About Us

One of Vanessa’s senior colleagues is Jaki Halliday who is a qualified organisational coach and HR professional with both public and private sector management and leadership experience in Australia and the UK. A former practicing commercial solicitor, law lecturer and company director, Jaki has worked with several Federal government agencies and been involved in executive coaching, business planning facilitation, organisational development, strategic planning, HR policy development and change management.

Jaki also has over 10 years’ experience working in human resources with, and for, the Australian Public Service (APS). Jaki has held senior management roles in leading APS agencies where she has been responsible for a range of HR function including SES and Executive Level leadership development programs, performance and conduct, Strategic HR Policy, capability frameworks and general learning and development.

Jaki is a skilled and versatile trainer and facilitator with a sound understanding of contemporary adult learning styles. She has developed a range of learning and development modules for government clients, including strategic thinking for advanced writing, business writing (introductory, intermediate and advanced levels), an online (e-Learn) writing module, mentoring, effective delegation, managing inclusively, having performance management conversations, team building and knowledge management.

Industry expertise, experience and areas of specialisation

Jaki has worked across a number of Federal government agencies in a range of HR roles at the Executive Level 2 and acting SES Band 1 levels. This has included the Australian Government Solicitor, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

As a management consultant she has been involved in executive coaching, business planning facilitation, organisational development, strategic planning, HR policy development and change management. Clients have included the Treasury, the National Library of Australia, the University of New South Wales at ADFA, National Health and Medical Research, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, CrimTrac, Victoria Police, the Clean Energy Regulator, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the Australian Sports Commission.

In her coaching practice, Jaki works with individuals and teams on career planning, working more effectively and how to navigate through change other workplace challenges and opportunities.

Qualifications, Accreditations and Certifications

Jaki is a former practicing commercial lawyer and holds the following qualifications and accreditations:

• Bachelor of Social Science and Economics

• Common Professional Examination and Law Society Finals (to practice law)

• Graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching (Swinburne)

• Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training

• Accredited in HBDI Thinking Styles

• Accredited in Belbin Team Profiles

• Accredited in DiSC

• Fellow of the Institute of Leaders and Managers (formerly AIM) (FIML)

• Member of the Institute for Learning Professionals (ILP)

• Member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF)

"Jaki is a rider and horse lover. We compliment each other as a team and will be working together when presenting HICCUP (Horse Industry Careers 4U & your Parents) as well as ESM (Equestrian Sports Management).

We work with individuals and groups on career planning, working more effectively and how to navigate through workplace challenges and opportunities."

The founder of EQUINE SPORTS BREEDING (ESB), Vanessa Hawkins has made an indelible mark on the equestrian world over the years. She has been a director of the Australian and Victorian Horse Council, published the A-Z Horse Industry Directory and was the first event director of Equitana Asia Pacific 1999. She qualified as a Registered Nurse before completing a two-year Horse Management course at Glenormiston Ag College, then travelled extensively overseas studying horses and facilities.ESB bloodlines have produced hundreds of beautiful horses including eight 4* eventers and the sire of Olympic silver medallist Irish Jester, ESB Irish Enough.

“I’m proud of what ESB has achieved over the last 30 years and I get great satisfaction from knowing how much joy the horses have brought into people’s lives. Having produced over 300 horses and stood 11 stallions, I’ve had to learn how to manage them by myself, at all ages and stages, and even competed on the stallions before it was considered the norm.

“Over the years, hundreds of people have visited the stud and many people have asked for advice on a whole range of topics. This has led me to launch ESB Education in the hope that I can help others by sharing my theories and experience with solutions, plans and support.

“Other than breeding quality horses, my passion has always been education. I’ve taught unemployed groups and horse people of different ages as well as lectured in formal courses and managed corporate training programs for many years.

“ESB education is an extension to what I have learnt over the years and I want to make it available with a ‘Phone a Friend’ type service to help people in eight main subjects:

1. A&P (Anatomy & Physiology)

2. CMA (Conformation and Movement Assessment)

3. ES (Equi-Schooling™) the three stages of ESB training

4. ESM (Equestrian Sports Management)

5. HICCUP (Horse Industry Career Choices 4U & Parents).

6. IWM (Injuries and Wound Management)

7. PDM (Property Design and Management)

8. RSM (Reproduction and Stud Management

“A knowledge of 1. Anatomy and Physiology is vital for good horse management and training as well as assessing wounds and injuries 2. Conformation and Movement Assessment helps people to understand the meaning of ‘fit for purpose’ and the relevance to soundness’ especially when interpreting pre-purchase veterinary assessments.

“3. Equi-Schooling™ is about my three stages of training the young horse: Primary (birth to weaning), Secondary (from weanling to when you sit on their back) and Tertiary (from when you first sit on a horse’s back to preparing the horse for competition). There are some great coaches out there but it’s different when you breed your own or first start to ride a green youngster.

“4. Equestrian Sports Management offers riders who are aspiring to compete at international level, advise about the business aspects of their endeavour. How to write a business plan or a sponsorship proposal for example.

“5. HICCUP (Horse Industry Career Choices 4U & Parents) advises students, parents and career teachers about the plethora of career opportunities in the horse industry. The program is designed to identify personality profiles, their most suitable career pathways and direction.

“6. Injuries and Wound Management helps horse owners to understand the healing process, as well as the management principles of wounds and injuries. Injuries are expensive, and I’ve learnt how to keep dressings on and manage injuries long term.

“I’ve included 7. Property Design and Management in the program so that I can share my costly mistakes and can help people with property selection, the process of purchasing and setting up, with consideration for designs and layout, material selection, the importance of drainage, solar power and fencing. This subject is becoming more and more relevant with the number of females doing this alone.

“The last subject is probably the most obvious 8. Reproduction and Stud Management. When I started back in 1986 I had no intention of having stallions or breeding so many horses, it just happened, and I’ve had to learn a lot along the way. The journey has been a mix of many great moments with some horrific incidents and painful learning experiences. More individuals are breeding their own horses and I want to be able to help people to understand the jargon and recognise the signs of potential problems.

The ESB education programs are designed to generally help people to breed, train and manage horses. “I know how daunting some issues are and how reassuring it can be just to be able to ask those ‘silly questions’. It is all about Helping people to help their horses.”

Using phone and online platforms, individual and group coaching sessions are available as well as access to manuals, webinars and online material.

Vanessa is also available to lecture at schools and colleges. “Clubs often use this as a good way of raising funds by running a workshop or a seminar, especially during the colder months.”

You can text or call her on 0417 363 710

Written by award winning journalist, Suzy Jarratt

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