Leslie Breackell, Senior Managing Consultant, IBM,  Strategy and Transformation Service, Sydney Australia.

Leslie was born and grew up in Montreal, Canada, to a mother of Italian extraction, and a father of English extraction.

That was the start of a very multi-cultural life experience.

As a teenager, she moved with her parents to Johannesburg, South Africa when her father was transferred there for work.  She completed her high school education and attended the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating with a BA degree in Applied Psychology. She went on to complete (part time) an Honours degree in Counselling Psychology and a Masters degree in Management while she worked in a number or Human Resources roles (Job Analyst, Personnel Officer, Remuneration Manager, Management Consultant).

In 1995, she had the opportunity to move country once again.  She was transferred with the consulting organisation she worked for - this time to Sydney, Australia.     

After a variety of corporate and consulting roles and starting her own business in Executive Coaching, Leslie joined IBM where she is now a Senior Managing Consultant in the Strategy & Transformation service line, specialising in Leadership and Workforce & Talent Solutions. Her primary focus is in developing business solutions that link Human Resource/people outcomes to business strategy and business success. With over 20 years of experience in the human resources field, she has sold, worked on and implemented many organisational effectiveness projects, particularly in the context of end-to-end talent management - attraction, selection, development, leadership, performance, succession, strategy, culture and values. She also has a strong background in organisation & work design, job evaluation and reward. Throughout her career, Leslie has worked with a wide range of clients locally & internationally covering public and private sector organisations across Asia Pacific (including Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia & Singapore) and Southern Africa (including Zambia, Botswana, Namibia & South Africa).

When not at work, Leslie volunteers her time to the rescue & rehabilitation of Australian native wildlife through her work with Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services.  There’s nothing more creative than working out how to get a belligerent possum to take its medicine!!