Our Team Directors Carol Watson, is an experienced HR Director with a track record in leading transformation in Human Resource Management teams in the public and government owned sectors, for private corporations and within Universities. Carol has held HR Director positions at a number of organisations - an international job network firm, Ingeus, at two major Australian Universities Griffith and RMIT University and has been the Deputy HR Director for one of the largest organisations in Australia Education Queensland. Her expertise is in all aspects of human resources and in policy, having held roles as Director Social Justice in the South Australian TAFE system and in the Equal Opportunity Commission in South Australia. She has worked in three states Queensland, Victoria and South Australia in government as well as nationally at ANTA (the Australian National Training Authority) and globally at Ingeus, which had offices in the UK, France and Germany. Most recently in 2014, Carol has been engaged as Interim HR Director for Macquarie University to commence a significant cultural change program, so has recent experience of University HR issues and cultures. Carol has been involved in filling leadership positions at all levels from Vice-Chancellor to Head of School as a HR Director within the University system, CEOs in the private sector and Senior managers in the public sector. Since moving into professional search, she has assisted a number of Universities select a Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Directors and Professors. Carol has also filled positions within the vocational education sector at senior management levels, in business development, in policy and in membership associations. Carol has been involved in all aspects of running a HR function and is known for her capability in developing strategy, customising approaches to best suit the organisation and transforming poorly performing functions into professional, client focused services. She has had experience in all areas including workforce planning, organisational development, strategic recruitment, remuneration, policy, industrial relations, payroll, major HR system implementation, and grievance handling. Through her unique ability to engage both clients and candidates on a professional and personal level, and far reaching and respected networks, Carol succeeds in providing strategic solutions to the most difficult challenges in human resource management in organisations today. She is passionate about connecting the strategic with the operational in HR as implementation often fails if the two are not aligned - and moves easily between both levels. Carol holds a Bachelor of Science and an MBA from the University of Adelaide and a Graduate Diploma in Group Work from the University of South Australia. Kim Bannikoff, Director, has wide experience in education and training as a consultant, senior public servant and CEO in Victoria, Queensland, the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) and the Commonwealth. He was a member of the Australian Qualifications Framework Council. His experience includes: CEO of the Victorian VET system where he led the major reforms in the delivery of programs, the funding of the VET system, the allocation of resources to TAFE Institutes and RTOs, innovation and workforce capability. Director- National Policy and Research at ANTA where he led the national research program for the VET sector, managed the development of the national data collection and developed and implemented national initiatives in User Choice, development of the training market, small business services, flexible delivery and quality assurance. Page 1
CEO of the Queensland Vocational Education Training and Employment Commission which was the initial Queensland State Training Authority under the ANTA Agreement. Special Adviser to the (then) Commonwealth Department of Employment Education Training and Youth Affairs on the development of the national training reform agenda. CEO of the Queensland Studies Authority where he led the reform and renovation of the Queensland school curriculum and the introduction of new Year 12 Certificate. As a consultant, Kim led a major review of the TAFE system in Queensland in 1998 which led to major reforms of the structure of the TAFE system, the operations and funding of TAFE Institutes, reform of the training product and the repositioning of the TAFE system within the training market. In 1999, he led a major review of the State School system leading to the adoption by the Queensland Government of Queensland State Education - 2010 which outlined the strategic directions for Queensland state schools. Kim now specialises in advising institutions involved in tertiary education on how to work effectively and efficiently in the current environment. He also works on strategic programs for systemic reform, the design of training products and services relevant to the needs of industry and leadership and management in tertiary education delivery. His clients include the University of Queensland and UQ College, Monash University, Victoria University, Skills Victoria and DEEWR. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Queensland and a Diploma of Education from The University of Melbourne. Special Advisor Dr Belinda Probert has worked in Australian higher education for 35 years and in senior leadership roles for the last 12 years. She has worked at all levels of management and leadership from Head of School to Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and in the full range of university groupings. She spent a total of six years as Dean (RMIT and University of Melbourne, four years as Pro Vice-Chancellor (UWA and RMIT), and four years as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (La Trobe). As a social scientist, Belinda taught at Murdoch University in its first years before spending 10 years at Monash University. As a senior manager, Belinda has had responsibility for the portfolios of teaching and learning, student services, student administration, university libraries, academic staffing policy, enterprise bargaining and gender equity. As a Dean and Head of School before that, she was responsible for the financial management of substantial business units. Alongside these institutional roles Belinda has also held significant sector wide roles in key areas of university performance. She was a member and Deputy Chair of the Australian Research Council s Research Training and Careers Committee, as well as the ARC s Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences Expert Advisory Committee. In the teaching and learning area, Belinda was a foundation Board Member of the Carrick Institute/Australian Learning and Teaching Council. Belinda is also well known in the sector for her research and policy work on gender pay equity in Australian universities, and has been employed as a consultant on gender equity by, for example, the University of New South Wales and the Australian Defence Force Academy. Belinda holds a Bachelor of Science (Economics) from University College London and a PhD from Lancaster University. Page 2
Researcher Julie Heckenberg is a highly regarded, innovative and dynamic executive with over 25 years experience in leadership development, organisational change, and education and training in both private enterprise and government, including executive positions in Qantas, Australian Resorts (a division of Australian Airlines), Hatch and Ingeus. Julie s broad experience in organisational development has included design and implementation of Qantas College as a skill development strategy linked to the achievement of the Qantas business plan; development and implementation of the award-winning Qantas College Online, an innovative, leading-edge and fully integrated system for the management, delivery, assessment and evaluation of Qantas training; design and delivery of an award-winning satellite training program for Australian Resorts; and design and implementation of comprehensive training strategies for Hatch and Ingeus. Julie has led extensive organisational change programs in both Qantas and Australian Resorts which included a very successful leadership development program for Qantas executives and managers, and an innovative customer and staff satisfaction program for Australian Resorts which resulted in a significant reduction of staff turnover, demonstrable improvements in bottom-line results and improved levels of customer satisfaction (statistically validated). Julie has also operated her own consultancy business, specialising in organisational change and online learning. Julie holds a Diploma of Teaching (TAFE) through Griffith University. Consultants Denise Wiseman is an experienced executive with broad experience working in the education and training industry and general management experience. She has over 20 years experience in senior leadership positions in the public sector, the most recent of which was in the Queensland Government as Director, Industry Engagement where she lead initiatives with enterprises to address their workforce planning and development issues. In 2009 Denise translated these experiences into establishing her own business with her core expertise in action learning and workforce planning and development including team development and facilitation, culture assessment and development and human resource strategy development. Denise has had a wealth of experience in the vocational education and training sector holding the positions of Director of Business Development and CEO in TAFE institutes. She has also worked for Qantas Airways where she established their registration training organisation, Qantas College, and was the inaugural Training Manager for the Queensland Housing Industry Association. Denise holds a Bachelor of Education from Canberra University, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from Griffith University. Sean Gillen Director Europe is an experienced HR Director who led the country organisation for the large healthcare company, Pfizer, for 10 years. He has significant international experience, managing HR across the UK and Sweden and worked closely with colleagues from around the world on major global change programs including HR re-organisations. Sean has board level experience in private, public and trustee based organisations including company pension schemes and has been a member of Investment and Risk Committees. Page 3
Sean entered HR in 1995 after a successful career in pharmaceutical manufacturing and brings a very practical, outcomes centered approach to his work and a deep understanding of science and the interaction of universities with business. Sean has extensive experience in all aspects of human resource management and has a particular passion for excellence in selection and talent management and brings this to his approach to search. Sean has assisted with search assignments for a broad range of roles and has particular expertise and knowledge of the UK and Europe, having migrated to Australia with his academic partner and now returning to the UK to open the European office. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Strathclyde, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Glasgow University and an MBA from the Open Business School. Sean is also qualified to undertake Level 2 Psychometric Testing. Claire Booth is an experienced executive in HR and general management, with a background in education. She gained significant HR management experience working as a Project Manager in Brisbane City Council s corporate HR team and as the Manager, Workforce Planning with the Corporate Administration Agency within the Queensland Government. Claire has also significant senior management experience at the executive level in the government and arts sectors. She was the CEO of Queensland s largest performing arts organisation, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. During her time with the Orchestra she led the organisation through significant change resulting in substantial business improvements in areas of financial and artistic performance. Claire was also responsible for establishing one of Queensland s leading music festivals from conception to the staging of the first festival in July 1999. Claire was the inaugural Director of the Events Coordination Unit, in the Department and Premier and Cabinet, Queensland Government. She consolidated her Australian professional experience when, as CEO of the Orchestral Academy of Europe, she led the company towards establishment of a private higher education orchestral academy in Slovenia, Eastern Europe. Claire has had experience in the education system both in senior management in a large state high school and as a music and drama teacher in state and private schools and has provided executive search services to numerous Australian universities, successfully finding candidates for the hard to fill roles. Claire holds a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) and a Graduate Diploma of Business Administration from QUT. Brenda Gibbons is an experienced senior manager, with more than 20 years experience in managerial and leadership roles in large, complex, public sector organisations. She has held a diverse range of leadership and managerial positions in higher education, the science research sector and the banking industry. Brenda gained significant HR management experience working as the Operations and Resource Manager for a large Crown Research Institute in Auckland, New Zealand. The role included leading and managing changes to organisational structure, business process improvement programs and all staffing matters, including responsibility for recruitment, performance management, staff training and talent management. For 12 years Brenda held a senior leadership position at The University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, managing a diverse range of business operations, from student fees, loans and allowances, to Page 4
disability support services and residential colleges. This enabled her to gain a broad knowledge of universities, their policies, procedures, programs, structure and operation. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Waikato. Consulting Partners Chris Kane is an experienced consultant, business leader and corporate services manager, having worked extensively across government, higher education, financial, commercial and the not for profit sectors in both Australia and the United Kingdom. With a mixed finance, commercial and HRM background and extensive leadership experience, Chris is an expert in the review of structures, systems and policy. She specialises in leadership and people management coaching, change management, business efficiency and service delivery improvement, organisational, program, policy and process review and project management. She is also known for picking up projects and initiatives that have floundered and getting results. Chris has a successful consulting career of six years and prior to this, her job roles included four years as the Business Services Manager for the Faculty of Business, Queensland University of Technology s, three years as a Human Resources Manager in for Griffith University and 11 Years as a Finance and Commercial Manager for Griffith. Her career spans financial and commercial management roles across the Higher Education sector in Queensland and a large water authority in the UK. In 2006 Chris established Kane Enable, a consulting business specialising in the critical business nexus between finance and human resources, business and organisational efficiency and with an emphasis on skilling and coaching people, in particular managers, an unusual combination that provides clients with a comprehensive and highly skilled service. Chris has established an excellent reputation across the HE, VET and government sectors. Chris holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Griffith University Moira McDade has led her own management and organisational consultancies since 1993, and has worked extensively with Queensland Government in a wide range of projects. Previously she was well known for her innovative work in the human services sector. As a highly trained facilitator, trainer, coach and consultant, Moira works in organisations and the community to help to develop vision, strategy and implementation plans that focus on performance. She is passionate about ensuring that an organisation s people and all key stakeholders understand their role and what is required to contribute to these goals. Key to Moira's approach is sharing responsibility for the right development and robust feedback to enable performance and professional growth. Moira has a great ability to identify needs and build authentic relationships with her clients. She has a creative approach to process design that is strongly grounded in theory, yet is pragmatic and results oriented for the benefit of stakeholders. Moira skilfully uses process design to build inclusive environments that enable people to work cooperatively and creatively. She delivers engaging and respectful facilitation to groups of all sizes with clarity, calm and courage. Moira holds a Masters of Education (Workplace) from Queensland University of Technology. Page 5
Cass Russell is an experienced business consultant and executive coach. She specialises in goal achievement, performance enhancement, cultural change, project management and leadership development. Cass had a highly successful career as a manager and change leader in higher education and the IT sector before establishing her own business. Her strengths as a manager include motivating and inspiring performance, leadership training, improving organisational culture and accomplishing great outcomes. She effortlessly coaches others to high achievement in the same areas. Cass thinks laterally and deals with challenging situations with ease. She has successfully coached numerous senior leaders through change management and cultural change endeavours, and also has extensive experience in guiding others to new career directions. As project manager, Cass worked internationally and within Australia in a complex international network of companies. A key player in four major restructures, she has extensive personal change achievements experience including initiating and managing the change process, performance management through change, and communication and process harmonization in the critical implementation phase. Cass holds a Master of Business Administration from Central Queensland University; a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Information Systems) from Griffith University; CPA program - Certified Practising Accountants Australia; Diploma of Counselling from Heart Energetics International; and a Certificate of Coaching Skills - Neuroleadership Group (Results Coaching Systems). Administration The team is supported by two excellent administrative staff, Debbie Dickinson and Amanda Rootsey. Page 6