A Brief History.
Recognising the correlation between contemporary leadership, learning organisational cultures and great service for the end user, Kevin Hardy and Jean Fagan embarked on a mission. That mission was simple, to create an integrated leadership talent solution agency dedicated to Finding and Growing Great Leaders. From humble beginnings, HG is now recognised as the go to Australasian talent agency in health and human services as well as the broader public sector.
WHO WE ARE
We are a team of people who have come from the sectors we serve and are very passionate about living our four organisational values.
We foster a sense of ownership in all we do by creating a culture whereby we all “Act Like an Owner” in our shared commitment to “Exceed Customer Expectations”. We know we are at our best we when draw on “The Power of Team”, leveraging the unique strengths and capabilities across our organisation to achieve exceptional results, no matter how great the challenge. We operate in a dynamic environment and ensure we “Make Change Happen,” by bringing innovation and creativity to all we do.
These values form the bedrock of our organisation, shaping our identity and drive us in our pursuit of excellence.
The HG Value Proposition
Our synergistic business model of Executive Leadership Development and Learning Solutions integrated with Executive Search and Recruitment and Interim Executive and Locum Services is our unique point of difference.
It ensures our clients can count on us throughout the lifecycle of their organisation’s leadership talent journey and why we are regarded as the leading trans-Tasman partner agency.
HG’s Team & Global Networks
At the heart of our organisation lies a dynamic team of passionate individuals with extensive leadership profiles, supported by robust corporate systems and infrastructure and over 30+ years of evidence driven results and success.
Aldie Zuniga
Executive Search Coordinator
Andrew Laurie
Board Director
Andrew has been part of HG’s board of directors since xxxx. Regularly ranked among the top business coaches globally, and recognized as Executive Coach of the year worldwide in 2018, 2020,2021, 2022 and 2023, Andrew has supported countless others to build prosperous businesses.
Anna Brownjohn
Executive Search Coordinator
Anna Brownjohn is one of HG’s Executive Search Coordinators. Her educational background, coupled with her hands-on experience, uniquely positions Anna as a key player in our Executive Search & Recruitment team. Her commitment to excellence and her ability to navigate the intricate world of recruitment make Anna an invaluable asset to our dynamic team.
Anne Skipper
Governance Learning Set Facilitator & Coach
Anne has broad based governance experience and a deep understanding of the health and human services sector leading some of the largest government and private sector providers as a non-executive director. She has over 35 years of experience as a chair and board director of government, not-for-profit and private sector boards, across areas, including but not limited to, health, aged and disability, community and social services, financial services, and education.
Bradie Hammat
Executive Search Coordinator
Chantal Belmonte
Team Lead, Program Coordination
Chantal Belmonte brings an extensive background in customer service, event management, travel and logistics. Chantal is committed to ensuring seamless leadership and learning experiences with HG.
Christine Leahy
State Manager, Victoria
Christine Leahy is a seasoned executive Human Resources specialist with over 25 years of experience in prestigious national and international corporations. Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce, she has played pivotal roles in HR, aiding companies in recruiting and retaining top-tier talent, thereby enhancing organizational culture and business performance. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Christine conducts senior executive recruitment assignments and facilitates HG’s Executive Learning Sets.
Danna Canon
Director, Marketing & Digital Growth
Danna is an experienced Senior Marketer with over a decade of experience in various industries. Her proficiency in digital transformation has been instrumental in driving business growth across diverse sectors. Her focus is on strategic planning and working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure all marketing activities align with the company’s objectives and market demand.
David Hughes
National Manager, New Zealand
David Hughes is the National Manager of HG New Zealand. He is an experienced leader with significant healthcare experience across the public, private and non profit sectors, including in a range of specialty areas such as mental health and addiction, disability and primary care. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, he conducts senior executive recruitment assignments and facilitates HG’s Executive Learning Sets.
Dr Amanda Smith
Principal Search Consultant, New Zealand
Dr Amanda Smith is an experienced Chief Advisor with a well-developed and rich history of working in the disability and mental health sectors. Through her professional journey, Amanda has cultivated a strong community and social services focus, with a passionate commitment to supporting diversity, and upholding social justice.
Dr John Wakefield PSM
Executive Learning Set Faciliator & Coach
Dr. John Wakefield is a highly accomplished and influential leader in the public healthcare system in Australia. With a distinguished career spanning various leadership roles in both clinical and executive capacities, he has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving patient safety, clinical quality, and health service management. As a respected medical professional, educator, researcher, John’s contributions have left a lasting impact on healthcare organizations at national and international levels.
Dr Karen Bridgewater
Senior Researcher
Karen is an academic researcher with experience investigating, designing, recruiting, conducting and reporting. Through her career, Karen has not only finely honed her academic and population-relevant research skills, but also forged relationships in the public and private health sectors, multiple universities, and non-government organisations. Consequently, Karen brings to HardyGroup a unique combination of established research excellence, and industry-relevant, highly valuable interpersonal relationship insights and skills.
Dr Kevin Snee
Executive Learning Set Faciliator & Coach
Dr Kevin Snee has an extensive leadership and governance career spanning 30+ years in the UK and New Zealand. He is a public health physician and Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. He is distinguished by his proven ability to lead organisations through complex transitions, including clinical and financial turnarounds.
Dr Melanie Boursnell
Executive Learning Set Facilitator & Coach
Dr Boursnell is an experienced Executive and Non-Executive Director who has contributed to improved health and social outcomes in a multitude of health areas.
She specialises in scaling leadership, innovation, engagement, capability development and change.
Geoff Lavender
Executive Learning Sets Facilitator & Coach
With over 30 years’ experience in health and human services and working with government, Geoff has an extensive executive leadership background. Geoff facilitates a number of HG Executive Learning Sets and he designs and conducts leadership development programs for HG clients in the public and NFP sectors. In addition, Geoff works as an independent consultant in health and human services, providing management advisory services, particularly focused on policy and strategy in the public and not-for profit sectors.
Gloria Wallace
Executive Learning Sets Facilitator & Coach
Gloria Wallace has had extensive management, education and clinical service delivery experience within the Health and Government Sectors. She brings practical experience across various Chief Executive and Human Resource management roles at executive levels.
Janine Hammat
Principal Search Consultant
Janine is a versatile senior human resources executive with many years’ experience at the executive level in both the public and private sectors. She is a proactive leader of people strategy and cultural alignment in diverse and complex organisations. Her knowledge across all facets of human resources and her ability to partner with other senior executives and staff, and to translate organisational strategy into pragmatic and operable outcomes, enables her to deliver quality results.
Jared Hardy
Manager Executive Membership Program
Jared Hardy, our Manager Executive Sets Program, brings a wealth of experience to the HG team. His strategic mindset and passion for business development make him an instrumental force in growing our business. Jared’s commitment to delivering results and building meaningful connections aligns seamlessly with our vision for success.
Jean Fagan
Board Director & Principal
Jean Fagan is HG’s Board Director & Principal. Jean’s background spans 30 years in public and private sector organisations in the UK, South Africa and Australia, initially as a clinician and then in management and policy development. Jean’s leadership highlights a rigorous approach to systems thinking and new business development.
Karen Roach
Executive Learning Sets Facilitator & Coach
Karen Roach has extensive experience as a senior executive in both public and private environments across Australia and New Zealand. She has been both a chief executive and chief operating officer, navigating public health, regulatory and community facing roles. Karen has experience across regional Queensland and understands medium large scale complex organisations.
Kathryn Cook
Principal Learning Set Facilitator & Coach
Kathryn Cook is a highly regarded leader committed to making a significant contribution to the health of individuals and communities by playing a key leadership role, supporting collaboration and cohesion, fostering innovation and quality, and ensuring a commitment to the most effective use of resources. Kath has over 40 years of leadership in the health sector. During that time, she has worked in a variety of settings, providing her with a diverse breadth and depth of experience. She is a skilled strategist, change agent and people leader.
Ken Whelan
Executive Learning Sets Facilitator & Coach
Senior Health Executive with over 30 years as a Senior Manager and 20 of those years as a CEO across a range of Health providers and purchasers from Secondary/Tertiary providers with large rural and indigenous populations to major Quaternary Teaching facilities.
Kevin Hardy
Board Chair & Founder
Kevin is the founder and principal of HardyGroup. Kevin has been the driving force, in collaboration with Jean Fagan, behind the brand and service offerings of HG.
Liz Hlipala
Principal Search Consultant
Liz Hlipala has an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the healthcare sector in Australia today. She brings more than three decades of experience working in the healthcare sector at senior executive levels to any consultancy she undertakes. Liz has participated as an Executive Director of the governing boards and senior leadership teams of large health networks and the department of health in South Australia, given her an understanding of these complex organisations’ leadership and performance requirements.
Lynette Taylor
Executive Director, Search & Recruitment
A senior executive leader with experience in private and public sectors across health, logistics and human resource sectors. With nearly two decades of experience as a senior executive in a multinational company, Lynette brings a comprehensive global and commercial perspective to her role, focusing on the attraction, retention, and development of executive-level candidates.
Margot Hurwitz
Board Director
Margot is a successful and experienced senior executive with an in-depth knowledge of public and private healthcare delivery.Throughout her career, Margot has focused on strategic growth and strong leadership.
Monica Ip
Program Coordinator
Monica possesses a strong background in customer service, management and logistics in the retail sector. Having majored in Professional Accounting, Monica has used these skills to swiftly progress into management, pairing these strengths with her passion for client relationship management and organisation.
Natasha Tirado
Executive Search Coordinator
Natasha Tirado brings a wealth of expertise to our team, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce with a focus on Human Resources. Her keen organisational skills and attention to detail make her an invaluable asset, ensuring the seamless coordination and success of our executive search assignments.
Paul Ingle
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Ingle is the Chief Executive Officer of HG. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, he conducts senior executive and board recruitment assignments and facilitates HG’s Executive Learning Sets. Paul has been a Chief Executive in both the public and private sector for over 20 years, having worked in New Zealand, the UK and Australia. He brings a wealth of experience in supporting organisational leadership, reform, employee wellbeing, and cultural transformation.
Paul Russell-Cook
Director, Finance & Corporate Services
Paul Russell-Cook is HG’s Director of Finance and Corporate Services. With an extensive background in financial management and a deep understanding of our company’s operations, Paul play a pivotal role driving our fiscal success and ensuring the smooth functioning of our corporate services.
Philip Best
Principal Search and Leadership Consultant
Philip Best is a Principal Search Consultant with HardyGroup. A senior executive leader with experience in servicing major industry providers across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific.
Raelene Edwards
Program Coordinator
Raelene Edwards is one of HG’s Program Coordinators. Raelene’s commitment to excellence shines through in her role, where she plays a crucial part in ensuring the smooth execution and success of our programs.
Rhodie Miller
Principal Search Consultant
Rhodie Miller is Principal Search Consultant at HardyGroup, with over a decade of experience in health recruitment. Rhodie has conducted executive searches across all jurisdictions of Australia and New Zealand. With a key focus on sustainable outcomes, Rhodie strives to ensure a match between client and candidate.
Sarah Buckler
State Manager, Queensland
Sarah Buckler has an extensive background and in-depth understanding of the public sector in Australia and New Zealand. She has over twenty-five years of experience in executive leadership roles and appointments to advisory and governing boards across public, private and quasi-government boards and authorities. Sarah is a recipient of the Australia Day Honours and was awarded the Public Service Medal for her contributions to regional development, investment attraction, public sector administration, leadership, and governance.
Shelly Park
Executive Learning Set Faciliator & Coach
An experienced non executive director with over 30 years of experience leading complex organisations with ~1BN budgets and 15,000 employees. She has extensive experience on high performing Boards and brings a broad strategic lens in focusing on real world commercial outcomes. Shelly brings experience in financial stewardship, clinical and corporate governance, strength in crisis leadership and passion for quality, leadership, safety, and risk governance.
Stephen Hunter
Executive Learning Sets Facilitator & Coach
Stephen Hunter has deep expertise in public sector corporate leadership and governance with particular policy knowledge and experience in agriculture, water, the environment, natural resource management and research governance. He has developed these skills over a lengthy and diverse career in government and the private sector including a decade as Deputy Secretary with three Australian.
Tuwhakairiora (Tu) Williams
Cultural Advisor
Tuwhakairiora (Tu) has an extensive and diverse leadership profile in Aotearoa New Zealand having served across the private, public and iwi sectors. His experience includes advisory to government and government agencies and facilitating their engagement with Iwi/Māori, Treaty of Waitangi settlement claim negotiations, supporting the establishment of the Māori Television Service, as well as a host of other strategic kaupapa/initiatives.
Locations
Our focus is on Australia and New Zealand, finding and growing local talent, and using our global networks to impact locally where there are talent gaps.
Sydney
Suite 4, Level 9, 420 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Adelaide
72/76 Edmund Ave,
Unley SA 5061
Brisbane
Riparian Plaza, Level 36, 71 Eagle Street
Brisbane City QLD 4000
Wellington
Level 2, 57 Vivian St. Te Aro
Wellington NZ 6011
Ready to make people your organisation’s greatest asset?