Southern Cross Coaching & Development | Professional Service

Southern Cross Coaching & Development™ is a leadership development and coaching organization driven by the mission to "Make the World a Better Place through Better, Neuroscience-based Leadership." Founded in 2006 by Simon Smith, the company has grown from a one-person operation into a team of more than 35 coaches, trainers, and staff, all dedicated to delivering practical, science-backed leadership solutions.

Simon Smith brings over 35 years of expertise in brain-based leadership, coaching, and consulting. His career began in the British Royal Air Force, where he served as an officer and was deployed on operations ranging from anti-heroin smuggling in Central America to multiple tours in the Falkland Islands. These experiences gave him firsthand exposure to both exceptional and deeply flawed leadership styles, which later shaped his coaching philosophy. After his military service, Simon’s diverse career spanned recruitment, HR consulting, and even running an underwater videography business in Borneo before eventually settling in Australia.

Initially focused on leadership coaching within the financial services sector, Southern Cross Coaching & Development™ expanded its reach in response to the global financial crisis. Today, the company works extensively across all levels of government in Australia—Federal, State, and Local—as well as with corporations across the Asia Pacific Japan region and nonprofit organizations at both national and state levels.

The firm’s approach is grounded in neuroscience and designed to produce tangible results. Its core services include Executive Coaching, Leadership Training, Strategic Facilitation, Team Building, and Culture & People Development. These offerings are anchored in a practical understanding of how the brain operates in real-life work environments.

At the heart of their methodology is the proprietary T.O.A.D.™ Coaching Leadership Model, a highly effective framework known for producing immediate and lasting transformations in leadership behavior. Another unique asset is the Coach/Coachee Matching Matrix™, an innovative psychometric profiling tool that has achieved a 100% success rate in matching coaches with coachees since its inception in 2007, consistently receiving exceptional feedback from clients.

Under Simon’s leadership, Southern Cross Coaching & Development™ continues to bridge the gap between science and leadership practice, empowering individuals and organizations to lead with clarity, purpose, and measurable impact.