Professional Background

Over the years, I have done some pretty incredible stuff including...

Legal Expertise

Former barrister in the Netherlands with five years' experience spanning commercial, criminal, family, migration, refugee, and industrial relations law. Known for clear thinking, persuasive communication, and resolving complex challenges under pressure—skills that continue to shape my work with leaders today.

United Nations Leadership

Spent 12 years in senior roles addressing human rights and war crimes in Switzerland, Cambodia, Bosnia, and The Hague. These roles required diplomacy, strategic thinking, and cultural sensitivity, operating in high-stakes environments where clarity, calmness, and courage were non-negotiable.

Government and HR

Led HR for the SA Department for Education, one of the state’s largest government agencies. Responsible for misconduct, incapacity, and performance management, including adjudication processes and leadership coaching. Experienced in supporting leaders through complex people challenges.

Coaching and Mediation

Internationally accredited leadership and mediator. I’ve coached over 3,000 leaders to grow their confidence, influence, and impact—and mediated over 500 workplace conflicts to restore trust and performance. Known for creating safe spaces where honest conversations lead to real change.

Helping Leaders & Teams Discover Their Potential

Thilan moved to Australia in 2009 to continue her remarkable international career and pursue personal and professional growth. She founded Win-Win Matters, The TLC Leadership Group, and Thilan Legierse Media to support leaders and teams in thriving under pressure and leading with confidence.

Now a proud Australian citizen, Thilan draws on her extensive experience at the United Nations to work with clients worldwide, connecting deeply with people from diverse backgrounds and industries.

Thilan’s coaching style blends empathy and directness. She’s known for asking the questions that matter, applying a “tough love” approach when needed, and helping leaders uncover blind spots that may be holding them back. Her approach is grounded in behavioural science, positive psychology, and decades of experience navigating conflict and complexity—from war zones to boardrooms.

Drawing on her coaching expertise, legal training, mediation skills, senior HR leadership experience, and 12 years in high-stakes United Nations roles, Thilan offers practical, results-driven strategies to address complex leadership and team challenges. Whether she’s coaching one-on-one, facilitating workshops, or speaking on stage, her mission is clear: to help leaders communicate with clarity, lead with courage, and build high-performing, human-centred cultures.

Thilan offers a range of coaching and facilitation services, as well as in-person and virtual leadership development programs. She is also a sought-after keynote speaker, known for sharing powerful stories—from her work in war crimes tribunals to the frontline of organisational change—with deep relevance to today’s leadership challenges.

My Path to Leadership

My journey began at 25 as a barrister, where I developed expertise in vision creation, strategy, negotiation, and advocacy. Stepping out of my comfort zone became second nature as I persuaded judges and stakeholders, gradually realising that true leadership required more than technical skills, it demanded confidence, influence, and presence.

Instead of settling for a prestigious partner role in my law firm, I pursued my dream of working with the United Nations. Over the next decade, I held leadership roles in human rights and war crimes investigations. Later, I moved to Australia mid-career, becoming an HR manager and building a thriving business as an accredited leadership and team coach and mediator.

Lessons from the Journey

My journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Along the way, I’ve worked hard, made mistakes, and learned lessons that have shaped the leader I am today. I’ve faced personal and professional hurdles: raising children—one of whom survived a life-threatening illness—moving countries four times, navigating career changes, and balancing the role of primary provider for my family.

I’ve thrived in war and post-war zones, corporate mergers, difficult workplace cultures, cultural differences, and office politics, all while establishing my own successful business. These experiences have not only shaped my resilience but also earned me a reputation as a trusted mentor and leader whom others turn to for advice and guidance.

Why I Can Help You

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the mentorship and guidance of experienced leaders. Now, I’m here to offer the same for you. I can help you and your team navigate challenges, overcome obstacles, and grow into the leaders you’re meant to be.

Let’s embark on this journey together and achieve greatness.

I can fast track you past the growing pains, mentor and coach you and help you transform into the leader you are meant to be.

Happy Clients

Check what other leaders wrote about us on Google reviews...

Thilan ran a 'Conflict Management & Effective Communication Skills Training' session for my communication team. She really customised the session for the team and our focus areas to better refine our skills = plus build our confidence to tackle conflict. She had great energy and facilitated a relaxed and open conversation. She worked to understand our problem to provide real, practical help during the session. The team and I were still talking about our learnings a week later. Thank you Thilan. Highly recommended trainer on conflict management!

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Melissa Martin

1 month ago

I was lucky enough to have Thilan as my coach as part of the Defence Industry Leadership Program. She bought her wealth of knowledge and experience to our conversations and built a rapport with me from the first session. Thilan used her amazing abilities to challenge my perspectives on myself and enabled me to have some life changing ‘aha’ moments. Her insights and way of helping me work through problems has had a huge impact on both my working and private life. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

S

Sam Fletcher

1 month ago

Thilan ran a 'Conflict Management & Effective Communication Skills Training' session for my communication team. She really customised the session for the team and our focus areas to better refine our skills = plus build our confidence to tackle conflict. She had great energy and facilitated a relaxed and open conversation. She worked to understand our problem to provide real, practical help during the session. The team and I were still talking about our learnings a week later. Thank you Thilan. Highly recommended trainer on conflict management!

M

Melissa Martin

1 month ago