Claire Thomas is a former public policy leader turned CEO and Founder of one of Australia’s fastest-growing consultancies and the overall AFR Best Place to Work 2025. After a decade inside government working on national reform and central agency priorities, she founded Empact to prove that workplaces could be both high-performance and deeply human. A late-diagnosed twice exceptional (2E) ADHD leader, Claire exposes how traditional leadership models burn out brilliant minds and replaces them with neuro-affirming systems that unlock trust, innovation and results. She is a provocative voice on modern leadership, psychological safety and designing cultures where nobody has to mask to belong. 

She leads a team committed to delivering nation-shaping transformation, delivering strategy, change, and capability uplift across government, corporate and NFP partners.  The business exists to Empower to Act leaving organisations, systems, and communities better than they found them, with the capability, confidence, and connections to create lasting impact. 

Claire is a trusted thought leader, passionate speaker and executive facilitator. Along with neuro affirming leadership, she also enjoys talking and hosting workshops for audiences across sectors, covering themes like authentic leadership, affirming innovation, adaptability, and values-driven business growth, business development, the importance of play, burnout - all with an ND lens.