Founding VP:HR and Director, Policy & Development
KAUST University
Total years of experience :41 years, 3 Months
• Established start-up HR function, hiring first 1000 employees, relocating from 60 countries into Saudi Arabia with families to live in a campus compound
• Rolled out SAP HR, established pay scales, global employee benefits
• Designed performance management system
• Established Policy Office to write all policies for Academic, HR, Financial, IT, Governance and Community areas
• Designed Saudi Development Program to advance local talent
• Responsibility for HR team of 67 across 5 faculties (3500 staff)
• Member of Senior Executive Team and Senate
• Multi-union environment
• Full review of all policies
• Cost savings through benefits review
• Rolled out Oracle HR
• Member of Risk Committee and Strategic Planning & Resource Committee
Medscheme Holdings
Health insurer of 3000 staff at 14 branches in Johannesburg, South Africa
(1988 - 2005)
- Group Human Resources Manager
- Director: Human Resources & Public Affairs
• Family business grew to country's largest health insurer (2 million lives)
• Served on Operating Board and EXCO. Group won SA Non-Listed Company Award & Professional Businesswomen's Award
• 3 mergers & acquisitions plus shareholding changes
• Business process Re-engineering & Lean Six Sigma programs
• Expansion to 4 southern African countries
• Partnered in business development activities
• Industry lobbying to parliament, media relations & industry affairs
Unilever South Africa
Global FMCG at local HO in Durban, South Africa
(1986 - 1988)
- Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager
• Recruitment of final year students from 14 universities
• Placement & relocation into subsidiary companies
• Design and manage the 2 year graduate trainee program
• Foster relationships with academics to identify & refer top students
National Mutual of Australasia (now Axa Insurance)
Life Assurer at local HO in Cape Town, South Africa
(1983 - 1986)
- Assistant Sales Training Manager
- Assistant Personnel Manager
• Devising and running sales incentives
• Training managers & supervisors
• General HR administration
• Harvard Business School Strategic HR Management
• University of Stellenbosch Business School Industrial Relations Development Programme (1 year)
• Institute of Personnel Management Personnel Diploma (2 years)
• University of Cape Town BA (Human Sciences)
• Diocesan College (Bishops) JMB Matriculation