who am i?

I am Dr Dara Sampson (BSW, PhD) and I bring over 30 years’ experience as an accredited social work practitioner, senior leader in government, and educator and researcher in the university sector. I have learned, firsthand, the power of authentic and values-based connections.

Based in Hamilton, near Newcastle, I offer counselling, professional supervision, leadership coaching, and strategic planning day facilitation. Every one of us comes with a story. Drawing on research from my PhD we can work together to better understand the ways on which the stories we carry shape who we are and the ways in which we can re-shape those narratives.


The stories we bring to leadership are vital in shaping the type of leader we become. In my experience, five attributes are found in great leaders:

  1. acting with integrity

  2. advanced empathy

  3. clear boundary-setting

  4. perceptiveness

  5. sense of purpose and capacity to engage others in this purpose.

The good news is we can develop these through skills-based work.

I would just like to say thank you again to Dara for your time facilitating our Strategic Planning Day.

I felt that it was a productive day with lots of reflections of the service. An insightful day of learning.

(NGO Board) 

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