Meet Maureen
Global Authority on Upward Bullying
Workplace Culture and Leadership Expert
Author | Speaker | Educator
Maureen Kyne is a Workplace Culture and Leadership Expert, author, and speaker known for tackling one of the most overlooked challenges facing leaders today: upward bullying.
With more than 30 years’ experience across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, construction, transport, and HR, Maureen brings a rare combination of frontline experience and leadership insight to every engagement. She works directly with executives and boards to rebuild authority, restore trust, and create calm, high-performing cultures where leaders and teams thrive.
Her work focuses on addressing upward bullying; the under-recognised but growing behaviour where staff undermine or intimidate those in positions of authority. Through her coaching, programs, and advisory work, Maureen helps leaders navigate conflict, strengthen confidence, and lead with composure in complex environments.
Her expertise was profiled in The CEO Magazine in 2021, where she was recognised for shining a light on the hidden cost of upward bullying to leaders and organisations. Over the past two decades, she has advised some of the world’s most respected organisations, including NHS England, Melbourne University, the United Nations, and Uniting Victoria & Tasmania. Known for her straight-talking approach, she goes beyond policy and compliance to help organisations foster accountability and respect that lasts.
A trusted voice in leadership and culture, Maureen regularly features across media including 9News, The Age, HRD, and 3AW, offering clear, actionable commentary on leadership behaviour, psychological safety, and organisational resilience. Her forthcoming book, Tranquil Leadership: Three Steps to End Upward Bullying, outlines her framework for calm, confident, and sustainable leadership in modern workplaces.
Maureen’s Mission
To transform how organisations recognise, understand, and respond to workplace bullying by exposing upward bullying as a critical leadership and governance risk, and equipping leaders and organisations with the clarity, capability, and courage to address it early and effectively.
What we stand for
Courage (Truth Over Comfort)
We name what others avoid.
- Calling out Upward Bullying even when it is misunderstood
- Challenging dominant assumptions about power, leadership, and harm
- Choosing to educate rather than appease
Integrity (Clarity, Not Collusion)
We do not dilute, soften, or oversimplify for acceptance.
- No performative compliance
- No checkbox solutions
- No aligning with systems that protect harm rather than people
Compassion With Boundaries
Wecare deeply, but we are here to empower, not rescue.
- Safe spaces for individuals
- Deep engagement, not volume coaching
- Support that builds strength and resilience
Leadership Accountability
Leadership matters; and so does how it is supported.
- We believe leaders must be developed, not sacrificed
- We hold organisations accountable for the conditions they create
- We reject narratives that blame leaders while ignoring systemic failure
Education as Prevention
Awareness is not enough. Education changes outcomes.
- Research-led insights
- Clear frameworks
- Practical tools that enable early intervention