When leaders are looking for the extraordinary they come to Sarah Cornally. With more than 20 years as a leadership and management consultant, Sarah Cornally is founder and managing director of Cornally Enterprises, a consultancy that specialises in improving the performance culture of organizations through professional development coaching, facilitation and keynote speaking services. Sarah Cornally gets to the core of the matter. She is recognized for her ability to influence and facilitate behavioural changes in people to advance business performance. She is a leading expert in organisational dynamics, examining the culture and strategy of senior executives and leadership at boardroom level.
Prior to launching Cornally Enterprises, Sarah provided innovative consultancy services on occupational health and safety, occupational rehabilitation and served as an expert witness in several influential cases. Her most evident success was the development of a specialised treatment program at Royal South Sydney Hospital (1978-83) with a 70% success rate in returning severely injured workers to work.. Sarah’s success led to roles in the corporate sector demonstrating her expertise in leadership and cultural change issues that affect the health and performance of workers.
Before graduating from the University of NSW with her master’s degree in Safety Science in 1989, Sarah earned her bachelor of Applied Science in 1980 at the Cumberland College of Health Sciences. Her postgraduate education focused on areas including organisational behaviour, industrial relations, engineering and law. She is also a graduate of the AICD’s Advanced Diploma “Mastering the Boardroom.” Sarah has also earned her Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) Psychological Instrument Certification, The Leadership Circle (TLC) Profile Certification, TLC Workshop Certification Facilitator accreditation, Hogan Assessment Systems certification, Australian Values Inventory (AVI) and Workplace Relationship Development Indicator (WRDI) accreditation. Since 2003, Sarah has retained membership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), where she has served on the Director’s Coaches panel and is a facilitator of its Advanced Diploma titled “Mastering the Boardroom.” She is now a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). Sarah has also consulted to the NSW Department of State and Regional Development (1999), the Sydney Business Enterprise Centre (1994 –97), provided keynote speeches for Young Achievement Australia (1996 - 1998) and guest lectured at the University of Sydney. Sarah sat on the NSW Government Advisory Committee on Occupational Repetition Strain Injuries. Demonstrating visionary thought leadership in her field, Sarah chaired the inaugural Insurance Liaison Committee of the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists.
A prolific writer, Sarah contributes regular articles on leadership issues for various industry groups. She co-authored Lessons in Leadership by 21st Century Business Publications in 2002 and is a former National President of the National Speakers Association of Australia and a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). Sarah was the inaugural Chairperson of depressioNet, a not for profit organisation for people living with depression. She has been an associate fellow of the Australian Institute of Management since 1989 and is a member of the NSW Writers Centre.
The mother of three grown boys, Sarah lives in Sydney overlooking Garigal National Park with her husband Tony.