As Director and Career Practitioner of Career Wisdom I work with adult professionals from all walks of life, who work with me to design a variety of new work lives. Over the years, I’ve developed a number of specialties from working with different groups of people.
Some of these specialties developed and deepened with over my two decades of practice, due to serendipitous circumstances, my lived experience and/or affinity for a group of people and their unique challenges, which include:
The life of an elite athlete or professional player is relatively short. Yet it has been a massive part of their life, often since a small child. It is part of their identity. When this changes, either gradually looming or shortened suddenly due to injury or non-selection, it can come as a great shock. Many athletes benefit from programs offered via their clubs, player associations and the wider sport system.
As a professional practitioner with the Career Practitioner Referral Network for the Australian Institute of Sport, I have been fortunate to work with hundreds of athletes, sports scientists, coaches and administrators for over 15 years. My career work within sport began with a role as Career Advisor for the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) for the Western Force in Perth in 2007.
Since then, I have contributed career development programs in Hockey, in AFL and multiple other sports, as well as with West Australian Ballet. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team has convinced me that career development in sport and dance is a ‘must have’ not a ‘nice to have’ and I’ve been glad to see the growth of this specialist profession over the years, as well as mentoring some of the entrants to the industry.
In the world of professional classical ballet, it is rare for dedicated career development programs and services to exist. For five years, starting as a ‘giving back’ project, post program for the Signature Program at Leadership WA, I provided career development and career transition services for company dancers at the West Australian Ballet, as well as workshops for the Young Artists. I worked with a number of Principal dancers and soloists who retired from the company, some moving into teaching, relocating countries, and transitioning to new careers, external and/or adjacent to dance.
I danced semi-professionally in my teens and have gone back to my dance roots, attending adult ballet, strength training and currently training towards certification as a Groove™ dance facilitator.
Career Wisdom now offers subsidised and scholarship programs for Australian ballet companies’ (national and state) dancers to explore their options beyond their performance years. (Contact for details).
In 2019, I was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate the interruption to work life and career for people with cancer. Having a brush with cancer myself, during the time of the Fellowship (undertaken online due to the pandemic), I had surgery and grafts on my leg following a melanoma diagnosis. More recently, I have been a stem cell donor for a family member with AML.
Having presented webinars and workshops for Solaris Cancer Care, Melanoma Patients Australia and the Melanoma Institute Australia, via Career Wisdom, I now offer subsidised and scholarship programs for people who are looking for ‘what’s next?’ beyond cancer, through the ‘What’s Next?’ Careers Beyond Cancer program. (Contact me for details).
Having served on the board of Autism West (now Spectrum Space) in Western Australia, I have a keen interest in neurodivergence. and have studied adult ADHD including late diagnosis with a special interest in late diagnosed women. She has a certificate in….. and is author of “Sparkly Careers: A career guide for people with adult ADHD….’
I am currently studying towards a Certificate in ADHD Coaching to supplement my reading and research in the field of women with late diagnosed ADHD.
Of note is the fact that many productivity tips, common career advice and general ‘wisdom’ is generally not well suited to those with ADHD and the needs of this population are largely misunderstood, making career navigation challenging and at times tumultuous.
Without rose-coloured glasses, there are genuine strengths in anyone and some especially unique in those with ADHD – these can be harnessed and directed towards work in areas of interest, capability and work mode to suit individuals. Employers may be less accommodating which often means that those adults with ADHD may choose self- employment – which of course, brings its own challenges and rewards.
Through Career Wisdom, I offer a program for neurodivergent people who are looking for ‘What’s Next?’ which links you with other program participants for support. (Contact for details).
With twenty years of business under my belt, following a 15-year corporate career with AMP, ASX and Australia’s largest superannuation fund, I am often being approached by women wanting help with how they can convert their knowledge and wisdom into an independent career.
I now mentor women in self-employment and launching portfolio careers and hold an exclusive circle called Sakura for support, co-working and connecting, ‘bloom and burn’ retreats and individual and group mentoring. (Contact for details).
Who says you need to ‘retire” (the act of withdrawing from the workforce) at any specific age, if you want to keep working?!
Perhaps though, you want to do work that is meaningful to you and work flexibly, in your own way? ‘Reinventees’ are people who march to the beat of their own drum, in their 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond! Work out what you want to do, and whom you want to do it with. Whilst some employers recognise the value of mature aged workers, many sadly do not. Many ‘wisdom workers’ decide to reinvent a portfolio lifestyle that suits them. Explore and discover ‘What’s Next?’ with fellow Reinventees. (Contact for details).
On the surface, these diverse groups and their individual stories may seem different. But they’re connected by powerful shared experiences and a desire to reimagine ‘what’s next?’
Life & Identity Transitions
Each person is navigating a major shift – be it a career that ends, a health diagnosis that changes everything, or the quiet call to create something new later in life. These are more than career moments; they are identity moments.
The Quest for Meaningful Work
I don’t just help you to answer “What do I want to do?, I also ask you “What do you want your work to mean?” . As diverse as my clients are, all are driven by purpose, values, and the desire to contribute in ways that feel real and fulfilling.
Embracing Nonlinear Paths
The straight-line career model doesn’t fit many of the people I work with. That’s a good thing! Lots of people are stepping off the traditional track and into portfolio careers, self-employment, or creative reinvention. Together we help you navigate your ‘next’ with courage, emerging clarity, and insights.
Support Beyond the Mainstream
Whether it’s hidden fatigue post-treatment, the invisible challenges of adult late diagnosed ADHD, or tackling ageism, I often support professionals who are overlooked or underserved by traditional career services. I alway aim to provide a safe, affirming space for real career conversations.
Connection Is the Difference
At the heart of my work and Career Wisdom programs, is connection. My top Realised Strength (Expert Strengths Profile) is Connector. I love bringing people together and connecting you with others: clients, collaborators, ideas, and opportunities. With over 20 years of relationships across industries (including multi sectoral networks such as Leadership WA and Churchill Fellowship) we can gain real momentum through strategic introductions, curated circles, and collaborative networks.
Whether it’s pairing someone with a like-minded program buddy, a supportive group of female enterprising Reinventees, or a potential future collaborator—no one is left doing this alone.
Powered by Lived Experience
I don’t just theoretically understand these challenges – I’ve walked many of them. From juggling multiple roles, redundancy and grappling with the ‘what do I want to do with my life? question. From corporate life to self-employment, dance studios to boardrooms, she I offer both practical expertise, empathy and personal insights. Our shared authenticity is the foundation of our work together.
Ready to explore ‘what’s next?’—in your way, on your terms, and with someone who truly gets it?
Start the conversation with Lois at Career Wisdom.