Leadership coaching and consulting for organisations and leaders across Australia

collabbWAY isn’t business as usual

Most leadership development teaches people what good leadership looks like. It doesn't teach them what to do when a direct report goes quiet, when a team meeting veers off track, or when a manager has 90 seconds to hold to a standard without breaking the relationship.

That's the gap I work in.

I partner with organisations that've already invested in leadership programs and have seen the same patterns return six months later. The ones ready to stop teaching the theory of leadership and start building the behaviour. The ones who know culture isn't shaped at the offsite. It's shaped in the small, daily moments where someone is underperforming, a peer is frustrated, or the team is watching to see what you'll do.

I work with leaders, teams and organisations across Geelong, the Barwon South West, and nationally for complex change and system-level leadership work. Most often with community, education, and people-centred organisations navigating growth, reform, or cultural change.

If you're ready for leadership and organisational design that holds up under real pressure, let's talk.

collabbWAY offers:

Ways to Work Together

1:1 Leadership Consulting

Team & Culture Consulting

Relational Leadership Workshops

Organisational Design

Leadership Tools & Resources

About Brooke

I work differently from many leadership consultants.

Most leadership programs teach people what good leadership looks like. They don't teach what to do when a direct report goes quiet in a one-on-one, when a team meeting tips sideways, or when you've got ninety seconds to hold a standard without losing the relationship. That gap, between knowing and doing, is where most leadership development falls over.

I spent 15 years managing and leading in community services. Child risk and wellbeing. Family violence. Sexual assault. Sectors where the cost of a leader avoiding a hard conversation isn't a missed KPI. It's a person or a vulnerable family.

That work taught me something most leadership theory misses. The job of leading people doesn't happen in the strategy session or the development program. It happens in the small, daily moments when someone is underperforming, a peer is frustrated, or the team is watching to see what you'll do. Those are the moments where culture is actually made.

The Six Lens Leadership Check

Ready for an honest
read on your leadership layer?

The check maps your leadership layer across six areas drawn from the Relational Leadership Method (RLM) developed by Brooke Baxter, Founder of collabbWAY.

Each one is a domain where relational leadership either holds or quietly breaks down in real organisations.

A New Way to Lead

The Relational Leadership Method by collabbWAY

Where relationships and connection becomes leadership in action

collabbWAY Monthly Blog

Each month, I send an email to my subscribers - Leadership in Practice by collabbWAY. Straight talk on the moments that matter at work. If you're are intreted, sign up below.

What People Say About Working with Brooke Baxter - Leadership

"Brooke was an absolute pleasure to work with, super smart, knows the community services sector really well, values driven and a genuinely nice person too. She has a great work ethic and builds long lasting relationships with people based on collaboration and mutual respect."

Richard Nearn, NFP Executive

“Brooke held the room so carefully, sharing practice insights with a strong focus on the intersection of practice and lived experience. She is a skilled and evidence-based presenter and her time and expertise is much appreciated.”

"I was one of the students in the social work session you spoke at today. I just wanted to let you know, your talk brought me to tears. Thank you for putting so eloquently what is such a lived experience for so many. When you spoke of advocacy being labelled as difficult, I have never felt so seen. So, thank you! The world is privileged to have such a beautiful voice speaking loudly. "

Social Work Student, Deakin University

Tamara Holmes, Deakin University

“I’ve worked alongside Brooke for many years, collaborating across a range of projects, and have consistently admired her ability to quickly grasp what’s required, maintain strong team focus on the objective, and deliver high-quality outcomes.

Brooke’s strength lies in her deep understanding of leadership and team dynamics, and her ability to translate this into practical, well-structured models and approaches that managers can readily apply. She is an excellent communicator who engages people at all levels and brings them along on the journey.

Brooke is genuinely committed to helping leaders build stronger, more connected teams. I would highly recommend her to any organisation or individual looking to strengthen leadership capability and team effectiveness.

Philippa Bolton, NFP Manager

“Brooke brings an energy and enthusiasm to her leadership that lifts everyone around her. As a leader, she is both inspiring and genuinely considerate — the kind of manager who supports people to do their best work.

One of her real strengths is how quickly she can understand an issue and cut through to practical, effective strategies. She also sees and recognises the strengths in others straight away, which makes working with them feel motivating and valued.

Deb Kirkwood, NFP Manager

“Brooke is a dedicated professional who consistently goes above and beyond to ensure team success. Collaborating with her on the design, development and implementation of an org-wide practice framework project was a true pleasure; she brought a positive attitude and exceptional organisational skills to every challenge.

Beyond her technical delivery, Brooke is a natural leader who manages complex relationships with ease. She has a unique ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, navigating cross-organisational dynamics to build motivation and drive momentum. Brooke knows how to turn complex project requirements into actionable, successful outcomes. Any team would be lucky to have her, and I look forward to working with her again!

Tamara White, CEI - Senior Advisor

Recent Workshops

Here are some recent examples of workshops we ran with other workplaces.