Through the Eyes of a Child Spy

Written by Sue-Ellen Kusher, Senior Trainer/Consultant

As the old saying goes, "everyone has a past."

For Peak Training’s newest trainer, that past happens to involve a secret life as a child spy. Yes, you read that correctly. But don't worry, her current focus is on corporate training, and she has plenty of valuable knowledge to impart.

Sue-Ellen Kusher was raised by parents who worked for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), which means that she was trained in the art of espionage from a young age. Thanks to a childhood spent tracking soviet agents, she learned how to gather intelligence, conduct covert operations, and blend in seamlessly with her surroundings.

Speaking to Women’s Day in 2021, she explained:

“We looked like a normal family […] It was an exceptional cover”.

It was an unusual upbringing, to say the least, but it bestowed upon her a unique set of skills that translate seamlessly into the corporate world. Sue-Ellen found that she could read people easily, pick up on subtle cues, and anticipate the needs of others. She also developed a knack for diffusing tense situations and negotiating effectively.

Now, as a trainer for Peak Services, she is using her unique background to help organisations build positive and productive workplaces. Sue-Ellen specialises in a variety of topics, from conflict resolution and performance management to communication skills and leadership development.

Since 1994, Sue-Ellen has been helping people find ways of accessing, learning, testing, and perfecting techniques that work for them. She uses her unique insights to tailor programs to the specific needs of individuals, teams, and enterprises.

As a learning facilitator and a Master Practitioner of NLP (the study of behavioural excellence) her skill set is aided by her accreditation in assessment and development tools focused on emotional intelligence, communication, performance, personality profiling, and mediation.

Sue-Ellen’s past as a child spy may seem like an odd fit for a career in corporate training, but she sees it as an asset.

Her unique perspective allows her to offer insights and advice that others may not have considered.

Peak Services is excited to work with experienced consultants like Sue-Ellen whose unique experiences and perspectives deliver high value to organisations.

Sue-Ellen offers her services in face-to-face sessions or via Zoom/MS Teams. If you're looking to up your game in the workforce, check out one of her many training programs currently on offer. Who knows, you might even pick up a few spy tricks along the way.

Communication 1 - Lead Self Communication 2 - Lead Teams Communcation3 - Lead Units

Communication workshops Communication in Leadership 

For more information on Sue-Ellen's courses or any other courses, please contact training@wearepeak.com.au