Dr Villiers' Bio

Dr Ann Villiers is a leading expert in public sector staff selection and retention. Specialising in the sense-making process, her approach stems from her combined business and public sector management experience, spanning more than 20 years, on both sides of the selection process.

Selecting staff, preparing a job application and performing well at interview are all exercises in sense-making and managing meaning. Selection panels must make sense of the job vacancy, the selection process and what applicants are offering. Applicants must make sense of the job vacancy, the organisation, the process and what they have to offer, both in writing and orally, plus the result of the process.

To perform well, both as an applicant and as a selection panel member, you need to think flexibly, build language practices for confident speaking and make quality connections throughout the selection process.

Author of How to Write and Talk to Selection Criteria, (4th edn.) and 101 Ways to Erode Trust in Public Sector Recruiting Ann has presented at conferences and professional association meetings. She regularly delivers professional development programs for public sector departments and coaches individuals so they unlock their potential and grab the keys to greater job success.

Australia’s only Mental Nutritionist®, Dr Villiers is a learning guide and coach, professional speaker and author, specialising in mind and language practices that help people build flexible thinking, confident speaking and quality connections with people. You can learn more Mental Nutrition® at www.mentalnutrition.com.

Dr Ann Villiers pioneered the concept of Mental Nutrition® to capture the essentials of how we manage meaning and make sense of our encounters with people. Being mindful of our thinking and building skills in managing meaning are high-order capabilities vital for both applicants and selection panel members.

Qualifications:

PhD, BA (Hons), Dip Ed.

Certified trainer, Accredited Professional Member NSAA, Professional Member CDAA, NLP Practitioner, a graduate of Professor Martin Seligman’s Positive Psychology program in Authentic Happiness.

Professional memberships:

• National Speakers Association of Australia
• International Federation of Professional Speakers
• Australian Human Resources Institute CAHRI
• Australian Institute of Management AFAIM
• Career Development Association of Australia 

Conference and meeting presentations:

• 2010, Five selection criteria resonse strategies to help clients make a difference, National Career Conference, CDAA, April, Adelaide
• 2010, Managing transitions in a professional speaking career, National Convention, National Speakers Association of Australia, April, Gold Coast
• 2009, Forum Moderator, AIM Your Career forums, Australian Institute of Management
• 2009, Preparing a job application, Career Development Week, ACT Library
• 2009, Forum Moderator, Career development coaching, ACT Division CDAA
• 2008, Forum Moderator, AIM Your Career forums, Australian Institute of Management
• 2005, Australian Health Promotion Association, 15th National Conference, Building better thinking skills to foster wellbeing
• 2004, National Speakers Association of Australia, 14th National Convention, Boosting your Business Courage
• 2003, Nursing Leadership – cutting to the core Conference, Nursing Leaders as Sense-Makers

Current and recent leadership roles:

• President, Career Development Association of Australia, ACT Division, 2010
• Executive Committee, Career Development Association Australia of Australia, ACT Division, 2008-2009
• HR Committee, YWCA of Canberra, 2009, 2010 
• President, ACT Chamber of Women in Business, 2004-06
• Board member and Finance Committee member, YWCA of Canberra, 2002-04

Publications:

Books

• How to Write and Talk to Selection Criteria (4th edn.)
• Gorgeous Daring Dames, How to grow in confidence, clarity & commitment

Ebooks

• Winning Performance at Job Interviews
• Winning Speeches for Award Winners 101
• Ways to erode trust in public sector recruiting
• Tips from career practitioners, in collaboration with the Career Development Association of Australia

CDs

101 Interview Questions

How to write to selection criteria, Getting your foot in the door to a government job

Articles

Selection criteria that send recruits running, Public Sector Informant, July 2010, The Canberra Times

How to use capability frameworks, Australian Career Practitioner, Vol 20, Issue 4, Summer 2009, p. 6

How to structure responses to selection criteria, Australian Career Practitioner, Vol 20, Issue 3, Spring 2009, p. 6

What is an expression of interest? Australian Career Practitioner, Vol. 20, Issue 1, Autumn 2009, p. 10

Haven't found what you're looking for? The Public Sector Informant,  (The Canberra Times) June 2008

Snooping around Flynn's legacy, National Library of Australia News, May 2008

Flynn's photos, Australian Geographic, Apr-June 2008, p. 16-17

How to erode trust in selection on merit, The Public Sector Informant, October 2006, p. 25, The Canberra Times

How to be a savvy board member, Working Women, Autumn 2005, p. 19

Nursing leaders as sense-makers, Nursing Review, January 2004, p. 5

How sense-making impacts your business, Work from Home, December 2003, Pp 18-19

Communicating myths cost us dearly, Management Today, November/December 2000, pp.6-7