Early Careers Talent Partner, Rheinmetall Defence Australia

Karrie is an organisational psychologist who recently joined the team at Rheinmetall to establish an early talent program, launching careers in the defence industry and attracting diverse talent to reconfigure RDA’s cultural footprint. Prior to this, Karrie had over 12 years’ experience leading early careers programs within the Oil & Gas industry with Santos and the Energy industry with Origin, delivering highly technical rotation-based graduate programs and successfully growing talent pipelines for technical skillsets and diversity groups. Karrie is a strong advocate for emerging talent, is passionate about the candidate experience and ensuring that diversity in all its forms is recognised and appreciated.

Graduate Programs Manager, Westpac Group

Originally from Liverpool in the UK, Natalie holds a Bachelor of Arts (French and Hispanic Studies) and over 10 years’ experience in the recruitment industry. Natalie is currently the Graduate Programs Manager at Westpac Group and has been with the organisation since 2018. As the Graduate Programs Manager, she is accountable for the identification, development and successful delivery of Graduate hiring across the organisation and oversees the attraction, branding, selection, onboarding and professional development components of the program. She is extremely passionate about the graduate industry and her goal remains to inspire, coach, champion and develop students as they embark on their graduate journeys.

University Pathways Superintendent, Rio Tinto

Linda currently holds the role of University Pathways Superintendent at Rio Tinto, bringing with her 18 years of expertise in talent acquisition, human resources, and learning and development. Over the past 6 years, her focus has been on formulating and executing comprehensive strategies for talent attraction, student outreach and talent acquisition. More recently, Linda is responsible for onboarding and leading technical rotation-based graduate programs for Rio Tinto's early talent as well at the University Vacation Program.

Linda holds postgraduate qualifications in human resources and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Her passion lies in fostering the growth of students and graduates as they embark on their career journeys, ensuring a positive and impactful start to their professional paths.

Manager | Talent, Deloitte

Heather started working for the Deloitte Graduate Talent Acquisition team in 2014. During this time she has lead a number of student recruitment teams across the country for all Business Units. Heather has been working in the recruitment industry since 2004 from agency to outsourcer and internal, so always high volume! Heather has a Bachelor of Behaviour Science (Psychology), Diploma in Management, Cert IV in Training & Assessment and another Cert IV in Coaching. Heather is passionate about early identification of talent and loves watching students' careers grow within the firm.

Manager, Diversity and Employment Programs, Level Crossing Removal Project

Michelle is an experienced Organisational Development professional with close to 20 years' experience in various roles across Australia. Throughout her career, Michelle has managed several early careers programs across industries including Banking, Transport, Aviation and FMCG. Most recently, Michelle has moved into the Government sector, managing the Early Careers programs portfolio with the Level Crossing Removal Project. Passionate about the graduate experience across the entire employee lifecycle, particularly graduate development using blended learning methodologies, Michelle is committed to supporting businesses to mentor and coach emerging talent. Michelle has a Bachelor of Teaching, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and is currently completing a Graduate Diploma of Business, as well as holding Myers Briggs, DiSC and TMS accreditations.

Consultant, Early Careers, NAB

Elizabeth has worked in the graduate industry for over twenty years, spending ten years consulting to Federal Government and corporate clients on recruitment and assessment strategy both in graduate and lateral hiring. In recent roles, Elizabeth has been responsible for initiating the design and build of structured graduate development and internship programs, establishing processes and ensuring rigour in attraction, assessment, recruitment, learning & development, and program management. Elizabeth is experienced in assessment methodologies, in particular the design and facilitation of assessment centres and has managed many high volume graduate recruitment campaigns. Elizabeth has post graduate qualifications in Human Resource Management, Cert IV in Training & Assessment, holds Hogan Assessments accreditation and is certified to deliver DDI leadership courses.

Early Careers Program Lead, SAAB Australia

Amanda is located in Adelaide and recently joined Saab Australia as the Early Careers Program Lead to support the strategic direction and implementation of the Early Careers framework in the business. Amanda’s history delivering early careers programs started in 2012 when coordinating graduate and talent pipelining programs within the oil and gas industry at Santos. A passion for the candidate experience and supporting students with career opportunities led Amanda to broaden her experience and join the tertiary education sector in recent years. Acting in a liaison capacity within the University of Adelaide’s Central Career Services team, Amanda drove industry and student-centric activities, programs and projects to enhance student employability and facilitate long term connection strategies with industry, employers and professional associations. Amanda has been a member representative of the AAGE on behalf of multiple organisations and returns to the committee in 2023 having previously volunteered between 2015 and 2017. 

Early Careers Manager, Ability Action Australia

Fiona is currently the Early Careers Manager at Ability Action Australia, a leading NDIS provider in Australia. Fiona has over 20 years’ experience, both locally and abroad, in the early careers landscape, practising in the corporate sectors across investment banking, professional services and telecommunications, as well as in emergency services and health. AAGE named Fiona in their Top 30 Graduate Recruiters within Australia in 2014 as well as Top 25 in 2020. Fiona’s expertise is establishing early career programs and pipeline channels as well as managing programs from end to end including attraction strategies, recruitment campaigns and integration/development of emerging talent. Fiona is particularly passionate and focused on providing students and graduates with career opportunities that match their skills, motivations and career goals.