I have worked in Employment Relations for more than 30 years, across advocacy, employment law consulting, senior in-house Employment Relations roles, executive HR roles and consulting.
That depth of experience means I bring more than technical knowledge of employment law and process. I have spent much of my career dealing with complex employment issues in real organisations, where decisions need to work commercially, withstand scrutiny and be implemented effectively.
I have held executive roles in two of New Zealand’s largest companies, giving me direct experience of the commercial, operational and organisational realities that sit behind significant people decisions. My executive experience has included responsibility for Employment Relations, people strategy, remuneration, payroll, policy, governance, wellbeing and diversity and inclusion, as well as membership of executive teams and reporting to Boards on people and remuneration matters.
Employment Relations has been a constant throughout my career. I began in legal and industrial advocacy, before moving into employment law consulting, senior in-house Employment Relations roles and then broader executive HR positions. I have advised and represented both organisations and individuals, undertaken advocacy at mediation and in employment proceedings, led Employment Relations strategy in large and complex businesses, supported collective bargaining and worked extensively across organisational change, disciplinary and performance matters, workplace complaints, investigations, personal grievances and other complex employment issues.
Through Simpson HR, I now work principally with organisations, executives and HR teams that need experienced judgement on difficult employment and people matters. Sometimes that involves a single piece of advice or an independent perspective. In other situations, I work alongside the client from the initial strategy through to documentation, consultation or investigation, negotiations, mediation and resolution.
A significant part of the value I bring is helping clients work out what the right answer is, rather than simply how to run a technically compliant process once a decision has already been made.
That may mean testing a proposed organisational structure, challenging assumptions, identifying a more proportionate response to an employment issue, or helping a client balance legal risk, commercial objectives and the circumstances of the people involved.
My approach is practical, calm and straightforward. I believe the best outcome is one that is right for the organisation and reached in the right way — commercially sound, legally robust and fair in the circumstances.
In 2017 I was named HRINZ HR Specialist of the Year and Supreme Overall HR Person of the Year. Alongside my consulting work, I have continued to contribute at governance level through Board and People & Culture roles.