Leading Teams Australia
Garie Dooley - Chief Executive Officer
Garie started his working life as a School Teacher then continued to have a varied business career that has included Senior Management roles with Port Adelaide Football Club, Optus, Kelly Services (a global recruitment company) and VIP Homes Services.
Garie has also had a senior soccer career that has spanned 15 years in Adelaide where he has been part of the local sports media. He has a passion for organisational development and supporting organisations in their efforts to maximise the potential of their people.
Garie has a Bachelor of Education, Graduate Diploma of Teaching and a Graduate Diploma in Business.
Outside of work Garie volunteers with the Julian Burton Burns Trust, a not-for-profit organization, to help raise awareness, education and funds to support people with burns.
Garie lives in Adelaide and has two children, Alexander and Sophie.
Ray McLean - Director
Ray McLean is a founding Director and principal trainer of Leading Teams Australia. Ray began his working life as a teacher, working for 10 years in schools in regional Victoria, and holds a Bachelor of Education. From 1989 to 1994 Ray worked with the RAAF as a training and leadership officer and was responsible for the design and delivery of leadership and team training for the Airmen Aircrew Training Unit.
In his position at Leading Teams Ray conducts team performance and leadership programs for a number of AFL, NRL and NBL clubs. He also works with a wide range of corporate, educational and community organisations.
Ray wrote a book called "Any Given Team" which provides an insight into Leading Teams' philosophy on leadership and teamwork. The book can be obtained by sending an email to Leading Teams (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Kraig Grime - Director of Programs
Kraig Grime is a Director of Leading Teams Australia. Kraig began his working life with the Navy but transferred to the Air Force and completed 20 years service. His career culminated in him accepting a commission and leading a team of Management Systems Analysts responsible for providing organisational development advice to regional commanders.
Kraig facilitates our Performance Improvement Program for a number of corporate and elite sports teams. In addition to his responsibilities with Leading Teams, Kraig is also a Director of Highland Personnel, a not-for-profit organisation that specialising in training and employment of people with disabilities, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kraig is married to Leonie. They have three adult children and live in Ballarat, Victoria.
Craig Biddiscombe - National Programs Manager
Following an AFL career with Geelong and Richmond, Craig has been a facilitator with Leading Teams since its inception and has delivered leadership and team alignment programs that have improved the performance of numerous elite sport and corporate teams and organisations.
Craig is passionate about assisting leaders within teams, and small to medium organisations, to create strong engagement, commitment, and accountability to improve results and productivity. He has had extensive consulting experience, focused mainly in the corporate and private sector, but has also worked within local government, education and elite sport. Some of his current clients include Coliban Water, City of Casey, North Central CMA, Macquarie Bank, Gordon Institute of Tafe, Triple M & B105 in Brisbane, Shell Geelong Refinery, and the Western Bulldogs (AFL).
Craig is married to Tash, a physiotherapist and partner in a health studio on the waterfront in Geelong, where they both reside with son Liam. He is currently in the 3rd and final year of a Masters of Business Management Practice that specialises in Organisation Development and Change Management.
Jim Plunkett - Programs Manager
As a Programs Manager (6 years) Jim presents a wide and varied range of leadership and team alignment programs to elite sport, corporate, school and community organisations’ throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Jim has a background in elite sports, playing Australian Rules Football with Western Bulldogs (1997) and Carlton (2001 - 2003) at the highest level. Whilst Jim played AFL he completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Teaching at the Australian Catholic University and he is currently completing his Masters of Management at Monash University.
Jim and wife, Bianca love to spend their time enjoying the company of their family and friends.
Justin Peckett - Programs Manager
Justin retired from AFL Football in October 2006 after 252 games with the St Kilda Football Club (1989 - 2006).
Throughout his playing career Justin has gained extensive facilitating experience delivering various life skills and leadership programs within Schools, Indigenous Communities, Juvenile & Adult Prison Systems, Elite Sport and the corporate environment.
Corporate clients have included; RMIT University, City of Casey, Nike, Quiksilver, NSW Police, BMW Group Aust., Costa Logistics, and Pacific Network Global Logistics
Justin is currently in his final year of studying a Masters of Business Management Practice – Specialising in Organisational Change and Development at Victoria University, Melbourne.
Outside of work, Justin is in his 3rd year as playing coach of the Karingal Football Club in the Peninsula Division of the MPNFL.
Justin’s other passions are his wife Teresa and their six children (soon to be seven), surfing and music.
Martine Harkin - Programs Manager
Martine has delivered a range of leadership and team alignment programs to a range of organisations and manages the Community and Education programs at Leading Teams. She has worked in a number of schools across the State, including Principal networks, staff teams and student groups. As the only female facilitator at Leading Teams, Martine is particularly interested in female-led organisations.
She has a background in teaching, has 9 years experience and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Phys Ed).
Martine is married to Matt and they live with their 2 dogs near the beach. They enjoy spending time with their family.
Bryan McCormick - Corporate Facilitator
Bryan is a corporate facilitator with Leading Teams delivering leadership and team alignment programs to corporate Australia.
Bryan was a lawyer for 20 years before joining Leading Teams. His experience included a senior position with a national law firm, running his own practice, partnership in a major regional firm and University Lecturer. Bryan is particularly proud that in his employment law work he received regular referrals from both unions and employer groups.
Bryan has been a director and honorary legal counsel for Finding Futures since 1998. Finding Futures is a not for profit Job Network agency with specialist skills in placing people with disabilities into work.
Married to Gaenor they have four school aged children. Their three girls are all keen soccer players which inspired Bryan to found the Total Girl Soccer Tournament in 2005. The tournament has grown from humble beginnings to become the biggest girls’ soccer tournament in the southern hemisphere with over 5,000 attendees.
When not working or enjoying time with his family, Bryan can be found pursuing his passion exploring Australia’s best golf courses.
Simon Fletcher - AFLPA Apprenticeship Programs
Simon joined Leading Teams in January 2008 in a full time capacity and has been managing the AFLPA Apprenticeship Programs throughout Australia.
In this role Simon coordinates the clubs and presenters while presenting a number of sessions himself.
Simon has also done extensive work in corporate, education and sporting programs.
Simon brings to the team a considerable amount of experience in the AFL football arena. From 1996 – 1997 Simon played with Geelong Football Club, he then transferred to Carlton Football Club in 1998 through to 2003, where he was awarded Best First Year Player in 1999, then moving to joined Richmond Football Club in 2004. Simon played 90 AFL games.
In 2005 Simon took time out to enjoy travelling abroad returning in 2007 to establish his career in Elite Sport.
Simon holds a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.
Vivienne Hopkins – Office Manager
Vivienne joined Leading Teams in January 2008. Previously Vivienne worked within the surveying profession assisting Graduate Surveyors to become registered licensed surveyors within Victoria.
Vivienne has completed a Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training and in her spare time is a Volunteer Guide at the Werribee Zoo.
Belinda Capuana - Finance Manager
Belinda commenced working with Leading Teams Australia in late February 2006.
Prior to her position at Leading Teams, Belinda was employed by a Top 100 Chartered Accounting Firm for six years, after completing a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) at Victoria University.
Leading Teams Europe
Gerard Murphy is a founding Director of Leading Teams Australia and Managing Director of Leading Teams Europe.
Gerard has facilitated programs that have improved the performance of a number of elite sport teams recently, including the Geelong Football Club (AFL) Wellington Hurricanes (Super 14), the Australian Rowing Team, and the New Zealand Breakers (NBL). Gerard’s passion for educational leadership has seen him work with a number of the Educational regional offices and over 80 schools (secondary, primary & special) around Victoria. Gerard’s corporate clients include Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Alcoa, Shell Refinery, and Leadership Wimmera.
Prior to Leading Teams, Gerard was the Communication and Public Relations Manager at the Melbourne Football Club, where he worked for five years. Gerard has a Bachelor of Education with eight years teaching experience, a Graduate Diploma in Sport Management, a Graduate Diploma in Professional Communication and is currently completing a Master of Education (Leadership and Administration).
Gerard and Elizabeth with their children Alex and Rueben are enjoying the experience of living in London.
Trent Hotton
Trent is based out of London and has been successful in working with the Coaches in rugby league teams and mentoring leadership groups at country cricket, amongst other corporate and sporting clients.
Trent’s background has been in elite sport, having played a total of 78 AFL games (17 at Collingwood from 1994-1996 and 61 at Carlton from 2000-2002). During his football career Trent combined football and study to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science and Physical Education degree at RMIT. Using his experiences gained throughout his teaching degree and invaluable knowledge from elite sport, he has worked with elite sporting teams facilitating leadership sessions at various NRL and AFL clubs, corporate organisations and school groups.
