Testimonials
Here's a sample of the feedback Avril receives on a regular basis.
"Thanks for the wonderful contribution you have made to my business"
Thank you so much for inviting me to attend HR Try Angles Workshop this week. The toolkit is such a useful, practical reference. I really valued the opportunity to get out of the office, to hear your own experiences and insights and to learn from others in the group as well. Thanks for the wonderful contribution you have made to my business.
Michael Baldwin
Chief Executive Officer
Fund Executives Association Ltd
"A five-star performance"
Fluent, captivating and authoritive presenter. A five-star performance; the highlight of the Congress. Great help for future reference and challenges ahead.
Delegate, CPA Australia National Congress
"Avril is very passionate about people development"
I have had the pleasure of working with Avril Henry over the past 2 years. Avril initially presented to my team of 180 managers addressing the key issue of managing different generations in the workplace. Avril immediately impressed her audience through her passion, energy, professionalism and humour, together with the underlying content. In the past 12 months, Avril has conducted a series of management workshops for me aimed at growing and developing management skills, particularly focusing on emotional intelligence. Again her energy and commitment to develop high quality managers impressed everyone. Avril is very passionate about people development and takes every opportunity to sell her compelling messages to audiences across Australia.
Ross Elsley
Regional General Manager
Regional NSW/ACT
Commonwealth Bank
"I found compelling"
Thanks for your presentation this morning which I found compelling, even more so knowing your varied career path and insights you bring as a director of areas other than HR.
AMP
"a respected and successful female leader"
Avril Henry's support as a mentor provided opportunities for me to learn and develop both professionally and personally. Exposure to a respected and successful female leader with strengths across more than just the HR field was invaluable. Avril's guidance enabled me to develop confidence in my approach to be successful in all facets of my life and work.
Kaylene Jacques
Executive Manager, Human Resources
SG Corporate and Investment Banking
"a clear and strategic thinker"
Avril is a clear and strategic thinker and an excellent sounding-board. She has helped me to improve my communication and listening skills through practical applications. She has also assisted me in enhancing my strategic focus across our organisation.
Head of Finance, Banking & Financial Institution
"very entertaining and fresh"
I now understand fully why you elect not to use a power point presentation. You managed to maintain the full attention of our guests for the duration of your presentation with your wonderful content and style. You are very obviously passionate about your topic and it shows. Your ability to hone in on this particular audience and the relevance to their investments was excellent.
The feedback I received was that your presentation was very entertaining and fresh and that the facts rang true with so many present - including myself who is the mother of a 16 year old Gen Y!!
Susanne Retallick
Business Manager
First Samuel Ltd
"a highly dynamic and credible HR professional"
Ms Avril Henry has been working closely with the Royal Australian Navy through the ‘Sea Change’ program for approximately eight months. She was appointed as a Navy Strategic HR Advisor, not only to the program, but more broadly to all Senior Leadership of the RAN up to and including the Chief of Navy. This relationship has already proved to be most successful with significant momentum already achieved. She has provided invaluable contemporary HR insights that have greatly assisted the shape and direction of the Sea Change program that aims to improve retention within the Navy. Indeed, cultural reform is at the heart of the program!
Avril is a highly dynamic and credible HR professional who has (at our request) challenged/confronted some of the more traditional HR practices of Navy. Avril has greatly assisted Navy to understand that there MUST be changes to the entire HR system such that it is far more responsive to the generational expectations of a contemporary workforce. Ms Henry is an outstanding and integral part of Navy’s Workforce Retention and Cultural Reform agenda.
Clint Thomas C.W THOMAS, CSC
Commodore RAN
Head Sea Change Implementation Team
June 2007
"a stimulating, informative and thought-provoking presentation"
I attended your talk and I wanted to thank you for a stimulating, informative and thought-provoking presentation. The flexible conditions that young people are looking for in the workplace are exactly what I'm hoping for as I get older, and your presentation gave me cause for optimism - real flexibility may become the norm in the workplace of the future. Thank you.
Jill Mortier
Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer
Australian Government Dept of Agrigulture, Fisheries & Forestry
"Fantastic presentation"
Avril's presentation on "Leading and Surviving Different Generations at Work" was one of the highlights of our conference. Feedback from participants rated this session as excellent and comments included:
- Fantastic presentation - excellent, insightful
- Very informative and relevant to attracting, retaining and motivating staff
- Best session of the conference - passionate and appropriately argumentative
Sue Williams
Family Services Australia
"if I ever have the opportunity to hear you speak again I will be the one front and centre"
I really enjoyed the Presentation you gave in Morwell. It helped me understand the various kind of people I deal with in the day to day running of my team. I have also just finished reading your book and found that to be well worth the read as well, and now just looking at your website I will find myself referring to your book and website on a daily basis. So all I really want to say is thank you, and if I ever have the opportunity to hear you speak again I will be the one front and centre. Love your work.
Peter Maher
Latrobe City Council
"you were an inspiration to us all"
Thanks very much for your fantastic contribution to our Spokeswoman's conference - the feedback has been unbelievable and you were an inspiration to us all.
NSW Police
"a captivating analysis of the great generational divide"
It is rare to sit and listen to such a captivating analysis of the great generational divide. Makes you realise that much of the commentary in the media and in parliament is patent nonsense.
I have discovered that on the journey of life we come to share many of the characteristics of each generation as we learn from each other. I now see myself as having many of the Gen Y values, in fact I have always instinctively had their values. We have shown them way and now they lead us.
Andrew Cormack
SWL Coordinator
WSM LLEN
"thought provoking"
Your presentation “Recruiting and Retaining Generation ‘X’ & ‘Y’ – Adapting our approach to meet the challenges of the 21st century” was thought provoking and, by all accounts, stimulated those present to review the way we are currently approaching recruitment and retention issues within the ADF and question whether we could adopt new approaches that might lead to better outcomes
James McCormack
CMDR RANR
Navy Professional Studies Program
"a wonderful and inspirational presenter"
I am a gen X woman managing the strategic planning branch at Camden Council and was at your presentation yesterday along with most of my team. This is the third time I have heard you speak now and have thoroughly enjoyed it every time. You are a wonderful and inspirational presenter and offer terrific insights for all. My team also really enjoyed yesterday, so thank you for your time and sharing your experiences with us.
Kylie Powell
Manager Strategic Planning
Camden Council
"The feedback for all sessions has been terrific"
Thank you very much for participating in the inaugural CEC Clinical Leadership Program. The feedback for all sessions has been terrific, the participants appear really motivated and inspired and much of that is thanks to your contribution.
Dr Liz Mullins
CEC Clinical Leadership Program
NSW Health
"extremely well planned, insightful and interesting"
Avril's knowledge was impressive of the global situation; extremely well planned; insightful and interesting; it was a lot of fun, hardly noticed the learning aspect; Avril had great energy; practical session especially on giving constructive feedback; the understanding of self was excellent.
Specialist Surgeons
Regional & CBD Hospitals
NSW Health
"I rank yours as one of the very best I have ever attended"
I just wanted to tell you that your presentation today at the HESTA lunch was fantastic and your delivery inspirational. Having attended so many motivational and educational presentations over many years, I rank yours as one of the very best I have ever attended. Thank you so much.
Bill Stanton
Nursing Australia
"a guru in Gen Y"
Avril is a fabulous speaker. We invited Avril to speak at our Diversity & Inclusion in Asia 2008 conference in Hong Kong and she did such a good job that we invited her back. In March 2009 she spoke at our Diversity & Inclusion in Asia Network meeting in Shanghai and the Community Business Leadership Team Open Forum in Hong Kong. At all three of these events, Avril excelled. She is smart, interesting and a guru in Gen Y. I would very much recommend her.
Shalini Mahtani, MBE
Founder and CEO
Community Business
"most engaging, genuine and inspiring style"
Avril has made a more significant impact on the leadership and management culture of our company than any other partner or consultant to date. In 2 years of involving Avril as an executive coach to myself and as a true thought leading trainer to my management teams on subjects such as leading and managing the different generations to implementing change within to achieve a more adaptable and attractive workplace – Avril has been a critical success factor in helping me establish and grow biopharmaceutical companies in Australia and Asia. She has simply changed all of us for the better – forever, with the most engaging, genuine and inspiring style I have ever met in a consultant.
Many other CEOs who have had contact with her would support my comments here. In Avril, we have a unique Australian thought leader who is beginning to impact business thinking and leadership internationally as well – all from the base of her own small business in Sydney.
David Kwasha
Managing Director / Asia Pacific Region President
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Australasia Pty Ltd
"well researched and insightful"
I have had the pleasure of hearing Avril speak on a number of occasions over the past three years. Avril’s messages about what is important for our business as we go forward has always resounded so truthfully from my own experiences. This year, I invited Avril to deliver the keynote address at our annual Partners meeting for the Asia Pacific Operations of our company. Avril’s insights into the changing dynamic of our business environment, and driving of performance as we head into the future are well researched and insightful. Avril has the business savvy that many organisations dream of, and we at Golder were proud to have Avril address our group. Avril’s messages are always challenging and to ignore them, you do so at your peril.
Darren Watts
Principal & Managing Director
Golder Associates Pty Ltd
June 2007
"one of the best speakers I have listened to"
Avril Henry was brilliant I really enjoyed the topic - very well presented, informative, entertaining and one of the most thought-provoking topics I have listened to in a long time. She's a very polished presenter; I took away lots of information that will be useful at work. Avril would have to be one of the best speakers I have listened to in over 24 years.
Communications Manager, IBM New Zealand
"thought-provoking"
I would like to thank you for the significant role that you played in the success of the day. The ‘youngies’ were humming at dinner last night and many of the conversations that I held with people revolved around the thought-provoking information that you provided throughout the day.
Steve Dobbie
Business Manager
Australian Pipeline Industry Association Ltd
"The insights Avril provided on the drivers and motivation of each generation was the greatest insight my management team ever had. What a gift..."
Ann Sherry
CEO
Carnival Australia
"Her knowledge is based on substantial research"
Avril is a consummate professional in her chosen field. Her knowledge is based on substantial research and personal contact with potentially hundreds of people and organisations.
Avril's style is to communicate and educate using humour and audience engagement. In our case the presentations were modified to ensure alignment with the fashion industry and the large number of creative people whom participated.
Avril in her consultancy practice provides the tools and strategic insights that assist people understand each other and work more positively together.
Avril's latest book, Leadership Revelations II How Australians Lead in Crises, topped the Reading list of the AFR BOSS Magazine's BEST BRAINFOOD OF 2012. Click here to order your copy.
