Ian Brooks Ph.D, BA, MBA(Hons), M.Ed (Dist) Cert.Counselling

Ian is a Christchurch-based leadership development “pracademic” and executive coach. He has enjoyed a lifelong interest in learning and personal growth - an interest he conveys in all his work. His area of special focus is in helping leaders to understand themselves at a deeper level and to develop their ability to be more influential leaders.

Ian is director of the Arete Group, the company he established in 1997. He has been an Adjunct Senior Fellow in the College of Business at the University of Canterbury for twelve years, during which time he taught two MBA courses: Interpersonal Dynamics for Leaders, and Leading Others. Ian is a recipient of the University of Canterbury Teaching Award, and has also been voted Best Lecturer by the UC Students’ Association.

Ian holds a Certificate in Experience-based Learning and Training from the NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science in the United States and is now an adjunct member of that organisation. NTL is recognised internationally as being the home of HI Labs and is where Ian learned to facilitate them: he has now successfully run over a hundred such groups.

He has a Master’s degree in Counselling and is a member of the Association for Specialists in Group Work; the Australian Association of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy; and the International Enneagram Association.

With a background in both leadership and academia, Ian brings a unique perspective and wisdom to his work. He has been teaching on the MBA Programme for over 20 years, and his leadership experience includes eight years in senior leadership roles at CEO level, twelve years as a Reserve Officer in the NZ Army, and eighteen years as a leadership coach.