitable for

Professionals responsible for navigating complexity and ambiguity, who need to make sound decisions in evolving environments, build psychologically safe and inclusive teams and influence change across systems using practical, real-world leadership approaches.

Delivered by experts

Catherine Althaus

Professor

Catherine brings unmatched global expertise and depth in adaptive leadership across public and cross-cultural systems.
She blends creative, Indigenous and biodynamic methods to enable profound personal and systemic transformation.
Catherine's facilitation style challenges assumptions and empowers leaders to grow with courage, clarity and compassion.

Dianne Van Meegen

Facilitator

Dianne brings over 20 years of hands-on experience facilitating adaptive leadership development in complex government and organisational systems.
As an expert in designing psychologically safe learning environments, Dianne challenges executive leaders to grow and experiment.
Dianne is recognised for her ability to translate complex theory into actionable insights that support real-world leadership transformation.

Max Rixe

Facilitator

Max applies evidence-based frameworks to help leaders translate theory into practical, high-impact action.
Max designs dynamic and engaging learning experiences that challenge and empower executive participants.
With strategic focus on developing high-potential talent, Max supports leaders to navigate complexity and accelerate performance.

Course designed to stack

6 CEMD points

TOWARDS

Certificate in Executive Management and Development (CEMD)

Use multiple credentials to stack your learning. This course is worth 6 AGSM CEMD points, which provides formal recognition of professional development and reflects 30 hours of learning inclusive of pre-work, course participation, learning materials and support.

Learn more about stacking and CEMD Points

About the course

Leadership for complex environments

Delivered at UNSW Canberra, this program supports leaders to build the mindset and capabilities needed to operate effectively in complex, high-stakes environments. You’ll develop practical approaches to navigating uncertainty, strengthening judgement and leading with clarity in the face of competing demands.

With a strong focus on people, systems and purpose, the program explores how to build resilience, foster trust and lead beyond formal authority. You’ll learn how to test new approaches, work across diverse perspectives and drive meaningful change in environments shaped by ambiguity and constant evolution.

Through a series of immersive, experience-based activities, including Dialogue in the Dark, you’ll challenge your assumptions, deepen self-awareness and expand your capacity to lead with empathy, adaptability and impact.

Why enrol in this course

Strengthen judgement in complex environments

Build the capability to make sound, timely decisions in ambiguous and high-stakes contexts, balancing competing priorities with clarity and intent.

Work across systems to influence outcomes

Develop the skills to operate across organisational and sector boundaries, aligning stakeholders and influencing change where authority alone isn’t enough.

Test, adapt and lead through uncertainty

Learn how to experiment, respond and adjust in real time—applying adaptive approaches to navigate disruption and evolving conditions.

Learn alongside experienced leaders

Engage with a diverse group of professionals to exchange perspectives, challenge assumptions and build connections that extend beyond the program.

Key features

Decision-making in complexity

Build the capability to make informed, timely decisions in ambiguous and high-pressure environments, balancing risk, uncertainty and competing priorities.

Influence across teams and systems

Develop practical approaches to engage stakeholders, align perspectives and drive outcomes across teams, functions and systems.

Leading across perspectives

Strengthen your ability to work effectively across diverse viewpoints, building trust, navigating tension and enabling constructive dialogue.

Immersive, growth-focused learning

Participate in intensive, hands-on sessions that challenge assumptions, accelerate career growth and strengthen leadership capability through real-world application.

Learning outcomes

Navigate complexity with confidence

By the end of the program, you’ll strengthen your ability to lead with sound judgement in uncertain and evolving contexts. You’ll develop the capability to interpret complexity, work across competing priorities and influence outcomes in environments shaped by ambiguity and change. Equipped with practical tools and applied frameworks, you’ll be better positioned to lead with clarity, resilience and impact across systems and stakeholders.

What you'll learn

You’ll develop the ability to interpret complex challenges, distinguish between immediate issues and deeper systemic drivers and take a structured approach to testing and learning in uncertain environments. Build the capability to lead across boundaries, influence outcomes without relying on authority and engage stakeholders to drive sustained progress within complex systems.

Topics covered

Adaptive challenges vs technical problems
Productive zones of discomfort
Systems thinking
Authority and followership
Cultural dynamics
Faction mapping and resistance
Identity and thriving
Learning loops and interventions

Course delivery

Format	Commitment	Method
In-person	Course pre-work 4-day attendance Adaptive Leadership Challenge Action Plan	Insightful presentations Experiential activities Collaborative discussions Real-world, immersive experiences Individual assessment instruments Real-life case studies

Schedule

This course is delivered across four full days.

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Levers not leaders The nature of learning Where do we begin? Core four	Leadership edge and experimentation Case presentation Martyrs and egos What part of the mess am I? Case presentation Dialogue in the Dark	Sense making Plating with factions Diagnosing factions Harnessing divergence Brakes and pedals: what is wrong with my tyres? Case presentations	Adaptive challenge check in The nature of identity Thriving

Credentials

6 CEMD points

TOWARDS

Certificate in Executive Management and Development (CEMD)

Progress your career with stackable credentials

By completing this course, you will receive a verifiable digital badge issued by AGSM, certifying your achievement.

The Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) will formally recognise your commitment to professional development and lifelong learning with the Certificate in Executive Management and Development (CEMD). The CEMD is a flexible program that allows you to build your leadership capabilities through stackable learning.

A CEMD is a unique pathway to future study that can directly contribute to accelerating the attainment of an AGSM MBA or Graduate Certificate if you choose to embark on this journey in the future. Each time you complete a short course with the AGSM, we’ll award you with CEMD points. CEMD points can be collected and stacked together to create a unique professional development pathway that works for you and your specific career goals.

Can I use my credit towards further study?

Once you collect 12 points over a period of up to 4 years you will be awarded the CEMD. The CEMD is a specialised credential and can contribute to 2 course credits towards our AGSM MBA and Graduate Certificate qualifications.

This flexible model supports continuous learning and creates a recognised pathway from short courses to postgraduate qualifications at UNSW's AGSM.