Police services throughout the world are constantly facing new challenges resulting from changing demands society places on them. In N.S.W. the recent Royal Commission into the Police Service has begun a process of reform which will establish public confidence in a Police Service led by people of integrity.

AQUILA Australia is assisting the Police Service Executive Development Directorate to prepare leaders for the future, by establishing a "Mentor Program" under which business and professional leaders will mentor senior officers. The Mentoring process is a well-proven method of contributing to the development of leaders, and has an opportunity to help the Police Service by helping officers develop into leaders of integrity and professionalism. Ironically, the emblem of both the NSW Police Service and AQUILA is the “soaring eagle".
The Founder/Principal of AQUILA Australia Pry Limited is Leigh Brown. The organisation is dedicated to helping people improve their effectiveness in business. Says Leigh, 'As I reflect on what happened during the seminars, I am further convinced that change in behaviour cannot be legislated, commanded or organised by committee or "change agents" It comes about by the subtle change in the human heart. The leaders I met have the capability to change "the culture", because many of them made a change of heart... AQUILA partners with businesses to develop staff into confident, empowered, contributing individuals

Leigh Brown knows about bringing change. He has spent the last 10 years in the Information Technology industry, as Director of Operations for Unisys Australia, where he developed the Unisys Eagles training programme aimed at helping people effectively handle change. Prior to this role, Leigh was a Director of the Asia Pacific Division of ICL. And as General Manager Corporate support, helped manage the merger of ICL and Fujitsu business in Australia and New Zealand. He is a frequent speaker and facilitator at business seminars and workshops focusing on Re-engineering as it effects people. This involves Effective Change Management and Quality Improvement.

The Mentor-partner training program for the NSW Police Service involves a process. An initial meeting is held between partners, during which time the objectives of the program are discussed and agreed. The mentor is then furnished with a development report on the partner from the Executive Development Assessment Centre. There is a two hour meeting each quarter over a two year period to discuss progress and development. Mentors invite the partner to attend management meetings, visit customers or attend board meetings. The partners have a great deal to contribute to the mentor's business and therefore the Police Service is open to placing the partner for a period of three months (free of charge) in the mentor's organisation with a view to further developing their skills and capabilities.
0ver the last two months Leigh has also been leading an Executive Development Program for Senior Police Executives. This program focuses on personal leadership and organisational change. The program, "Soaring in a Changing World", covers topics such as: “Organisational and Personal Growth; Values”; and a "Total Life System". Issues addressed are: How do Leaders Lead?; and the Five Essential Qualities of Confident, Empowered People.
Officer and executive feedback from Leigh's Preparing Leaders for the Future seminars have been very encouraging: Comments include: "We desperately need this Program to help us out of our troubled times I now believe I can make a difference in changing the culture.... I learnt to reflect on the ways of the Eagle as they relate to my behaviour in the Service ... The discussion on Values clarified it for me .... The validity and importance of the Eagle as a symbol became real to me .... I appreciate more the difference between command and leadership .... The "Eagle" experience should be brought to new recruits .... I least the importance of real values." All of which reflects a commitment to higher standards and values in the NSW Police Service.

Says Leigh, "We know the importance of people who come across our lives at various stages, and the influence they can have in shaping our character."

Leigh is a member of the National Executive of the National Alliance of Christian Leaders.