Jon Haines

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Testimonials for Jon Haines

Jon has had a passion for supporting both current and future generations of young people in Australia for as long as I have known him. Across the various leadership roles Jon’s embraced in his career within the AFL system, he has prided himself on developing people of sound character under the belief that communities can only function fully with people of good character in them. He has dedicated his time to improving others, in this regard, and has continually sought to create learning environments and opportunities for young people that promote fundamental character traits, such as vulnerability, integrity, and altruism. Alongside these efforts, Jon is a leader in designing character development programs in high performance sport and he remains a student of best practice, despite his significant experience. As an individual, Jon is a true role model of good character and has impacted colleagues, coaches, and players alike through a philosophy that nurtures their strengths and motivates them to be people of moral principle. Engaging Jon offers a window into the fundamentals of good character and how such character can be developed from one of Australia’s leading experts in the field.

Dr Tristan Coulter - Sport Psychologist

The complexity of the modern world for young people is becoming a challenge that organisations and leaders are increasingly grappling with. The challenge of how to make people feel connected, how to navigate complexity, how to draw the very best out of people, how to make consistently sound decisions, how to behave in the modern world. No matter whether you are in elite sport, in education, in the corporate sector or running a resource company, the key challenges are consistent, they are ever present and how effectively we navigate them, will largely determine how successful we are.

There are very few people with the experience, expertise and personality to help provide a roadmap to guide leaders and organisations through this complexity. Through my long involvement in elite sport, the NRL and the Melbourne Storm, I have come to know Jon Haines and he is one these few people. Jon is strategic, he is a trusted advisor, possesses strong values and is genuine, collaborative and calm. Wonderful characteristics that give people around him and the organisations he works with and for a wonderful sense of confidence and clarity.

Frank Ponissi, General Manager Football – Melbourne Storm

Jon’s absolute strength was to see the best in people and then help them grow. He delivered that through hard work, trust, guidance and role autonomy. A unique mix that many can’t get right. This helped people under his watch to be challenged but also excel in their area. You can’t talk people into being confident, you must build it by ‘doing’ and that’s exactly what Jon delivered for all of us. He asked the right questions when he knew people had the answers. So many people in our club grew into what I would say are the best in the business on the back of Jon’s leadership style.

Through these lived experiences, some in our control and some out of our control, we came through it a better, stronger more connected Football Club. I will go as far to say that if not for

Jon’s leadership, experience and support I would no longer be the coach of the Gold Coast Suns and we as a Football Club would not have the strong connection we currently have to club,

each other and community. For that we will be forever grateful.

Stuart Dew - Senior Coach – Gold Coast Suns

Not only does Jon have a great understanding and appreciation of the behaviours exhibited by leaders of great character, he role models them by the way he thinks,

feel and behaves. And all this in the highly intense and very public cauldron of an AFL football club. Jon’s book and thinking provides a master class on the science and application of the role of

character in the real world. A highly recommended partner for organisations serious about winning on all levels.

Neil Craig, England Rugby High Performance Manager

Famed martial arts hero Bruce Lee once said that “knowledge will give you power, but character gains you respect.” In the time I have known Jon Haines I can attest to the enormous amount of respect I, and all others who have had the privilege to have worked with Jon, have for him as an individual, an executive, a family member and a friend. Most people know character centred or principal based leadership is important but sadly, this translates into too few leaders actually turning this into reality. Jon is one I can say with conviction is a living and breathing example. A visionary who brings people on the journey with him, a great communicator and listener and a solid and ethical value set that he not only espouses but lives everyday. It is often said that leaders lead by example, and that is true, however the example is often the WRONG example. Jon Haines leads by example, and I can wholeheartedly say it is the RIGHT example. And it is full of the best kind of character.

Paul Scurrah, Managing Director – Pacific National Rail Former CEO Virgin Australia