Ms Penny Aquino

Experience, background and philosophy

I have been people manager in a range of different fields most of my working career, and so the recent switch to a sole focus on strategy development has been a surprising but welcomed transition. This change has provided the opportunity to work as an internal consultant, working with the Executive Strategist applying action research techniques and exploring the dynamics to the task of strategy development. At the time of studying at NIODA I was able to immediately draw on much of the learnings to manage complex dynamics within the organisation during a highly anxious time of an organisational merger and the COVID pandemic. The application continues where I can not only draw on system psychodynamic theories but also the consulting skills learned in the final year of study.

My management philosophy is to create containment which provides space for both thought and emotion – to transition groups from anxiety to safe enough environment to allow creativity and accountability to flourish. My approach to work is