Reporting to the Australian Managing Partner & Regional Head of HR APME

As well as having sole responsibility for overseeing the business operations including working with the partners to plan, deliver and drive local strategies which are aligned to the firm-wide strategy and ensuring key objectives in the business plans are achieve, my current responsibilities focus on cultural development and productivity, practice performance a as well as:
• Resource Management & Recruitment: Responsible for advising and overseeing all associate recruitment and resource management in Australia, including internship, clerkship & graduate recruitment strategy and program activities.
• Citizenship: Australia Lead for all citizenship, pro-bono, diversity and inclusion activities.
• International HR & Mobility: Responsible for managing all international mobility in and out of the Australia.
• Associate Development: Responsible to developing training program to meet CLE requirements. Working with regional L&D team for non-legal associate development course for all Australian lawyers.
• Workforce Planning: Responsible for strategic oversight and management of all succession, talent pipeline and people planning to include workflow & capacity management focusing on utilisation & performance of the lawyers.
• Compensation & Benefits: Responsible for overseeing salary and benefits functions for Australia, including leading the annual salary review process.
• Payroll: oversight and management of all payroll related process including tax and superannuation as well as tax requirements for secondees and overseas transfers.
• Budget & Reporting: Responsible for all operational and HR budgets for Australia and overseeing all KPI reporting to the partnership.
• Employee Relations: Providing ER advice relative to Australia including award interpretation and  preparation of documentation relating to contracts of employment.
• Business Partnering: Providing professional guidance and business partnering the Australian partners. Contributing to the development of the offices in Australia providing challenge and support, and participating in business decision making on team structure, recruitment, talent pipeline, succession planning and general HR best practice that will align people to strategy.
• OHS: Management of OH&S and Business Continuity issues including compilation of risk assessments in accordance with appropriate legislation and statutory obligations. Assisting with filing workers compensation claims. Providing assistance with return to work programs and ensuring Fit For Work processes were adhered to.


Key Achievement:
• Developed and Implemented graduate recruitment strategy including university relationship program.
• Led Australian offices roll out of new feedback-based performance review process.
• Led upgrade and implementation of new Workday HRIS modules.
• Managed review, creation and updating of all policies and benefits.
• Led submission for Employer of Choice - Gender Equality.
• Conducted investigation into staff misconduct and provided support and advice on resolution and eventually termination process ensuring all compliance to FWA.
•  Revised approach to remuneration review process based on more objective performance criteria.

National HR and Operations Manager

Reporting to: CEO and EVP APAC
WestconGroup Inc.is a value added distributor of category-leading unified communications, network infrastructure, data centre and security solutions with a global network of specialty resellers. It provides IT solutions and services along with staging and logistics for all distributed hardware. The company's Comstor business unit is a dedicated provider of all Cisco networking, collaboration and data centre solutions. Headquartered in Tarrytown, NY, USA. Over US$4 billion in revenue, Westcon is present globally in 60 countries, across six continents and regionally in APAC across 21 offices in 11 countries.

I was responsible for a total headcount of 780+ employees across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea
5 direct reports for total HR team of 10:
Primarily responsible for all aspects of strategic initiatives as well as ensuring operational excellence HR for the region in line with global and regional business objects.

• Business Partnering: Providing professional guidance and business partnering the Regional EVP and Regional Leadership Team. Contributing to the strategic development of the region as a key member of the Regional Leadership Team providing challenge and support, and participating in business decision making strategic planning for the region, recruitment, talent pipeline, succession planning and general HR best practice that will align people to strategy.
• Resource Management & Recruitment: Responsible for overseeing all recruitment and resource management in the region.
• Leading & Developing HR Team: led the HR team, setting objectives, coaching and support to develop individuals to reach their full potential and improve HR service delivery SLAs.
• Employee Relations: Managing a caseload of employee relations ranging from disciplinary issues, complex grievances (a high profile sexual harassment complaint), dismissals and performance management.  Providing ER advice for cases across APAC region as required as well as workplace investigation, preparation of documentation and coaching managers for discussions.
• Budget & Reporting: Responsible for HR budget for APAC region, and overseeing all HR KPI reporting to Group and Executive Committee.
• Compensation & Benefits: Responsible for overseeing payroll and benefits functions for APAC region, including leading the annual salary, bonus and benefits review.
• Global HR Initiatives: Implementation of HR strategic global initiatives in the region i.e. strategic talent management review, succession planning, performance management cycle, HRIS launch.
• Workforce Planning: Responsible for strategic oversight and project management of all succession and performance planning for the APAC region

Key Achievement:
• Led and managed OD, HR and change management work streams including process mapping, workforce planning, HR regulatory programmes (redundancies of over 70 heads within the various local labour laws across APAC) for a Business Transformation (outsourcing) project across 8 APAC country offices.
• Developed and implemented objective and remuneration based performance review strategy in place of appraisal system
• Developed and implemented updated salary review process
• Developed and implemented talent identification and development program, integrating talent, development and succession planning.
• Integration of businesses as part of new product line business acquisition
• Formulation, implementation and review of HR policies and practices in new office set ups and greenfield environment across APAC
• Managed review, creation and updating of all policies and benefits across APAC to ensure compliance and market benchmarking.
• Mentored and coached junior HR staff to instil a "client service/business partnering" culture within the HR team regionally, Reviewed team members and structure to provide better support for business.

VP of HR

Director and Senior Consultant

Jacobs Engineering is a US headquartered international professional services firm specialising in consulting engineering, architecture, and construction projects with offices located around the world. with more than 70,000 employees and revenues of more than US$12 billion, Jacobs offers support to industrial, commercial, and government clients across multiple markets. In 2013 they acquired Sinclair Knight Merz is a leading projects firm headquartered in Australia.

In my role I managed a team of 7 direct reports covering a headcount of 1300+ employees. I was an integral part of the Regional Leadership Team and reported to the ANZ HR Manager as well as the Regional Business Manager

The role has a primary responsibility for
• Business Partnering: Providing professional guidance and business partnering the Regional Manager WA/NT and Regional Leadership Team. Contributing to the strategic development of the region as a key member of the Regional Leadership Team providing challenge and support, and participating in business decision making strategic planning for the region, talent pipeline, succession planning and general HR best practice that will align people to strategy.
• Leading & Developing HR Team: Led the HR team, setting objectives, coaching and support to develop individuals to reach their full potential and improve HR service delivery SLAs.
• Organisational Development: Led the annual talent mapping and review process including appropriate career development courses (see below achievements) and succession planning. Led the annual performance review process for the region.
• Employee Relations: Managing a caseload of employee relations ranging from disciplinary issues, complex grievances, dismissals and performance management.  Providing ER advice for cases across the WA/NT region as required as well as workplace investigation, preparation of documentation and coaching managers for discussions.
• Compensation & Benefits: Responsible for leading the annual salary, bonus and benefits review.
• Workforce Planning: Responsible for assisting managers with all succession and performance planning for the WA/NT region as well as assisting with reviewing teams for resourcing projects.
• Employee Relations: Providing ER advice relative to Australia including award interpretation and  preparation of documentation relating to contracts of employment.
• OHS: Management of OH&S and Business Continuity issues including compilation of risk assessments in accordance with appropriate legislation and statutory obligations. Assisting with filing workers compensation claims. Providing assistance with return to work programs and ensuring Fit For Work processes were adhered to.


Key Achievement:
• Led and managed the HR work stream for the integration of the Jacobs acquisition of SKM in the region, including operational and strategic HR integration objectives, policy and procedure harmonisation, staff integration process as well as advising management on change management practices and assisting with change leadership development.
• Championed diversity within the region working with the "Women in Consulting" network.
• Leadership Programs implemented regionally:-
? Team Leader/ Manager Forum
? Leadership in Times of Uncertainty and Change
? Managing People Program
? Consulting 101
? Managers Briefings - Remuneration Drivers, Performance Drivers, Performance Dialogues
• Implemented a "client service/business partnering" culture within the HR team regionally, raising the service level rating from 4-5 to 8 (rating out of 10). This was done through mentoring and coaching and did not result in any turnover of staff.

Regional Senior HR Business Partner WA/NT

Atticus Legal is a boutique legal recruitment agency with offices in Hong Kong and Australia specialising in the recruitment of lawyers across the Asia Pacific region for private practice and commerce and industry.  Our strengths lie in our specialist knowledge and focus on building long term relationships. Our aim is to provide an extremely professional and personal service to our clients and candidates.
Sole responsibility for Australia recruitment and business

The role has a primary responsibility for:
• Development of business strategy for Australia
• Client development and marketing
• Advise clients regarding manpower and recruitment issues and recruit suitable candidates
• End to end recruitment
• Reviewing internal recruitment policies to ensure effectiveness of selection techniques and recruitment programmes.

Australian Director

Hogan Lovells is one of the largest international business legal practices, with over three thousand people operating from 26 offices in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. There are over 450 staff across Asia in offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
In this role I reported to Regional Partner - Asia and Global Director of HR.I managed a team of 4 direct reports in Hong Kong and 5 others across offices in Asia. The team looked after 450+ employees. This role was responsible for overseeing the entire HR function for Asia China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore & Vietnam

• Business Partnering: Providing professional guidance and business partnering the Partnership team in Hong Kong as well as the Office Managing Partners in the regional offices. Contributing to the strategic development of the region as by providing challenge and support, and participating in business decision making strategic planning for the region, recruitment, talent pipeline, succession planning and general HR best practice that will align people to strategy.
• Resource Management & Recruitment: Responsible for overseeing all recruitment and resource management in the region.
• Leading & Developing HR Team: led the HR team, setting objectives, coaching and support to develop individuals to reach their full potential and improve HR service delivery SLAs.
• Employee Relations: Providing ER advice for cases across Asia region as required. Preparation of documentation and coaching managers for discussions.
• Budget & Reporting: Responsible for HR budget for Asia region, and overseeing all HR KPI reporting to the partnership.
• Compensation & Benefits: Responsible for overseeing payroll and benefits functions for Asia region, including leading the annual salary, bonus and benefits review.
• Global HR Initiatives: Implementation of HR strategic global initiatives in the region including new performance management process and review of new HRIS.
• Workforce Planning: Responsible for strategic oversight of all succession and performance planning for the Asia region.
• Culture and Wellbeing: Implemented a staff wellbeing calendar of events for the Hong Kong office as well as championing diversity and pro-bono activities

Key Achievement:
• Led and managed the HR work stream for the Hogan and Hartson/Lovells M&A integration across Asia including operational harmonization and change management plans
• Championed diversity within the region working with the "Women in Law" network
• Implemented a "client service/business partnering" culture within the HR team regionally
• Develop and implement programs, including:
? Career development framework
? Role competency framework
? Annual training calendar to support business and technical skills development
• Reviewed and updated all HR policies, procedures and practices across Asia

Head of Human Resources - Asia

Allen and Overy are one of a small group of truly international and integrated law firms with approximately 5,000 staff, including over 470 partners, working in 35 major centres worldwide. The PRC practice included offices in Beijing and Shanghai.
This role was responsible for overseeing the Human Resources function for both the Beijing and Shanghai office as well as being involved in all aspects of China's practice management  Reporting to the Managing Partner PRC and the Director of HR - Asia I managed a team of 3 direct reports covering a total headcount of 145+ employees.

• Business Partnering: Providing professional guidance and business partnering the Partnership team in China. Providing challenge and support, and participating in business decision making strategic planning for the China Practice including talent pipeline, succession planning and general HR best practice that will align people to strategy.
• Resource Management & Recruitment: Responsible for overseeing all recruitment and resource management in the region including Graduate Recruitment
• Leading & Developing HR Team: led the HR team, setting objectives, coaching and support to develop individuals to reach their full potential.
• Employee Relations: Providing ER advice for China as required, preparation of documentation and coaching managers for discussions.
• Budget & Reporting: Responsible for HR budget for the China practice,
• Compensation & Benefits: Responsible for overseeing payroll and benefits functions for APAC region, including leading the annual salary, bonus and benefits review.
• Workforce Planning: Responsible managing all aspects of deal resourcing, assessing skills gaps for the practice and development training plan as well as succession and performance planning for the China practice.

Key Achievement:
• Developed and implemented graduate recruitment strategy for China including developing relationships with Universities, in-depth summer clerkship program and US and UK Universities recruitment
• Developed new China Career development framework to integrate Chinese qualified lawyers
• Develop and implement role and competency framework
• Developed annual training calendar to align training needs with skills gaps
• Led the implementation of new Asia bonus structure

HR and Practice Manager

Asgard is one of Australia's leading wealth management companies. About 5,000 financial advisers currently use their services and they manage over $26 billion of superannuation, retirement and investment savings for more than 350,000 investors. Asgard employs over 600 fulltime staff across all five states. The head office is located in Sydney, but the majority of staff are employed in their operations centre in Perth.
This role involved planning and review looking of premises and facilities operations, responsible for the operations of Client Services, Office Premises, Communications, as well as the management of all properties nationally and project owner of all capital works projects for offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. These budgets were in excess of $5.6 million. I report to HR Director and managed a team of 3 direct reports covering a headcount 600+ employees.

• Management of monthly financial reports including forecasts and accruals including compilation of annual budgets including identification of capital projects
• Strategic planning and policy setting for property, capital works, corporate services and staffing levels.
• Overall responsibility for office services & premises, front of house and client services, print and mail facilities.
• Management of OH&S and Business Continuity issues including compilation of risk assessments in accordance with appropriate legislation and statutory obligations.
• Liaising with designers, contractors and specialist consultants for major projects including fitouts and relocations for premises in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. And minor works in Sydney and Perth.

National Corporate Services Manager

Freehills is a top tier Australian legal firm of more than 1000 lawyers, including more than 210 partners, across offices in Australia and South-East Asia.
They undertake high-level legal work for Australia's top companies and are involved in many of the largest and most complex commercial transactions in this country. The Perth office currently has over 320 staff.
This role focused on dealing with the coaching and leadership of 5 line managers with a total number of staff of 41 covering the areas of Client Services, Office Premises, Communications, Records Management and Secretarial. This position involves a large range of corporate services activities. I reported to the National Facilities Manager and managed a team of 5 direct report looking after a total headcount of 350+ employees

• Review of the facilities teams operations and the implementation of policies and procedures designed to improve office performance
• Reviewed team structure and procedures for administrative support with practice groups and implemented new initiative.
• Project managed document management and control refresh to align paper and electronic document management processes and procedures.

Facilities Manager

Find out detailed information about Teresa Cole,  in Safety Bay, WA

Teresa Cole: in Safety Bay, WA

Teresa Cole

Hogan Lovells

Westcon Group, Pte Ltd

Brentwood Consulting

Jacobs Engineering (formally Sinclair Knight Merz)

Atticus Legal Recruitment

Hogan Lovells

Allen and Overy LLP

Asgard Wealth Solutions

Freehills