What does this event cover
Burnout is becoming an increasing challenge for many local government professionals as councils navigate sustained reform, growing community expectations, constrained resources and constant competing priorities. But preventing burnout isn’t simply about becoming more resilient—it’s about understanding how to work in ways that protect capacity and sustain performance over time.
Join Sarah McGuinness as she shares practical, evidence-based strategies to help you recognise the early signs of burnout, manage cognitive load and maintain your ability to make good decisions under pressure. Drawing on her postgraduate research with senior doctors and the latest evidence on human performance, Sarah will introduce the Human Cadence™ model, a practical framework for balancing workload, recovery and capacity in demanding work environments.
Throughout the session, you’ll discover how these insights apply to the realities of local government, from managing shifting priorities and unrealistic deadlines to responding to complex community expectations and difficult customer interactions.
You’ll learn how to:
- Recognise the warning signs of burnout before they become overwhelming.
- Understand how cognitive load affects judgement, decision-making and performance.
- Apply the Human Cadence™ model to better balance workload, recovery and capacity.
- Build practical habits that help you sustain energy and effectiveness during periods of high demand.
- Support your team to work more sustainably, rather than relying on resilience alone.
You’ll leave with practical tools and strategies you can apply immediately to protect your own wellbeing, support your team and continue delivering great outcomes without sacrificing long-term performance.
This is the first of two webinars that Sarah will deliver. The second webinar, Psychosocial Safety – Designing work that supports sustainable performance will take place on 25 September and will explore the workplace conditions that enable people to perform well over time.
Our Member Webinar series is a Taituarā member benefit. Not yet a member? Find out more about why you should sign-up
Programme overview
Your facilitators and guest speakers
Sarah McGuinness
Sarah McGuinness is the Founder of Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) and a specialist in sustainable performance, burnout prevention, and leadership. With more than two decades of experience advising organisations across New Zealand, Australia, and internationally, she works with senior leaders to navigate pressure, constant change, and the realities of modern work while maintaining the wellbeing and performance of their people.
Her work has supported organisations across multiple sectors during periods of significant change and demand, including the Christchurch earthquakes. She is currently completing a Master of Science (Psychology) at Massey University, with research exploring how senior doctors recover from burnout while continuing to work, and a Postgrad Certificate in Human Performance Leadership (AUT).
She holds an honours degree in psychology and a degree in communication, along with specialist training in professional coaching, adult education, and fitness. She also brings lived experience of burnout and is a strong advocate for improving conversations around mental health. She volunteers with Coastguard New Zealand in search and rescue and serves on the Coastguard Queenstown board, and has been featured in media including Stuff, NBR, RNZ, and Seven Sharp.
Ann Thomson
Ann oversees Taituarā membership and sponsorship activities, as well as our major events; the Annual Conference and Gala Dinner.Ann is a stakeholder engagement, event management, and communications professional with broad experience across sectors including tertiary education and the public sector.
