--- title: Simon Mariner - Leadership Communication Coach | Sterling Black description: Simon works with chairs, CEOs and senior executive teams to help them influence and engage their organisations through inspiring communications. --- [![SB | Sterling Black](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/sterlingblack_july2025/images/header-logo.png?width=454&height=166&name=header-logo.png "SB | Sterling Black")](https://sterlingblack.com/) - Services - [Board Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/board-effectiveness) - [CEO Succession](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-succession-planning) - [CEO & C-Suite Leadership Assessments](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-c-suite-leadership-assessments) - [CEO Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-coaching) - [C-Suite Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/c-suite-coaching) - [Executive Team Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/executive-team-effectiveness) - [Inspiring Leadership Communications](https://sterlingblack.com/inspiring-leadership-communications) - People - [Our team](https://sterlingblack.com/people) - [CEO & C-Suite Coaches](https://sterlingblack.com/c-suite-ceo-coaches) - [Executive Team Facilitators](https://sterlingblack.com/facilitators) - [About](https://sterlingblack.com/about) - Sterling Insights - [Articles](https://sterlingblack.com/blog) - [Internal vs External CEO Succession Guide](https://sterlingblack.com/internal-vs-external-ceo-succession-guide) - [Contact](https://sterlingblack.com/contact) ##### PARTNER # Simon Mariner [Follow on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmariner/) ![Simon Mariner](https://sterlingblack.com/hubfs/Website/People/simon-mariner-profile.png "Simon Mariner") ##### Simon Mariner *Partner* Experience: 15+ years Types of assignments: Leadership communication development   Leadership levels: Chairs, non-executive directors, CEOs, C-Suite executives Types of organisations: All sectors Simon is a Partner with Sterling Black. Simon works with chairs, CEOs and senior executive teams in business and government to improve their ability to inspire and engage their organisation. Simon has over 15 years of experience turning leaders into inspirational speakers specialising in leadership communication. Simon’s focus is on helping leaders to authentically engage, inspire and influence using archetypal storytelling, executive presence and personal impact. He was the managing partner of the Black Isle Group, working with Australian clients since 1994. An accomplished board director, business strategist and coach, Simon is also adjunct faculty for one of the premier business schools in Australia. Qualifications & accreditations: - MBA (Graduate School of Management, UWA) - BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Southampton University) - AFMA accreditation - Diploma in Financial Services ## Articles by Simon ![Is “so” the new “um”? What leaders need to know about filler words](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/filler-words-in-leadership-communication.jpg?width=767&name=filler-words-in-leadership-communication.jpg) [Is “so” the new “um”? What leaders need to know about filler words](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/filler-words-in-leadership-communication) Most corporate leaders know to avoid classic filler words like “um” and “uh”. But a subtler verbal tic is quietly eroding executive presence in boardroom briefings, keynote speeches and investor... [Read more](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/filler-words-in-leadership-communication) ![How to reduce unnecessary meetings: A smarter approach for senior leaders](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Feature%20Images/reduce-unnecessary-meetings.jpg?width=767&name=reduce-unnecessary-meetings.jpg) [How to reduce unnecessary meetings: A smarter approach for senior leaders](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/how-to-reduce-unnecessary-meetings) In the corporate world, ineffective meetings have become a costly norm. While meetings are meant to drive collaboration and decision-making, 72% of them are ineffective, preventing leaders and teams... [Read more](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/how-to-reduce-unnecessary-meetings) [![Elite Agent](https://sterlingblack.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/sterlingblack_july2025/images/sterling-black-logo.svg "Elite Agent")](https://sterlingblack.com/) ### Contact **UAE HEAD OFFICE** The Offices 3 Level 3 One Central Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai United Arab Emirates   **AUSTRALIA** Level 22, Suite 3 8 Chifley Square SYDNEY, NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 8916 6366 ### Services - [Board Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/board-effectiveness) - [CEO Succession](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-succession-planning) - [CEO & C-Suite Leadership Assessments](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-c-suite-leadership-assessments) - [CEO Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-coaching) - [C-Suite Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/c-suite-coaching) - [Executive Team Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/executive-team-effectiveness) - [Inspiring Communications](https://sterlingblack.com/inspiring-leadership-communications) ### About We are a specialist Board, CEO and C-Suite firm bringing together the world’s most experienced practitioners. Igniting performance through people. We mean business. © COPYRIGHT STERLING BLACK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [Privacy Policy](https://sterlingblack.com/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Person", "alumniOf" : [ { "@type" : "EducationalOrganization", "name" : "Graduate School of Management, University of Western Australia" }, { "@type" : "EducationalOrganization", "name" : "Southampton University" } ], "description" : "Partner with Sterling Black specialising in leadership communication development for chairs, non-executive directors, CEOs, and C-Suite executives. 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