With an aim to help you partner simply, quickly & effectively, the Partnering Essentials™ suite of training courses were developed in 2009 by internationally recognised thought leader Ian Dixon. In 2024, Kylie Cutten took the baton, continuing Ian’s legacy to help build stronger partnerships.
The courses have been delivered to over 2000 participants across all sectors and industry areas including;
economic and regional development
primary health
community services
international development
education
indigenous affairs
resource development
environment
The courses have been continually reviewed and updated with new tools, information and techniques.
Ian Dixon
Founder & Partnering Expert
As an internationally recognised thought leader in the cross-sector partnering space, Ian’s work lives at the crux of transformational change. Obsessed with tackling high-impact partnering initiatives, he’s built an inimitable reputation throughout the Asia-Pacific region as the strategic advisor, executive mentor and independent mediator of choice for many corporate, government and NFP organisations.
Since 1999, Ian’s programs have built the partnering capability of countless individuals, organisations and sectors, empowering a new breed of collaborative leader, fit for the future of work.
Ian’s uncanny ability to ‘bridge the divide’ between business, government, education and community has earned him strong ties with international organisations such as The Partnering Initiative and the Partnership Brokers Association, both based in the UK. But it’s his work at home, particularly with indigenous communities throughout Australia that defines his legacy.
As Ian steps back, Kylie Cutten steps forward, ready to carry on and expand the work that has defined Dixon Partnering Solutions & Partnering Essentials for the last 25 years.
Kylie Cutten
Partnering Facilitator, Coach & Lead Trainer
Taking over from Ian in 2024, Kylie, who has been mentored by Ian, is now our Partnering Facilitator, Coach & Lead Instructor. She continues to guide the delivery of our Partnering Essentials™ training courses, and to mentor and facilitate partnerships for effective collaboration.
Dynamic, authentic, and inspiring, Kylie is recognised by clients and colleagues alike for her exceptional ability to lead leadership development, strategy formation, and partnering initiatives. With over 25 years of experience, she has successfully developed and led a wide range of projects across various sectors, including global companies, remote Indigenous communities, and government agencies.
Kylie possesses qualities of a natural facilitator, universal humour, exceptional communication skills, and thorough research and consultation skills. She is committed to delivering seamless, thought provoking, trouble-free, enjoyable experiences, that result in life changing experiences.
Before entering consultancy, Kylie held senior leadership positions in both the government and private sectors, where she effected positive long-term change and facilitated two award-winning partnership programs. Her extensive experience includes nine years working in the Pilbara of Western Australia, where she collaborated closely with the Nyamal, Yindjibarndi, and Ngarluma communities, government, and industry to build authentic partnerships that led to significant improvements in education, employment, and business.
Kylie is an accredited practitioner in Leadership Circle Profile, Leadership Culture Survey, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and i4 Neuroleadership.
Our Affiliates
We work with a number of organisations to deliver our brokering, capability building and training programs across business, government, community, education.
Linking Futures
Linking Futures strongly believes partnering is the way to go between people and their respective organisations. Our partnership tools are used to advance the current and future needs including objectives of our relationship. Our partnership agreements are created by our people and articulate the purpose, objectives, the relationships, and the boundaries. This means we know where we are going, how we are going to get there, when we arrive and how to achieve our objectives within agreed time frames and boundaries.
Partnerships assist Linking Futures to enact its logo, ‘walking between two worlds’, the world of buyers and sellers or between organisations and or between people. We have experienced partnerships between Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal owned businesses, and mainstream businesses. Partnerships are safe and transparent, and we are accountable to each other for its success.