Lead Facilitator
David McIlroy
David McIlroy is a Crucial Conversations Master Trainer and the founder of Clinical Conversations. He has extensive experience facilitating high stakes conversations, accountability, and leadership programs for senior professionals across healthcare and complex organisational environments.
David delivers the full, licensed two day Crucial Conversations program with fidelity to the official methodology, while contextualising the material for clinical settings through relevant scenarios and application.
His facilitation style is grounded, practical, and focused on creating the conditions required for honest dialogue, reflection, and skill development.
Guest Faculty
Dave Sainsbury
Dave Sainsbury
Dave Sainsbury
Dave Sainsbury is a senior specialist anaesthetist and nationally recognised educator, with extensive experience in clinical leadership, supervision, and high stakes decision making. He works closely with medical teams on communication under pressure, professional accountability, and navigating difficult conversations in complex systems. Dave brings deep credibility, clinical realism, and a grounded teaching style that resonates strongly with doctors across all career stages.
Dan Jackson
Dave Sainsbury
Dave Sainsbury
Dan Jackson is a former AFL player and leadership coach who works with high performance teams on accountability, mindset, and decision making under pressure. Drawing on his experience in elite sport and leadership development, Dan helps professionals translate insight into action, particularly in moments where standards slip, conversations are avoided, or pressure compromises judgement. His style is practical, direct, and highly engaging, with a strong focus on personal responsibility and sustained performance.
Joe McDonald
Dave Sainsbury
Joe McDonald
Joe McDonald is the Chief Executive Officer of Hospitals South, Tasmania, with responsibility for complex acute hospital systems and large multidisciplinary workforces. He brings deep experience in executive leadership, system governance, and leading through clinical, operational, and cultural complexity. Joe contributes a system level perspective to Clinical Conversations, helping participants understand how leadership decisions, communication, and accountability play out across entire health services, not just individual teams.