Award winning Leader, Military Veteran,
International Speaker and Facilitator
Leadership & High-Performance Teams
Organisational Culture & Staff Engagement
Future of Work
How can Ellen’s experiences help your organisation to thrive?
Dr Ellen Joan Ford has a track record of achieving the seemingly impossible and being a force to be reckoned with. She draws on her extraordinary and varied life experiences, combined with her warm and authentic approach, to bring the best out in your people and for your organisation.
Serving the New Zealand Army
I joined the NZ Army as an Officer to help people. I was so fortunate to study, learn new skills, challenge myself, make amazing friends, practice leadership and have adventures overseas. I loved my ten-year career in the army – making a difference and leading soldiers on operations in NZ and overseas: Afghanistan, Antarctica, UK, Australia, and much of the Pacific.
“I have a strong sense of social justice and fairness, coupled with commercial acumen and a realistic understanding of what drives organisations.”
Into the corporate sector
After the Army, the next eight years were spent working with organisations in the corporate sector. Firstly, as the Manager for Head Office and Special Projects at PTS Logistics, where we won the supreme award for the Manawatu Business of the Year event.
Secondly, as the Regional Manager for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), working with a portfolio of exporters, helping them to grow their international business. I spent time in the UK, US, Canada, China and Vietnam. These experiences gave me an incredible opportunity to build relationships, and to learn about businesses across a wide range of industries.
"I saw firsthand the impact of leadership and organisational culture (good and bad) on commercial outcomes."
An academic, researcher and scholar
While working at PTS and NZTE, I completed my executive MBA and PhD; both focused on leadership. The case study for my PhD was the experiences and social well-being of women leaders in the NZ Army and I found there were recurring themes of negative gender-related experiences. Working directly with the Chief of the NZ Army, I outlined the problem, and provided recommendations for removing the barriers facing women, and in a way that benefits all personnel and organisational outcomes.
“Ellen was deliberate, clear and convincing and has significantly influenced how Army is now approaching a range of diversity and inclusion challenges. Ellen’s contribution to change has been invaluable.”
#WorkSchoolHours
My post-doctoral research focused on the experiences of working parents. Spoiler alert - it’s damn tough! Feeling frustrated that the ‘status-quo’ system wasn’t supportive, and as a Mum myself, I started the #WorkSchoolHours movement as a commercially smart way to address this.
Buy the #WorkSchoolHours book
Buy the Online course
"We live in a world where we assume that workers and parents are two different people, but they're not, they're the same -#WorkSchoolHours is a better way for ALL"
Afghanistan Evacuation Volunteer Task
In August 2021, the Taliban took over in Afghanistan, and I was hugely worried about the local Afghans who had worked in our team when I served there in 2010 / 2011. One of these people reached out asking for help and this snow-balled into an overwhelming year-long volunteer task as part of an incredible team with Chris Parsons and Martin Dransfield - we supported the evacuation of 563 people from Afghanistan to New Zealand. I was honoured to be awarded the KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year – Local Hero, in recognition of our team.
"I said, 'I have no idea how to do this, but sure, I will do everything I can to help', and together, we did it."
Leadership and beyond
My leadership model is BELONGING, AUTONOMY and PURPOSE and I am terrifyingly ambitious about making the working world better.
I draw on my research and practical experiences and now run my own business as a speaker, facilitator, researcher, author and consultant, focused on leadership & high-performance teams, organisational culture & staff engagement and the future of work.
I've had the privilage of working with a wide range of sectors: engineering, legal, health, professional services, construction, agriculture, tourism & hospitality, education, retail and more.
Being a co-author for a nationwide leadership project for New Zealand's largest exporting sector, Food and Fibre, has been a particular highlight.
"When people feel they have BELONGING, AUTONOMY and PURPOSE, they truly thrive, and do their best work"
Beyond work
And during this journey, I have lived and loved!
I’ve been lucky enough to travel in over 50 countries across all seven continents and have run marathons in Antarctica, Auckland and Afghanistan.
My biggest joy is my two beautiful boys, Toby and Monty, born in 2017 and 2020. They are my biggest driver behind #WorkSchoolHours. I am a fun, energetic, excitable and loving individual.
“My goal is to help your organisation thrive. I do this by drawing on my varied experiences, and connecting with your people. I’m real and I’m flawsome.”
