Leigh Gassner is a partner in Reos Partners, Melbourne, an international organisation dedicated to supporting and building capacity for innovative collective action in complex social systems. Previously an Assistant Commissioner in Victoria Police, Australia, Leigh became a consultant working with private and public sector organisations advising on organisational performance and cultural change and providing executive coaching. Leigh’s passion and experience is bringing together multiple and diverse stakeholders to address complex social systems through meaningful dialogue and problem solving. This work builds on Leigh’s knowledge and practice around systems thinking, on which he has lectured at post-graduate level. Because of his experience and study blended with the social innovation techniques of Reos Partners, Leigh brings a practical and innovative mix to the reform of complex social systems.
Leigh’s recent work with Reos includes designing a national scenario dialogue for Indigenous Australians, and working to surface innovative solutions to environmental and social sustainability practices within the construction industry. He is also working on Aboriginal health system reform in Australia and has recently worked with local government authorities to address the community problems associated with rapid-urban population growth.
Leigh has also managed significant cultural and organisational change processes in a large public sector organisation in order to re-position and align the organisation to meet community and stakeholder demands and expectations. Leigh’s extensive senior executive experience has included leading and managing two of the largest police regions in Victoria and being responsible for the delivery of a wide range of services to the community.
Leigh also has extensive experience in social policy development and working through the complexity of government and non-government sectors to achieve sustainable social outcomes. In recognising the need for a larger systemic response from government and community to the important social issues of family violence and sexual assault, he chaired the State-wide Steering Committee to Reduce Family Violence and the State-wide Steering Committee to Reduce Sexual Assault. This work has been recognised as both extensive and leading edge reform in the delivery of integrated government and non-government services and has contributed to Leigh’s work in social policy development and achieving sustainable outcomes in multi-stakeholder settings. This work achieved positive and significant State outcomes in both the public and community sectors. This area of work has continued with consulting to government on the development of primary prevention plans for violence against women and other social policy issues including mental health. This work included conducting the workshops involving multi-stakeholder contribution. He is now advising into other jurisdictions on how to drive similar reforms.
Leigh has worked with the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in north-western China delivering workshops on family violence as part of human rights. He has participated in national committees involving trafficking in women and sexual slavery and related issues violence against women and children.
Leigh is also a:
• Member, Commonwealth Government Violence against Women Advisory Group
• Member, Victorian Government Mental Health Reform Council
• Member, Victorian Coroners Systemic Review of Family Violence Deaths Reference Group
• Chair, White Ribbon Day Council
• Board Member, Australian Community Support Organisation
Leigh is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration of Australia (Victoria) and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Leigh has a Doctorate in Business Administration (Charles Sturt University); Master of Public Policy and Administration. (Charles Sturt University) and is a lecturer, Masters of Business Leadership program (International Marketing Institute of Australia (IMIA) Graduate School of Leadership). Leigh is a regular speaker at the Australian New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) Strategy and Collaboration Workshops.