KEEPING UP TO DATE
Q&A With HR Expert Kerry Downes
6 Dec 2017
We’re excited to announce that the Impact HR team is expanding. We welcome Kerry Downes — she’s a Senior HR Expert who has over 20 years’ experience in Human Resources working for a variety of companies in hospitality, entertainment, manufacturing retailing and distribution.
In this Q&A, she tells us about her career highlights and what she thinks is the most important thing when it comes to achieving a great team performance.
Q: What’s your professional background?
I have worked in Senior Human Resources roles for a variety of companies including International Game Technology (IGT), Brightpoint where I oversaw the HR Function in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Dubai and India, Global Food Equipment where we relocated manufacturing, call centre, finance and spare parts to the Philippines and most recently National Human Resources for Radio Rentals – which counts 90 stores across Australia, 550 team members and an HR Team of 8.
Q: What brought you to join Impact HR?
I have a passion for wanting people to succeed – no business can operate without people. I strongly believe that people who feel valued will always achieve more than expected.
Q: What’s your biggest career achievement?
I have had many achievements throughout my career including winning awards like Hewitt’s Best Employer and AHRI Award for Excellence in People Management, however, my career highlight is taking a dysfunctional HR Team and transforming them into a high performing team
.
Q: What makes you passionate about your job?
It’s always the people! I believe everyone comes to work to do the very best they can – it is our job as leaders to ensure we create an environment for them to be able to excel.
Q: In your opinion, what’s the most important thing when improving your client’s team performance?
Always my first question is when we are talking teams… Do you know what motivates them? You would be surprised at how many times I hear “No”.
Interested in talking to Kerry about your team? Leave her a message on our Contact Us page and she will get back to you.
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