About Tracey Nicolson

I’m an Executive and Organisational Coach and Facilitator who works with a wide range of people, teams and organisations across the public sector, local government, not-for-profit, community and corporate environments.

Across more than 40 years in leadership roles in the Western Australian public sector, I’ve seen first-hand how complex, demanding and emotionally draining work can be – and how powerful it is when leaders are supported to do that work in a way that’s both compassionate and sustainable.

Today, I bring that experience into my coaching and facilitation, helping leaders and teams navigate change, strengthen culture and lead in a way that aligns with their values.

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Experience and Background

Before establishing my coaching practice, I spent more than four decades in leadership roles in the WA public sector, including child protection, community services and emergency management.

Over that time, I:

  • led teams through restructures, organisational change and high-stakes service delivery

  • specialised in workplace change management through a trauma-informed lens

  • worked closely with staff exposed to complex and distressing content, focusing on safety, wellbeing and sustainable practice

  • supported leaders dealing with office politics, difficult team dynamics and performance concerns

  • designed and implemented leadership and wellbeing initiatives that have been recognised at a state level.

Those years taught me that most people come to work wanting to do well – and that the right support, structure and culture can make an enormous difference to whether they’re able to do that.

A senior woman with gray hair, dressed in a beige blazer and white pants, holding a closed laptop, standing in front of a wooden conference room wall.

Recognised contribution

My leadership and contribution to the sector have been recognised through various awards and acknowledgements over the years, including finalist and lifetime achievement acknowledgements, and a people’s choice award for work in workplace culture and wellness.

What matters most to me, though, are the everyday impacts: the leader who feels less alone, the team that finds a healthier way forward, and the quiet shifts that make work feel more meaningful and humane.

Qualifications and credentials

  • Bachelor of Social Work

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Child Protection

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Public Sector Management

  • Executive and Organisational Coaching Certificate – Coaching Pacific

  • Member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF)

  • Justice of the Peace

I also engage in regular professional coaching supervision and ongoing professional development to keep my practice reflective, ethical and current.

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How I work

I offer a calm, confidential space where you can talk honestly about what’s really going on – the pressures, the people, the patterns and the things that often stay below the surface.

My approach is:

  • Relational and down-to-earth – You can expect genuine curiosity, careful listening and honest feedback, not jargon or buzzwords.

  • Trauma-informed and compassionate – I pay attention to the impact that long-term stress, trauma and system pressures can have on people and teams, and I work with care rather than judgement.

  • Solution-focused and practical – Insight is important, but it only matters if it translates into small, realistic steps you can take in your day-to-day work.

I’ll walk alongside you, asking thoughtful questions and gently challenging unhelpful patterns, while always respecting your context and your pace.

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