Community work
Audrey Harris
HR Professional
Summary
An experienced, entrepreneurially minded and strategically focused HRM leader. With a dynamic 20+ year career steering organisations through complex transitions and helped build an empowered and talented workforce. I have undertaken these roles within a highly competitive, evolving consumer product and healthcare industries in cross-cultural APAC environments.
Proven expertise in defining organisational structure and human capital requirements to align HR functions with business goals, providing the catalyst to optimise performance, enhanced productivity, and drive revenue, profit, and productivity growth.
An articulate communicator, highly skilled negotiator, and pride myself on my networking skills in business settings.
Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Language
Work History
APAC HR Director
Sonova AG
01.2018 - Current
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Exercised leadership capabilities by successfully motivating and inspiring others.
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend and holiday shifts.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Developed strong communication and organizational skills through working on group projects.
- Proven ability to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems.
- Demonstrated a high level of initiative and creativity while tackling difficult tasks.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Gained strong leadership skills by managing projects from start to finish.
- Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
- Applied effective time management techniques to meet tight deadlines.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness through the development of innovative solutions.
- Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
Senior HR Business Partner
Sonova New Zealand Ltd
05.2007 - 12.2017
- Investigated and liaised with legal department to respond to complaints of harassment, discrimination, employee grievances, and other sensitive issues and prepared position statements for EEOC.
- Promoted and enabled necessary changes to align operations with strategic plans.
- Resolved understaffing issues, disputes, employee terminations, and disciplinary procedures.
- Identified HR training needs and conducted training for employees and leadership while recommending approaches to effect continual improvements in business objectives, productivity, and within company to reach business goals.
- Maintained confidential nature of employee and company proprietary and privileged information used or observed in course of performing job duties.
- Collaborated with leadership to assess and improve policies across board.
- Managed full cycle of recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new employees.
- Conducted exit interviews with employees leaving company to gauge areas of success and opportunities for improvement.
- Integrated talent management process to include detailed analysis of potential talent gaps and development of career plans to identify and retain current talent and attract outside talent to business.
- Advised senior management on organizational development and change management initiatives.
- Developed and delivered special events for company employees.
- Conducted employee surveys and interviews to evaluate employee engagement and job satisfaction levels.
- Collaborated closely with internal teams to develop and implement successful human resources systems and processes.
- Facilitated team-building activities and initiatives, improving collaboration and engagement.
- Devised hiring and recruitment policies for [Number]-employee company.
- Facilitated successful policy implementation and enforcement to maintain legal and operational compliance.
- Enhanced team workflows and employee job satisfaction by coordinating communication between managers and employees.
- Fostered positive work environment through comprehensive employee relations program.
- Structured compensation and benefits according to market conditions and budget demands.
- Created and implemented forward-thinking initiatives to improve employee engagement.
- Liaised between multiple business divisions to improve communications.
- Distributed employee engagement surveys to identify areas of improvement.
- Recruited top talent to maximize profitability.
- Identified and implemented appropriate strategies to increase employee satisfaction and retention.
- Instructed senior leaders on appropriate employee corrective steps.
- Discovered and resolved complex employee issues that affected management and business decisions.
- Updated training processes by reviewing existing documentation, leveraging feedback from associates and working with legal and compliance teams.
- Collaborated with legal and compliance teams to review paperwork, obtain feedback, and procure available information for new training processes.
- Maintained current knowledge of industry regulations and legislation to amend policies and promote compliance.
- Worked with managers to achieve compliance with organizational policies, providing clarifying information and recommending necessary changes.
- Developed comprehensive process for new hires and reviewed new hire productivity, optimizing onboarding effectiveness.
- Developed and maintained relationships with recruitment agencies, industry professionals and government agencies for successful recruitment efforts.
- Reduced process gaps while supervising employees to achieve optimal productivity.
- Utilized compliance tools, corrective actions and identification of deficiencies to mitigate audit risks.
Business Owner Construction Business
Harris Dowd Construction
10.1997 - 05.2007
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Developed strong communication and organizational skills through working on group projects.
- Applied effective time management techniques to meet tight deadlines.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.
General Manager
Swarovski AG
10.1991 - 10.1997
- Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Applied effective time management techniques to meet tight deadlines.
- Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
- Exercised leadership capabilities by successfully motivating and inspiring others.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Demonstrated a high level of initiative and creativity while tackling difficult tasks.
- Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness through the development of innovative solutions.
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend and holiday shifts.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Implemented operational strategies and effectively built customer and employee loyalty.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
- Managed budget implementations, employee evaluations, and contract details.
- Maximized operational excellence mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, and company procedures.
- Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
- Analyzed market trends and competitor activities to create competitive advantages.
- Provided strategic oversight of marketing and promotional campaigns to keep campaigns aligned with overall goals and objectives.
- Formulated policies and procedures to streamline operations.
- Provided thoughtful guidance to personnel in navigating and resolving snags in productivity.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
- Trained new employees on proper protocols and customer service standards.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Updated and resolved incidents and managed accessorial charges objectively while maximizing profit.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Identified and qualified customer needs and negotiated and closed profitable projects with high success rate.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Monitored daily cash discrepancies, inventory shrinkage and drive-off.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
HR Manager
Spotless Services QLD
03.1986 - 03.1991
- Monitored and handled employee claims involving performance-based and harassment incidents.
- Motivated employees through special events, incentive programs, and constructive feedback.
- Maintained company compliance with local, state, and federal laws, in addition to established organizational standards.
- Facilitated onboarding sessions and on-the-job training for new hires, bolstering employee job position knowledge and skillset.
- Maintained payroll and benefits for employees in various locations and diminished financial discrepancies through expert program management.
- Created vision and goals for HR team and motivated staff to achieve excellence in customer support and core HR processes.
- Managed employee disputes by employing conflict resolution techniques.
- Recommended, initiated and finalized HR actions regarding faculty and staff position management, compensation and employment postings, hiring proposals and new hire onboarding.
- Advised decision-makers on complex and confidential matters ranging from performance management to employee relations issues.
- Guided leaders and employees on company policies, programs, benefits and salary administration.
- Led decision-making and implementation of HR policies, procedures, programs and functions.
- Developed focused training programs, leadership pipeline and succession plans.
- Oversaw legal compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations in addition to compliance with company policies and procedures.
- Reviewed business goals to recommend new HR approaches, policies and procedures for continual improvements focused on meeting business objectives and enhancing productivity.
- Supervised and mentored direct reports and developed talented HR teams.
- Processed employee claims involving performance issues and harassment.
- Motivated employees through special events and incentive programs.
- Maintained human resources regulatory compliance with local, state and federal laws.
- Evaluated employee onboarding programs and presented strategic improvement recommendations to upper management.
- Maintained payroll and benefits for employees in various locations, minimizing financial discrepancies through detailed program management.
- Coordinated employee grievances and disputes in timely and professional manner by finding constructive solutions.
- Advised executives on best practices for employee growth and productivity goals, consistently helping companies improve retention.
- Implemented performance reviews and motivational strategies to elevate HR team results.
Education
MBA - Digital Distruption
Massey University
Auckland 07.2020 - 12.2022
Skills
HR support
undefinedAdditional Information
I am highly self-aware with an inquisitive mind and humility to learn from others. I have experience in delivering results, working under pressure and not get knocked off course by the unexpected.
I enjoy meeting new people and creating communities within my work and personal situations.
Interests
Skiing, hiking, travelling and volunteering on projects.
I am an avid skier since I was incredibly young, the most amazing experience I remember was Heli skiing in the back country in New Zealand with my son.
New Zealand offers many beautiful hiking trails, my family and I regularly hike in the South Island of New Zealand.
Travelling is a passion of mine, as an immigrant to New Zealand travelling back to Europe to see my extended family was always a special occasion. I was lucky enough to travel for almost one year after leaving Australia. This was a wonderful experience of self-discovery and to be able to travel freely anywhere was incredibly special. In my current role I travel around Asia and Europe, experiencing the diverse cultures and meeting people of diverse cultures is very enriching.
I have volunteered in various community projects throughout my life, my youngest brother is disabled. From an early age I would help in the school for the intellectually disabled, I continued this work when my children started school. I help with the various charity organisations in Singapore.
Timeline
MBA - Digital Distruption
Massey University
07.2020 - 12.2022
APAC HR Director
Sonova AG
01.2018 - Current
Senior HR Business Partner
Sonova New Zealand Ltd
05.2007 - 12.2017
Business Owner Construction Business
Harris Dowd Construction
10.1997 - 05.2007
General Manager
Swarovski AG
10.1991 - 10.1997
HR Manager
Spotless Services QLD
03.1986 - 03.1991
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