Paul Ainsworth, the founding director of the Lincoln Institute, is a highly sought after executive coach, facilitator and key note presenter with a focus on stimulating organisational team and individual leadership potential. Paul is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales, the Royal Military College Duntroon and was awarded the prestigious Sasakawa Leadership Scholarship by the Australian Graduate School of Management’s Executive MBA program.
As an infantry officer Paul has seen international service in 5 foreign countries, has safely lead teams out of crossfire, negotiated the release of hostages, re- opened international borders that had been closed due to hostile acts and provided humanitarian relief to communities suffering oppression.
On resigning his commission, he was appointed Director of Property at ALDI Foods where he oversaw the roll-out of a large number of supermarkets. His appointment as their first Director in Australia ensured his place in establishing the culture of one of the world’s largest food retailers.
Paul has served as the CEO and Board Chairman of Australia’s fastest growing company (BRW Fast 100) in 2013 after an approach by the board to ‘lead a substantial change’. Paul’s capacity to lead this change in a highly competitive and complex market (electricity sector) is testimony to his ability to ‘walk the leadership talk’.