Anne Howard, ICF ACC
Innovation and Leadership Coach
I am a specialist Innovation and Leadership Coach with a deep, professional understanding of how innovation really works, across government, business, research organisations, and not-for-profits. This has been my career for over three decades.
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I have been at the forefront of major innovation initiatives in government policy, venture capital, research commercialisation, and not-for-profits. As CEO of the Australian Venture Capital Association, I worked with senior figures in government and industry to help establish the Commonwealth government's Innovation Investment Funds (IIF) which was a landmark program that invested nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars into early-stage innovative businesses over its 16-year lifespan.
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I was the commercial manager of a CSIRO research spin-out and led the team that turned a novel barley grain into a successful breakfast cereal, an achievement that earned us the CSIRO Medal for Business Excellence.
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For the past 25 years, I have served as a director of one of Australia’s oldest and most respected innovation policy research and advisory firms. The firm has been a consistent voice on science, research and innovation through political transitions, economic cycles, and waves of technological change. Our team develops national policy, reviews complex programs, advises Boards and Ministers, and creates the conditions for emerging technologies and new ideas to take root.
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But innovation isn’t just about good ideas and it doesn’t start with blueprints or budgets. It’s an outcome and it begins in the mindset. That’s why I coach.
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As an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC), I work at the intersection of psychology, business strategy, and creative methodology. I help leaders in government, industry, and research build innovation capacity from the inside out by unblocking what holds them back, reframing challenges, and cultivating the mindset and habits that drive clarity, confidence, and creativity.
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My coaching blends strategic acuity with deep listening. Whether I’m working with policy analysts, senior executives, researchers, or entrepreneurs, I support clients to think creatively, navigate complexity, embrace experimentation, and build resilience, all while staying grounded in their values and aspirations.
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I am particularly passionate about supporting women leaders to reconnect with creativity and confidence that may have been buried under years of complexity, caretaking, or organisational conformity. As a trained woman-centred coach, I understand the hidden barriers women often face and how to help dismantle them.
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My academic qualifications cover social psychology, communication, economics and marketing. I also hold a Master's Degree in Information Studies. Early in my career, I was an academic at the University of Canberra researching and teaching in public relations strategy, marketing management, and communication theory.
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In 2024, I graduated with a Post-Graduate Certificate in Applied Coaching specialising in Executive and Leadership Coaching from the ACAP University College.
I was also awarded a Certificate in Woman-Centred Coach Training and Leadership from the Institute for Woman-Centred Coaching, Training and Leadership.
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If you’re looking to lead change, unlock fresh thinking, or build innovation capacity from the inside out, I’d love to connect.
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Coaching Philosophy
My coaching philosophy has been shaped by professional experience as well as my own journey over three decades navigating leadership in innovation, policy, and strategy.
I've led organisations through uncertainty, built trust where agendas clashed, and seen firsthand the mental shifts it takes to move from stuck to inspired. These experiences taught me that meaningful change begins with people.
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To coach is to believe in someone, often before they fully believe in themselves. It’s about creating space for insight, stretch, and discomfort, all in service of growth. I bring deep listening and reflective inquiry to my practice, helping clients uncover what’s beneath the surface, shift their thinking, and unlock possibilities they hadn’t considered. These insights create momentum and that momentum leads to meaningful change.
My coaching is grounded in systems thinking, insight, and strategic understanding. I meet leaders where they are, while supporting them to imagine what’s possible.
That includes working with their teams. I coach teams to become more effective, developing high performance, clarity of purpose, and a shared understanding of the context they’re operating in. Whether navigating change, resolving tensions, or striving for greater impact, I help teams align around what really matters and build the trust needed to deliver value together.
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A key part of my work is supporting leaders to build the internal capacity to lead innovation whether that means reimagining systems, enabling collaboration across silos, or making bold decisions in uncertain environments. My background in innovation strategy enables me to walk alongside clients with a balance of challenge, compassion, and perspective.
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As a trained woman-centred coach, I enjoy supporting women leaders to lead with clarity, presence, and strength. And we do that without leaving parts of themselves behind. Woman-centred coaching has equipped me with tools to support women in navigating complexity, caretaking pressures, and organisational conformity, while reconnecting with their own confidence and creativity.
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I also believe laughter belongs in leadership and coaching. Yes, the work matters deeply, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the journey. Sometimes a good laugh is exactly what's needed to shift perspective and remember we're all just figuring it out as we go.
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