About Us
High Ideals is a member-based association, with the entrance criteria being based on how our members conduct themselves in business. It is of primary importance that all of our members are committed to setting the very best of standards of positivity, integrity and impact in the work they do.
Once successfully through the assessment process, with membership status awarded, members can then proudly display their new accreditation (MHI) by using the High Ideals' membership logo on business cards, résumés and professional biographies.
If members run businesses that they wish to grow, High Ideals will provide them with a profile page on our directory and with advertising opportunities. Through creating this association, we can provide a way for those in business to find clients, suppliers and employees with the assurance they are dealing with people who operate to the very highest standards in business practice.
Our Ideals
Positivity |
Integrity |
Impact |
| To engage openly and warmly with others; to be option and solution focused; to practise active listening and genuine exchange of ideas; to value and consider others' perspectives; to embrace diversity and to consistently show positive regard and appreciation for the contribution of others. | To represent oneself openly, honestly and to be genuine in all interactions; to treat others respectfully and fairly; and to have a reputation of responsiveness, reliability and professionalism in fulfilling one's commitments. To have regard for the well-being of others on the broad and holistic level (the business community, societal and environmental). | To have a profound influence on others through one's commitment to serving unreservedly with integrity and positivity; and through being a conscious and active example of the change we want to see in the world. |
Our Mission
Our Members
Our members are individuals who work, or aspire to work, with an active and demonstrable commitment to the guiding principles of positivity, integrity and impact. Our membership base will eventually be a representation of all industries, professions and occupations.
Whether you are a hair-dresser or a surgeon; a technician or a plumber; a musician or a chef; a teacher or a stockbroker; a factory hand or an architect, as long as you are committed to the standards we advocate at High Ideals and have a proven track record demonstrating this, we welcome and encourage you to apply for membership.
Values of High Ideals
Download our Values document for more detailed information.
High Ideals Criteria
Please click here to download the Criteria for High Ideals.
Management Team

Noel Posus, MECI, Masters Humanities/Adult Education, FHI I am a professional coach and educator with over twenty years experience in various countries, cultures and contexts and I love what I do. I'm also very fortunate to have been able to work with so many extraordinary individuals with high ideals over the years. And as strange as it may sound, I'm also grateful for those I've worked with who did not demonstrate Integrity, Positivity and Impact as are our High Ideals standard. I say this because it's made it very easy for me to make choices to only work with people and organisations where there is a sound and positive values match. For this reason, when Karina Butera approached me to be one of the founding members and part of the Senior Leadership Team for High Ideals, I knew once again I had found a perfect match. If you want to know more about me or my values-based businesses, feel invited to explore: http://www.incredibleawareness.com/, http://www.askacoach.com/, http://www.thewheelsoflife.com/, http://www.recreationalwhinge.com/, http://www.thepersonalbalancedscorecard.com/ and of course, http://www.high-ideals.com/.

National Membership Manager & Administration Manager & Events Coordinator

Carol McGowan, BBus (Accounting), Grad Dip Bus Comp, Adv Dip CFT, Dip LCIA, CPA, QMACA, JP, FHI 
Quality Assurance Manager & Assessor

I am a passionate, caring individual, an individual who has a great desire to make a difference in how we can all do things 'better' as individuals, and as a world community. I see it as a privilege within my role to be able to identify opportunities to prompt our leaders to have a positive lasting impact on our planet, as well as inform and inspire our members of ways they can make a difference in their own way. As well as being a committed member of the High Ideals management team, I am also the Managing Director of Project Balance, a company that brings together a wide range of exceptional health and wellbeing practitioners to help companies take care of the emotional, physical and social effectiveness of their employees. As a Life Coach and Mentor to Coaches I contribute to the growth and success of others from all backgrounds; helping them gain the important clarity we all need and seek throughout our lives. Added to this, I love spending time with my three fantastic, lovable, independent children and my two beautiful grandchildren. Being part of the High Ideals team provides me a wonderful opportunity to work with like-minded people from all professions and walks of life who care - a place where I can make a difference. Instead of doing it alone - which isn't much fun - I get the privilege and fulfilment of working in an incredibly positive team of talented people who share my values, commitment and desire to make a positive contribution to society. I strongly believe that High Ideals has come at the right time and that through this business we will create the ripple effect and changes our world needs in these very challenging times.

I am a life design coach, writer, trainer and speaker who is passionate about inspiring others to fulfil their potential with passion and purpose. I grew up in the UK, working for many years in management, recruitment, sales and customer service before deciding to move "down under" in 2002. I have a busy home life trying to keep up with two incredibly lively children, a wonderful husband, fantastically supportive friends and a family in the UK that I miss terribly. I believe that as human beings we have the power to achieve great things by working together not against each other, with collaboration rather than competition. High Ideals stands for everything I believe in - integrity, compassion, positivity, equality and contribution to others. By setting high standards, our aim is to inspire others to take action and join us.

Website Manager
Leighton Hill, BSc(Hons), ACMA, AsCPA, FHI
Financial Controller
I am a Management Accountant, Company Director, business owner and investor. I specialise in business financial management with expertise in systems design and management, planning, business modelling and cash control. I see my expertise as providing a vital support role to business operational management. I became a qualified accountant in 1976 having completed a degree in Accounting and Economics in 1972. I have over 30 years experience in a wide variety of businesses including white goods manufacturing, oil and gas exploration, commercial cleaning, coal mining, transport, retailing, software development and recruitment and out sourced human resources services. I joined High Ideals because I have great respect for Karina, its founder, and admire her energy and vision. I share her philosophy of business and believe that truly successfully businesses are conducted ethically with win-win outcomes for all stakeholders: clients, suppliers, employees and shareholders.
Angela Scaffidi, FHI

In 2003 with the support and encouragement of a small group of family and friends I founded the Scaffidi Foundation to help families living with cancer. The Foundation ws established in honour of my remarkable mother and sister, who both passed away from cancer. They were selfless, determined ladies who channelled much of their time and energy into caring for others. The Foundation was created to carry on their legacy. Each year the Foundation provides a scholarship to a young person (or sibling) impacted by cancer, as well as financial assistance for household and medical bills and family breaks to Queensland. My vision for the Foundation is that it will continue to provide much-needed support to families well into the future. I was drawn to High Ideals because of the passion and generosity of its founder and the values of the organisation, which align closely to the values of the Scaffidi Foundation. I am proud to be a High Ideals Ambassador and Member. I am also on the Board of Challenge: supporting kids with cancer and the Future Cambodia Fund. Professionally I am a partner in a specialist communication consultancy, scaffidihugh-jones.
Leigh Mathews, AHI
Ambassador

At the age of 23, I founded a successful non-profit organisation, Future Cambodia Fund, which has gone on to deliver innovative community development solutions to Cambodia's most marginalised communities. I have also worked in a diverse range of areas including human rights, homelessness, disability and the protection of children from trafficking, abuse and violence. As the current Victorian Young Australian of the Year for 2009, recipient of the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award 2009 and 2009 Future Summit Australian Leadership Awardee, I am well placed to inspire and empower other Australians to make positive change in the world. I am also an Australian Youth Leadership Ambassador, enhacing my capacity to use my voice as a catalyst for social change and responsibility for young Australians. I have worked for a range of organisations bringing my unique skills and insight to diverse projects. In addition to my role as Managing Director of Future Cambodia Fund, I run an independent consultancy providing support in non-profit management, non-profit startup, project design, project management and ethical funding.
Shane Holst, AHI
Ambassador

Hello there. Firstly I commend Karina and her team on this strong initiative. Bravo. The endeavours of Altruism Australia support our vision of an ethically and psychologically healthy Australia. It has been my experience that until self-awareness of any individual has been achieved just about anything can happen! We are certainly at the mercy of external influences until we 'know ourselves'. The programs of Altruism Australia have a core emphasis of 'humanising' the world around us and the world within us. My personal history includes 4 years in the Royal Australian Navy in the communication/security area, commercial radio (both as a broadcaster and senior manager), author of 5 books (one of which has been published) and corporate training and coaching.
Abbey Cappiello, FHI

Ambassador
My professional life has been an interesting journey that centres on my passion for people. For over 10 years I have been assessing people for their drive, enthusiasm and motivators and assisting them to move forward in their careers, which I love. Having worked in New South Wales, Victoria and now returning to sunny Queensland I have recruited in a wide range of industries and environments. Apart from my professional experience I am an Artist and when time permits create very colourful abstract art which has been a pleasure and a distraction. Taking up a position with High Ideals has been a wonderful opportunity as well as a natural process for me as I believe High Ideals is a progressive move in aligning people and business to the standards that I believe in deeply. It is a very exciting time to see the impact HI will make in others lives as well as the calibre of people we will meet that will enhance our lives.
Ambassador
Ambassador 