Certificate in Executive Management & Development for Union Leaders

The Australian Trade Union Institute has partnered with the Australian Graduate School of Management at University of NSW Business School to design a Certificate in Executive Management and Development for Union Leaders (CEMD), available exclusively to ACTU affiliates.

The CEMD comprises core modules and electives purposefully contextualised for the needs of union leaders, equipping participants with practical skills and capabilities to lead in an accelerating and complex world.

This is a high-quality program driven by the union movement’s purpose and values. The ATUI will oversee and contribute to course content and all presenters of the core modules of the CEMD are members of their relevant union.

Completion of all four core modules and two out of three electives is required to achieve the CEMD.

An information session will be held on 15 January 2026.

CORE MODULES

Completion of all four core modules is required to achieve the CEMD.

As an alternative to enrolling in the full CEMD, leaders can enrol in Core 4 only as a once-off.

Core 1: Australian Industrial Relations System

Facilitator: Nick Wailes

• History and traditions of Australian trade union leadership
• Overview of the economic, industrial and political context in which union leaders now operate
• Current IR system issues and the union movement’s response
• Video interviews with key national players

Professor Nick Wailes is the Director of AGSM and Deputy Dean of UNSW Business School. He has published extensively in the areas of international and comparative industrial relations, with a particular focus on similarities and differences in industrial relations policies and outcomes in Australia and New Zealand. He also undertakes research on the impact of technology on organisations. His research has been published in leading international journals including Industrial Relations, the British Journal of Industrial Relations, the Journal of Industrial Relations and the Journal of Business Ethics.

• Welcome: 9 February 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm
• Workshops: 11, 17, 19 February 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:30pm

Core 2: Media and Communications Strategy

Facilitator: Peter Fisher

• Crafting and articulating your message
• Understanding how the media works and how to make it work for you (former journalists)
• Doorstop exercise (live exercise involving dealing with media pack)
• Sourcing and using publicly available data to support strategy, campaigning and bargaining

Peter Fisher has pursued an acting career, which has spanned nearly 20 years, with extensive experience in theatre, film and television. In 1991, yearning for change, he entered the world of corporate communication consultancies and has been a strong contributor to raising the presence and influence skills of Australia’s corporate community ever since. In 1995, he became aware of the need for a more imaginative and vigorous approach to corporate training and development. Through working with multiple clients, he has adapted the methodologies of an actor’s training, to design programs with a strong focus on behavioural issues related to leadership, personal development and team development within corporations.

• Welcome: 9 March 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm
• Workshops: 16, 20, 24 March 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Core 3: Leading in Complex Environments

Facilitator: Nick Wailes

• Leading during uncertainty and fostering innovation
• Video interviews with commentators and leaders

Professor Nick Wailes is the Director of AGSM and Deputy Dean of UNSW Business School. He has published extensively in the areas of international and comparative industrial relations, with a particular focus on similarities and differences in industrial relations policies and outcomes in Australia and New Zealand. He also undertakes research on the impact of technology on organisations. His research has been published in leading international journals including Industrial Relations, the British Journal of Industrial Relations, the Journal of Industrial Relations and the Journal of Business Ethics.

• Welcome: 29 June 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm
• Workshops: 1, 7, 9 July 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:30pm

Core 4: Adaptive Leadership

Facilitator: Rosamund Christie

This unique, highly immersive and experiential program will challenge you to become a stronger, more agile leader, extend beyond your current expertise, improve organisational performance and drive transformation.

Rosamund Christie is an adjunct faculty member of the AGSM and delivers leadership modules in Executive Programs. Her leadership work focuses on Adaptive Leadership and she includes amongst her clients in this domain the National Australia Bank, CSIRO, and Australian Public Service Commission. She is the developer of the Shakespeare Leadership Program, having combined her experience in leadership with a lifelong interest in Shakespeare to create a program of personal transformation to effective leadership. Rosamund recently completed The Art and Practice of Leadership Development at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and incorporates the learning and methodology in her delivery of leadership programs as a Director of Adaptive Leadership Australia. She leads its flagship program, Social Leadership Intensive.

• In Person: 5 to 6 November 2026 at 9:00am to 5:00pm

Values-based Leadership & Strategic Recap (Delivered by ATUI)

Facilitator: Karene Walton

This final core module brings the program full circle, reconnecting training content with the union movement’s values-based leadership underpinning.
The role of unions in shaping a fairer society

• Leadership grounded in equity, solidarity, and democratic participation
• Translating strategic learning into real-world impact
• Sustaining leadership beyond the program

This module is delivered by ATUI and is designed to reinforce the purpose behind the leadership journey — ensuring graduates are able to apply course outcomes to their values-based leadership journey.

Karene Walton is a seasoned union leader with nearly three decades of experience in the labour movement across Australia and internationally. Born in Scotland and raised in
Australia, she has held senior roles in multiple unions. Her work has focused on building union power, developing strategic campaigns, and delivering education programs for organisers and leaders. Karene is known for her deep respect for frontline workers and her commitment to movement values.

• In Person: 1 December 2026 at 10:30am to 5:00pm

ELECTIVES

Completion of two out of three electives is required to achieve the CEMD.

As an alternative to enrolling in the full CEMD, leaders can enrol in electives as a once-off.

Elective 1: Project Management for Leaders

Facilitator: Jürgen Oschadleus

From incremental tactical changes to major strategic and complex initiatives, project management has become an essential skill set for modern leaders and managers. This course will teach you about project governance and sponsorship and how to engage and align project stakeholders to the project objectives and optimise performance and team productivity.

Jürgen Oschadleus is an international speaker, educator and consultant on project leadership, influence and effective communication. He has taught post-graduate project management classes at UNSW since 2006. Jürgen combines his background in history, education and technology projects with a fascination for sport and psychology, and uses this to challenge people’s thinking and help them create new mental connections, apply knowledge and achieve the outcomes they seek. His qualifications include a Master’s degree in History and an MBA in International Project Management and Organisational Development.

• Welcome: 7 May 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm
• Workshops: 14, 21, 28 May 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Elective 2: Leading High Performance

Facilitator: Ursula Stroh

A positive team culture can drive performance, increase innovation, engagement and productivity, and attract and retain high performers. This course will equip you with a practical toolkit to enhance your people management skills and shape a performance culture within your team to maximise performance.

Ursula Stroh is an adjunct faculty member of the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW and currently teaches in AGSM’s General Manager Program and MBA programs. Her previous roles include Senior Change Communication Manager at UNSW and Communications Director at GE ANZ. Ursula holds a PhD in Change and Communication Management, and has published internationally on leadership, strategy and relationship management, international business, and culture. She is also a certified change practitioner, executive coach, and wellbeing expert. Ursula is a strategic thinker and her most valuable contributions include providing visionary insights and analytical support across a breadth of strategic development projects; being a trusted advisor and coach to board level executives; leading strategy development and culture transformation and building relationships to engage all stakeholders to achieve organisational goals and wellbeing.

• Welcome: 4 August 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm
• Workshops: 11, 18, 25 August 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Elective 3: Implementing Strategy for Results

Facilitator: Jeffrey Tobias

Leaders require the tools to assess, interpret and implement an organisational strategy in the context of their role, so they can contribute positively to the realisation of the organisation’s objectives. This course will assist you to understand why strategy is important, how it relates to different stakeholders and parts of an organisation and how to translate strategy into action.

Jeffrey Tobias is the Founder and Managing Director of The Strategy Group and an Adjunct Professor and Fellow at UNSW AGSM. An accomplished strategist with years of commercial and business experience, Jeffrey works with organisations to improve customer experience and increase revenue growth by transforming the way they do business. He is a thought leader on innovation and collaboration, and his work is being applied in some of the world’s largest corporations and governments around the globe. Jeffrey’s career has spanned the worlds of academia, big and small business, government and research. In each environment his leadership, clarity of thought, creativity and drive have generated cutting edge advances and successes far beyond expectation. His broad and deep experience and extraordinarily wide skill set are almost certainly unique within the region.

• Welcome: 15 September 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm
• Workshops: 22, 29 September and 6 October 2026 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Testimony from 2022 elective participant (National Elected Official):

“This has been the most valuable course I’ve undertaken since I started in my role. We all know the need for a strategic approach but putting this into practice is difficult. This course gave me much greater clarity on what strategy is and how to work with others to deliver on a strategic plan. Jeffrey is a highly experienced and engaging facilitator I am much clearer and more confident in decision making and delivery having completed this course.”

Course Dates

Information Session:

15 January 2026

Core Modules:

Core 1: Australian Industrial Relations System
February 2026 – 9, 11, 17, 19

Core 2: Media & Communications Strategy
March 2026 – 9, 16, 20, 24

Core 3: Leading in Complex Environments
June 2026 – 29
July 2026 – 1, 7, 9

Core 4: Adaptive Leadership
November 2026 – 5, 6

Values-based Leadership & Strategic Recap (Delivered by ATUI)
December 2026 – 1

Electives:

Electives 1: Project Management for Leaders
May 2026 – 7, 14, 21, 28

Elective 2: Leading High Performance
August 2026 – 4, 11, 18, 25

Elective 3: Implementing Strategy for Results
September 2026 – 15, 22, 29
October 2026 – 6

“Leadership and management positions in unions often have the most impact on the success or failure of a union. Management and leadership needs to be seen as a profession in itself and have proper dedicated courses.” — Union Secretary response

Pricing

The total cost of the full program Certificate in Executive Management and Development is $6,600.00 (GST inclusive).

This fee covers all core and elective modules, program materials, and access to online resources. Payment details and invoicing will be provided upon registration.
 

Credit, Pathways and Cancellations

Credit and Pathways

Upon successful completion of the CEMD, participants will be issued with a credential and digital badge to acknowledge completion of their learning.

The CEMD provides two course credits into the AGSM Graduate Certificate in Management and the AGSM MBA.

Cancellations and Refunds

AGSM’s cancellation policy applies as follows:

• 42 days or more prior to commencement: No fee
• 28–41 days prior: 20% of program fee
• 14–27 days prior: 50% of program fee
• 0–13 days prior and once program has commenced: 100% of program fee

Registration Process

Registration is open on 11 November 2025 and closes on 6 December 2025.

Registrations are managed by UNSW.

Your place in the program is confirmed once registration is complete and payment is received for immediate confirmation and access to the Navigator Learning Platform, it is encouraged to pay by credit card.