About Sanela Osmic, GAICD
Founder & CEO of Ethical Governance
Sanela Osmic is an internationally recognised expert in governance, leadership development and emotional intelligence, with two decades of experience helping boards, executives and organisations achieve transformational outcomes. As the Founder and CEO of Ethical Governance, Sanela combines strategic insight, behavioural expertise and lived experience to elevate decision-making, strengthen culture and unlock human potential.
Sanela’s career spans multiple sectors including finance, professional services, government, health, disability and education, where she has consistently driven improved governance performance, operational resilience and organisational impact. She has served on boards and committees, advised leadership teams, and supported cultural and behavioural change at every level of enterprise.
A Journey Rooted in Resilience and Purpose
Sanela’s personal journey deeply informs her professional work. Having lived through the Bosnian War, she learned early that resilience, courage and purpose are not abstract concepts – they are lived realities shaped by challenge. As a young woman relocating to Australia without language fluency or cultural familiarity, she rebuilt her life through determination, adaptability and relentless commitment to growth.
She went on to complete a double degree in Economics and International Trade and a Master’s in International Business, graduating with academic distinction. These accomplishments reflect not only intellectual rigour but a lifelong commitment to discipline, excellence and learning.
Sanela’s lived experience gives her a rare capacity to connect across cultures, empower diverse leaders and challenge conventional thinking about governance, leadership and organisational performance. She is passionate about diversity, inclusion, equity and social justice – and she works with organisations whose purpose extends beyond profit to meaningful impact.
A Leader in Governance, Emotional Intelligence and Human Behaviour
Sanela is widely acknowledged as a thought leader in both technical governance and human behaviour – recognising that the most effective boards and leadership teams integrate ethical judgement with emotional maturity.
She is the author of Leading with Emotional Intelligence: A Guide for Board Directors – a practical resource that bridges the gap between cognitive expertise and emotional insight to enhance decision-making, collaboration and governance effectiveness.
Her approach goes beyond compliance and process. Sanela helps organisations embed ethical frameworks with behavioural sensitivity, enabling leaders to navigate complexity with clarity, confidence and character.
Sanela’s story is more than a biography – it is a testament to what becomes possible when resilience meets purpose, and when hardship fuels a lifelong commitment to growth, wisdom, and service.
Professional Credentials and Expertise
Sanela’s commitment to continuous development reflects her belief in lifelong learning. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a certified John Maxwell Team Coach, Speaker and Trainer, having partnered with one of the world’s foremost leadership thinkers. She is also a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, equipping her to support leaders and organisations in developing key competencies including self-awareness, empathy, influence and resilience.
Trusted Advisor and Transformative Coach
Sanela is a sought-after consultant, trainer and coach – known for her ability to distil complex governance and leadership challenges into clear, actionable strategies. Her work supports:
- Board performance reviews and governance enhancement
- Executive and leadership coaching
- Behavioural and cultural transformation
- Inclusive and emotionally intelligent leadership development
- Strategic consulting and organisational capability building
Her clients benefit from not only her technical expertise but her genuine commitment to integrity, impact and human growth.
Leadership Philosophy
At the heart of Sanela’s work is a simple yet powerful idea: governance and leadership are human endeavours. Strong governance requires not only knowledge and experience but emotional insight, cultural sensitivity and purpose-driven courage.
She believes that organisations excel when their leaders are both ethically grounded and emotionally intelligent – capable of fostering trust, navigating complexity and inspiring collective performance.
Connect With Sanela
Today, Sanela continues to shape the field of ethical governance and leaders’ capacity to lead with clarity, compassion and courage. Whether through coaching, speaking, writing or advisory work, her influence extends across industries and sectors.
Connect with Sanela Osmic to explore how her insights and leadership experience can elevate your governance practice and organisational performance.