Impact Advisory Studio — Carly Bush

Building leadership, governance and organisational capability in purpose‑driven organisations.

We believe that when we build capable leaders, we build capable organisations. Strong governance, confident leadership and clear strategy don't just strengthen organisations — they strengthen the communities they exist to serve.

Start a Conversation Explore the Capability Series
"Quite simply, we exist to help those who help others."
Carly Bush, Founder of Impact Advisory Studio

Carly Bush · Founder, Impact Advisory Studio

About

My name is Carly, and I believe in all things purpose.

For more than 20 years I've worked across finance, leadership, philanthropy, governance, boards and community impact.

Throughout my career I've had the privilege of working alongside organisations and leaders who are deeply committed to making a difference — leaders who show up every day with passion, determination and an unwavering commitment to creating impact.

What I've also seen is that while organisations invest heavily in delivering their services, they don't always invest enough in building the capability of the people leading them. That's why I created Impact Advisory Studio — to offer a practical, honest guide built from lived experience, for leaders who are navigating the highs, the lows and everything in between.

20+
Years in Leadership
6
Sectors of Experience
01
Capability Series, Underway

Services

Practical support for the people carrying the weight of leadership.

Every engagement is grounded in lived experience — honest, capability-first advice for CEOs, boards and teams in the purpose sector. Having led a not-for-profit myself, I'm conscious of NFP budgets and aim to keep my pricing reasonable and fair.

CEO Advisory & Coaching

One-to-one support for CEOs navigating uncertainty, difficult decisions and the loneliness that can come with leading from the top.

Board & Governance Support

Strengthening the relationship between boards and executives, so governance becomes a source of confidence rather than friction.

Leadership Capability Workshops

Practical, values-led sessions built on the Capability Framework — designed to build confidence, capability and resilience in leadership teams.

Speaking & Facilitation

Honest, experience-led conversations for conferences, retreats and staff days on leadership, resilience and purpose-driven culture.

Strategy & Planning Support

Facilitated strategic planning and Theory of Change development — turning big-picture direction into a plan your team can actually use day to day.

Workshops & Team Days

Bespoke, interactive sessions for boards and staff teams, built around the real challenges your organisation is facing right now — not a generic off-the-shelf deck.

The Capability Library

Practical tools for capable leadership.

A growing library of factsheets and guides for CEOs, boards and leadership teams — free to explore, with in-depth books for those who want to go further.

Latest Thinking

How Should Your Board Decide When Good People Disagree?

A practical five-step framework for boards navigating ethics, disagreement and consequence — and knowing when to use it before your next difficult decision.

Read the article →

Free Factsheets & Tools

Free

CEO Essentials

Run the Role, Not Just the Day

Get in touch about this set →

Governance

Work Well With Your Board

Get in touch about this set →

Leadership

Strengthen How You Lead

Get in touch about this set →

Strategy & Performance

Turn Strategy Into Action

Get in touch about this set →

People & Culture

Lead Teams With Confidence

  • Executive Onboarding Checklist
  • Succession Planning Template
  • Culture Diagnostic
Get these factsheets →

Crisis & Complexity

Lead Through the Hard Moments

  • Funding Loss Response Checklist
  • Managing Board Conflict
  • CEO Wellbeing Toolkit
Get these factsheets →

New factsheets are added regularly as part of the Capability Library. Get in touch to be notified when new tools are released.

Books & Guides

For Sale
The Capability Series

The Capable CEO

Book One · Lead Yourself First

Book One · $19.90 AUD

The Capable CEO

An honest look at the realities of modern leadership: the highs, the lows, the setbacks and the moments that shape us as leaders. Built from lived experience, this book is designed to help you build confidence, capability and resilience as you lead your organisation with purpose.

  • Six chapters: Values, Time Management, Decision Fatigue, Boundaries, Imposter Syndrome & Resilience
  • Capability Checkpoints to reflect on where you stand today
  • Practical actions you can take this week

Priced with NFP budgets in mind — get in touch if a bulk rate for your board or team would help.

Coming Soon

Book Two: Leading Others

Turning the same honesty outward — into the conversations, trust and influence that shape the people around you.

Coming Soon

Book Three: Leading the Organisation

Exploring how capability and culture are built at every level of a purpose-driven organisation.

Coming Soon

Capability Insights

A monthly newsletter sharing practical leadership and governance insights from Carly's work in the sector.

Contact

Let's start a conversation.

If these pages, or a conversation, could help you make a difficult decision with more confidence, help your board become more effective, or simply remind you that you're not alone — get in touch.

Email

carly@impactadvisorystudio.com.au

Location

Australia · Working with purpose-driven organisations everywhere

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/carlybush