About Lee Foster

Lee Foster is the founder of Innovate Wisely, bringing more than 30 years’ experience in engineering, research and innovation. With a background in chemical engineering and master’s qualifications in engineering and business management in innovation, she helps leaders and teams build trust, share knowledge and turn ideas into practical outcomes. Lee has a particular passion for the water industry and the communities it serves. Through her writing, she explores how trust, knowledge and human energy shape innovation and performance, sharing insights to help organisations navigate complexity and create lasting, meaningful change.

Why 31% of Complex Initiatives Fail to Deliver Full Benefits (And How to Stop the Bleeding)

2026-09-11T13:45:12+10:00

Why 31% of Complex Initiatives Fail to Deliver Full Benefits (And How to Stop the Bleeding) Most high-stakes corporate projects do not fail in one dramatic event—they bleed out slowly through costly rework, recycled decisions, and invisible trust gaps. And, they [...]

Why 31% of Complex Initiatives Fail to Deliver Full Benefits (And How to Stop the Bleeding)2026-09-11T13:45:12+10:00

Where is the Trust in AI?

2026-04-24T17:13:48+10:00

AI isn’t the problem, performance is Right now, AI is exposing something most organisations don’t measure well — trust. I recently revisited a short video I recorded over a year ago and was surprised to see it had reached over 18,000 [...]

Where is the Trust in AI?2026-04-24T17:13:48+10:00

Rethink Performance – Why Trust Drives Performance (Preview)

2026-03-24T09:34:10+10:00

Rethink Performance: Why Trust Drives Performance Preview + Invitation for the Trust Advisory Circle Rethink performance (Part 1) begins with a key observation: trust is the driver behind performance. Across organisations and communities, capable people are working hard to deliver better [...]

Rethink Performance – Why Trust Drives Performance (Preview)2026-03-24T09:34:10+10:00

Strategising and Planning with the Knowledge Canvas

2025-01-22T16:58:26+10:00

The Knowledge Canvas™ is an interactive platform accessed through the online InnoWise™ app portal. The Canvas guides you through each step: Form, Create, Adopt & Critique. The Canvas asks questions about the idea, the solution & the knowledge aspects that are [...]

Strategising and Planning with the Knowledge Canvas2025-01-22T16:58:26+10:00

2024-12-11T19:02:31+10:00

Introducing Lee Foster – a dynamic speaker and thought leader with over 30 years of expertise in engineering, innovation, and leadership. As the founder of Innovate Wisely™, Lee is passionate about helping organisations build trust, foster collaboration, and achieve meaningful [...]

2024-12-11T19:02:31+10:00

Is your council unknowingly losing one of its most valuable assets?

2024-12-04T19:07:51+10:00

💡 Is your council unknowingly losing one of its most valuable assets? Every project—like a water treatment plant upgrade—creates knowledge that can drive future success. Yet too often, councils, especially regional councils or local government, lose this knowledge to turnover, [...]

Is your council unknowingly losing one of its most valuable assets?2024-12-04T19:07:51+10:00

Celebrating success at the AWA Gala Dinner 2024

2024-10-11T18:45:26+10:00

The AWA Gala Dinner 2024: Celebrating Success and Driving Innovation in the Water Industry The AWA Gala Dinner 2024 was a remarkable evening. The night was filled with inspiring conversations, reconnecting with friends and colleagues, and celebrating success across the water [...]

Celebrating success at the AWA Gala Dinner 20242024-10-11T18:45:26+10:00

Why is trust important?

2024-10-08T17:05:31+10:00

Why is Trust important? Why is trust important to consider in how we manage innovation? As the former Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, Julia Spicer OAM, recently said, “Innovation moves at the speed of Trust”.  This posts builds upon this statement and our [...]

Why is trust important?2024-10-08T17:05:31+10:00

Melbourne Water VR Technology – Case Study

2024-10-07T18:53:47+10:00

Melbourne Water's Innovative Confined Space Entry Virtual Reality Simulator - Case Study This case study is of an innovative project undertaken by Melbourne Water. The Confined Space Entry (CSE) Simulator, using VR technology, was analysed using the InnoWise™ framework and tools [...]

Melbourne Water VR Technology – Case Study2024-10-07T18:53:47+10:00

The role of TRUST in solving the Climate Crisis

2024-10-07T18:58:16+10:00

Are you concerned about the looming Climate Catastrophe?  Are you curious about how Trust could be the key to resolving the crisis? Lee Foster, the founder of Innovate Wisely, provides her reflections on the UN's Antonio Guterres call to action [...]

The role of TRUST in solving the Climate Crisis2024-10-07T18:58:16+10:00
Go to Top