Coaching in Context: A Conversation on Systems Thinking

ICF Coaching Week – May (Face-to-Face Event)

Coaching does not happen in a vacuum. Every client sits within a broader system—organisational, relational, cultural, and societal—and increasingly, coaches are being called to work with this complexity rather than around it.

As workplaces navigate rapid change, competing priorities, and evolving expectations, the ability to think systemically has become a critical capability for coaches. It invites us to move beyond the individual lens and consider the wider dynamics influencing our clients’ thinking, behaviour, and decision-making.

Join us for a facilitated, in-person conversation exploring coaching and systems thinking—what it means in practice, where its boundaries lie, and how coaches can work ethically and effectively within complex environments.

This session will be hosted as a live conversation between Cecilia Jones and special guest Deborah Blackman, offering both practical insights and reflective dialogue.

Together, they will explore questions such as:

• What does systems thinking look like in a coaching context?
• How do organisational systems shape the challenges clients bring to coaching?
• Where are the boundaries between coaching the individual and influencing the system?
• What responsibilities do coaches hold when working within organisational contexts?

Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in the discussion and bring their own questions and reflections.

Biography - Deborah Blackman

Deborah Blackman is Associate Dean Lifelong Learning at UNSW Canberra, where she leads the development of short courses, microcredentials, and lifelong learning initiatives. An active member of the Public Service Research Group, her work focuses on systems-level change, organisational learning, and public sector performance. Her primary interest is using philosophical and systems explanations to understand why things do not work when theory implies that they should, helping to inform more effective, real-world approaches to change.

Biography - Cecilia Jones

Cecilia Jones is an Organisational Coach and HR expert with 25+ years' experience across healthcare, government, not-for-profit and private sectors. Cecilia brings a unique blend of coaching expertise and senior people-leadership experience. From ICU Nurse Manager to senior Human Resources leader to independent consultant overseeing strategic people projects across complex systems, you can learn more about Cecilia's work at intelligentpeople.com.au

Event details:

This event is FREE to members and $20 for non-members.

1 CCE for this session (0.75 Core Competencies/0.25 Resource Development)

We are excited to welcome you to the event if you can make it!

When you arrive there is no need to register at the front desk, please come to the lounge area and you will find us.