Author: Rich Atkinson
Adventurer. Impostor. Learner. Misfit.
Rich is a C-Suite executive leader with broad industry experience in Operations and HR.
Currently the Integration Director for dnata Catering Australia leading integration and operational management of the newly acquired Qantas Catering business.
He was the Senior Vice President of HR for an Emirates Group business - dnata, a global air services & travel business with 50,000+ colleagues in 85 countries.
Prior to this Rich led HR/Transformation Programs for business divisions within PayPal, eBay, Reuters, GE, Westpac, and Barclays. Rich has also held line roles in Sales and Operations Management.
Rich’s consulting clients have included Fairfax & EMI Music.
Rich holds a Masters degree from Oxford University. He has achieved Fellow status in both the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) and the CIPD (UK). Rich's innovative change and talent management approaches have been recognised at HR & Leadership Awards in Asia and Australia.
Outside of HR, Rich is a father, former professional comedian (with TV credits in UK and Australia) and plays way too much sport (badly - he is a Pom after all).
I’ve adventured through the corporate and small business worlds over 20 years. I’ve chased the dreams, skipped up and slipped down the career-ladder. I’ve been an institutional misfit and a shining example of the ‘company man’. I’ve been told I’ve achieved success, but have been well and truly humbled by my own failings…
I’ve been lucky enough to have fun along the way. Much of the time I’ve been professionally fulfilled, at others I’ve been resentful and tired from the slog. Through this I’ve generally enjoyed myself, met a bunch of fascinating people and still smile most of the day!
By 38 I had my dream job on the leadership team of a global multinational business with all the expatriate perks and trimmings! But I chose to move back home for my daughter. Some things are more important.
I’ve jumped at the tough assignments and I’ve had some truly fascinating gigs but I’ve never met an awesome job that couldn’t also become mundane. Over time I’ve found that the more energy and humour I bring to work the more fun I get out of it.
With a smile on my face, and an apology for my rambling vernacular, he’s what I learn along the way....
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Rich’s areas of expertise include:
Business Acquisition and Integration
Talent, Leadership & Organisation Development
Group / Team Facilitation
Human Performance & Change Management
Mentoring & Career Coaching
MC & Keynotes
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