Polly Parker is a Professor Emerita at the University of Queensland, Brisbane. She is an experienced leadership developer, combining skills grounded in her international gymnastics experience (NZ and UK) and counselling expertise, with her PhD in career management (The University of Auckland). In university settings she has long been a strong advocate for students, professional and academic staff focussing on designing and implementing cutting edge learning practices to enhance their experience.
Her international profile in the careers field is marked by her work as the originator and co-developer of the Intelligent Career Card Sort™ translated into seven languages and used internationally for research and practice in career development. Polly has published more than 40 academic and practice articles including the Axiom Business Book award winner ‘Peer Coaching at Work’.
Polly’s particular interest is in women’s leadership development and has designed and delivered a range of workshops in local and international contexts to build capability in career progression focusing on leadership and coaching. Examples include UQ’s Career progression for academic women (since 2010), Executive programs with CEOs, managers and high potential leaders in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, South America, Bhutan and USA.