Initially, because I enjoyed training and developing people. As I started getting more involved in HR I realised that you have an opportunity to have an impact on a large group of people and make a positive difference to their work environment
What is your current role?
HR director at seek.com.au
What qualifications do you hold?
Bachelor of Business (Human Resources) and Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Why did you get into HR?
Initially, because I enjoyed training and developing people. As I started getting more involved in HR I realised that you have an opportunity to have an impact on a large group of people and make a positive difference to their work environment.
How did you get into HR?
I initially wanted to run my own restaurant! But during my three years of working at the Sheraton Towers hotel in Southgate, I started to really enjoy training and developing staff. I took every opportunity there was to write and run training for the front office staff and then got a full-time training job within the human resources team at AMP.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I thoroughly enjoy working in human resources and still see myself working in this field in five years time. Definitely still at SEEK, it is an amazing place to work. It is a place where you are surrounded by talented and focused people who still know how to have fun.
What has been your biggest career high so far?
Being part of the launch of Digital at FOXTEL was a lot of hard work but was very satisfying. It was great to be part of a change program that involved every single member of the organisation. It was also rewarding because it is a fantastic product and represented innovative technology for Australia. Now that I am at SEEK I look forward to experiencing many more highs in the future.
What do you think it takes to succeed in HR?
I strongly believe that you need to be passionate about working with people. You need to believe that work is a place that can be both enjoyable as well as rewarding. To be a success, you need to constantly role model this to others.
How do you manage relationships with senior executives?
The ability to listen and understand exactly what is expected is important. You need to be able to respect and adapt to individual styles. Above all else, you need to be trusted that you will always act with integrity.
Who is your biggest professional inspiration?
The HR team at seek.com.au. The team really have a great approach to getting the job done as well as making it a pleasure to come to work every day. It is difficult for a HR team as you are often the smallest team in the company, you are always focused on others in the organisation and don’t take time out to focus on yourselves as a team.
What advice would you give to graduates considering a career in HR?
Give a great deal of consideration to the type of organisation you want to work for. Research the values of those organisations and ensure that they are in line with your values. Work can be highly enjoyable when you are part of a culture and an organisation that you believe in.
Describe yourself in three words
Honest, passionate and committed.
Career history
Nov 2005 to present: HR director, seek.com.au
July 2005 to Nov 2005: Organisation development manager, Tabcorp (gaming and casino operations)
Oct 1998 to July 2005: Human resources manager/learning & development manager, FOXTEL (subscription television)
Oct 1995 to Oct 1998: Learning & development consultant, AMP (financial services and insurance)
April 1992 to Oct 1995: Front office shift leader/trainer, Sheraton Towers Southgate Hotel
