Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Shivon Aaria Gunalan

Sydney

Summary

With over 12 years of experience in business development and candidate management across APAC, I have a proven track record of building strong relationships and driving initiatives. A self-starter, I excel in autonomous environments, taking on new projects with enthusiasm and leading teams toward success. My expertise in stakeholder engagement has allowed me to foster collaborative and productive partnerships, while my servant leadership approach emphasizes supporting my team and empowering others to achieve their best.


Overview

24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Recruiting Marketing & Sourcing Strategies

Formative Search
02.2025 - Current
  • Established a new recruitment desk from scratch, developing talent acquisition strategies across APAC.
  • Partnered with clients to understand hiring needs and identify the right talent for key roles.
  • Built a strong pipeline of qualified candidates through proactive headhunting and relationship management.
  • Conducted strategic meetings with candidates to assess fit and foster long-term engagement.
  • Created and distributed market-focused content to enhance brand awareness and attract top talent.
  • Implemented data-driven recruitment metrics to optimize hiring processes and improve efficiency.

Recruitment Specialist

PM Partners
10.2022 - Current
  • Billed up to $800K, recruiting for Healthcare, Government, and Financial Services sectors.
  • Placed professionals across Project Management, Business Analysis, Change Management, and PMO functions.
  • Collaborated with the Talent Manager to enhance recruitment processes, including pipeline reports and market mapping.
  • Developed proactive sourcing strategies to build strong active and passive candidate pipelines.
  • Cultivated client relationships to deliver tailored recruitment solutions.
  • Managed CRM tracking, ensuring timely follow-ups on vacancies.
  • Led job offer processes, from extension to acceptance.
  • Conducted reference and background checks.
  • Supported hiring managers with candidate onboarding.
  • Ran daily stand-ups to monitor recruitment progress.
  • Partnered with People & Culture to lead internal hiring processes.


Executive Search Consultant

Kepler Search
07.2021 - 09.2022
  • Top biller, headhunted and placed candidates while building client relationships in Japan & Korea for the Datacentre industry.
  • Recruited through LinkedIn, referrals, and job portals.
  • Worked exclusively with Vantage on senior roles across APAC for a RPO engagement.
  • Conducted salary benchmarking and reference checks, coordinated interviews, and managed job offers.
  • Acted as liaison for client-candidate contract inquiries and organized team-building events to boost staff morale.
  • Created marketing content to enhance the company's branding efforts focused on diversity and inclusion.

Client Relations and Development Lead

Tate Asia
08.2020 - 07.2021
  • Expanded the company’s portfolio by shifting focus from FMCG to building a client base in the Financial Services sector.
  • Organized and conducted in-person meetings with clients to enhance the success of sales pitches.
  • Built and nurtured strong networks with business executives and stakeholders to boost brand awareness and reputation.
  • Participated in industry events to strengthen the company’s presence and visibility in the marketplace.
  • Contributed to the company’s rebranding efforts, including developing the website and creating content for LinkedIn to increase brand recognition.

Marketing Events Project Manager

Spire Events
01.2018 - 04.2020
  • Organized and led kickoff and status meetings to set clear project expectations before execution.
  • Managed project budget and tracked expenditures to ensure costs remained within budget.
  • Traveled to customer sites to keep projects on track and ensure high-quality standards.
  • Communicated effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including executives.
  • Facilitated brainstorming sessions to generate fresh ideas for conferences and workshops.
  • Produced and distributed marketing collateral and content for the conference.
  • Conducted on-site interviews for marketing purposes.

Project Manager (Comms Dept) - Contract

JPM Ministries
12.2015 - 11.2017
  • Successfully managed communication projects with tight deadlines and limited resources, ensuring timely delivery and quality results under pressure.
  • Coordinated effectively with all levels of stakeholders, including executives, providing clear and concise updates on project progress and aligning goals with organizational objectives.
  • Assisted in evaluating, selecting, and negotiating with vendors and subcontractors, ensuring the best fit for project needs and maintaining cost-efficiency.
  • Analyzed data from past projects to identify key areas for improvement, leveraging lessons learned to refine future strategies and optimize project execution.
  • Compiled and presented regular reports on project status, including budget tracking, resource allocation, technical issues, and customer satisfaction metrics, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making across teams.
  • Developed and maintained comprehensive project plans, incorporating risk management strategies and contingency plans to address potential challenges proactively.
  • Fostered collaboration and communication between cross-functional teams, driving alignment and ensuring the successful execution of project milestones.


Client Acquisition and Retention Manager

Talent Design Potential
01.2013 - 11.2015
  • Represented the company at industry events to enhance brand visibility and expand professional networks.
  • Developed recruitment strategies to attract top-tier candidates for available roles.
  • Maintained clear and consistent communication with candidates throughout the recruitment process.
  • Compiled comprehensive reports on recruitment activities for management analysis and decision-making.
  • Collaborated with HR Business Partners to implement robust succession planning strategies.


Recruitment Consultant (Financial Services)

Robert Half
02.2010 - 12.2012

Recruited initially as a Senior Researcher and promoted to Consultant after 6 months.

  • Managed a portfolio of Financial Services accounts, offering timely support and strategic guidance.
  • Screened resumes and conducted phone interviews to assess candidates' qualifications for open roles.
  • Oversaw all onboarding processes for new hires, including paperwork processing and orientation scheduling.
  • Coordinated logistics for onsite interviews between candidates and employers to ensure smooth operations.


Candidate Experience Manager

Smith & Jessen
01.2006 - 01.2010
  • Developed and implemented innovative strategies to identify, attract, and hire top talent across Capital Markets and Asset Management.
  • Managed the entire job offer process, including extending offers and negotiating terms to secure candidate acceptances.
  • Oversaw candidate experience throughout the recruitment lifecycle, ensuring timely and transparent communication with all applicants.
  • Conducted thorough reference and background checks to verify qualifications and ensure suitability for roles.
  • Created detailed market maps to support business development initiatives in expanding into new APAC markets.
  • Collaborated with business development teams to align recruitment strategies with market expansion goals and objectives in the APAC region.


Marketing and Events Coordinator

Lanworks
09.2001 - 08.2005
  • Coordinated and executed marketing campaigns across various channels, ensuring alignment with company goals.
  • Managed day-to-day marketing operations, including content creation, social media, email marketing, and event planning.
  • Worked closely with the sales teams to develop and implement marketing strategies to drive brand awareness and lead generation.
  • Assisted in the development and execution of promotional materials, including brochures, presentations, and advertisements.
  • Organized and supported events, webinars, and product launches to engage with customers and prospects.
  • Managed relationships with external vendors, agencies, and partners to ensure smooth execution of marketing initiatives.
  • Supported the development of marketing calendars, ensuring timely delivery of marketing assets and campaigns.
  • Conducted market research to understand customer needs, preferences, and trends, assisting in the creation of targeted marketing strategies.


Education

Associate of Arts - Mass Communications

Oklahoma City University (MDIS)
Singapore
01-2000

Skills

  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Problem-solving
  • Excellent communication
  • Problem resolution
  • Time management

Certification

PeopleCertP3O® Foundation Certifications in Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices


Change Management PRACTITIONER

APMG International May 2024 · Expires May 2029

Timeline

Recruiting Marketing & Sourcing Strategies

Formative Search
02.2025 - Current

Recruitment Specialist

PM Partners
10.2022 - Current

Executive Search Consultant

Kepler Search
07.2021 - 09.2022

Client Relations and Development Lead

Tate Asia
08.2020 - 07.2021

Marketing Events Project Manager

Spire Events
01.2018 - 04.2020

Project Manager (Comms Dept) - Contract

JPM Ministries
12.2015 - 11.2017

Client Acquisition and Retention Manager

Talent Design Potential
01.2013 - 11.2015

Recruitment Consultant (Financial Services)

Robert Half
02.2010 - 12.2012

Candidate Experience Manager

Smith & Jessen
01.2006 - 01.2010

Marketing and Events Coordinator

Lanworks
09.2001 - 08.2005

Associate of Arts - Mass Communications

Oklahoma City University (MDIS)
Shivon Aaria Gunalan