HR Engage Podcast

What happens when an accounting student reads one book, builds a rogue website, and accidentally launches a global career in human resources? In this episode, host Jonathan Mamaril sits down with Jodi McLeod , a Rockhampton-born generalist whose unconventional HR journey has spanned remote Australian mining towns, Sky TV in Scotland, and Irish IT firms. Now thriving back in regional Queensland, Jo...

What happens when you combine corporate HR expertise with a professional background in drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselling? In this episode of the HR Engage Podcast , host Jonathan Mamaril sits down with Carla Canning , the founder of Connect Lead Achieve . Carla shares her inspiring journey from starting out in law firm administration to stepping away to work as a counsellor, eventually r...

Why are your stakeholders nodding "yes" but doing absolutely nothing? Jonathan Mamaril welcomes professional speaker and business strategist AJ Kulatunga to explore the high-stakes world of impact and influence. From his roots in Darwin to the global stage, AJ shares how his "warrior" archetype and unique vantage point help HR leaders navigate the complex, often non-linear path...

Is the human resources industry facing a mass exodus, or is it on the brink of an AI revolution? In this full episode of the HR Engage Podcast, host Jonathan Mamaril sits down with Sarah Stone , Co-Founder of linkABLE and ThriveABLE AI. With a rich corporate background working across major brands, Sarah brings a refreshingly honest and commercially driven perspective to the people and culture spac...

Trudi Liekefett, Manager of People & Capability at Isaac Regional Council, joins Jonathan Mamaril for one of the most honest, wide-ranging, and deeply personal conversations we've had on the HR Engage Podcast. Trudi's journey into HR was anything but planned. From studying law, to journalism, to completing an MBA — she fell into HR by accident while her husband was deployed to Afghan...

What does a classical vocalist turned HR leader have to teach us about people, culture, and business? More than you'd think. 🎶➡️💼 In this episode of the HR Engage Podcast, host Jonathan Mamaril sits down with Chantelle Williams — Head of People & Culture at LSKD, Australia's fast-growing athleisure brand — for one of the most refreshing and real conversations we've had on the...

What happens when an astrophysicist trades the cosmos for corporate leadership — and discovers the real science is in managing people? 🔬➡️👥  In this episode of the HR Engage Podcast, host Jonathan Mamaril sits down with Jay Ramanah — physicist turned CEO, oil & gas superintendent, banking executive, and founder of MaxStaff.co — for a raw and unfiltered conversation about why HR needs a radic...

In this episode, host Jonathan Mamaril puts Leanne Lazarus —Queensland’s most sought-after HR recruitment specialist—in the hot seat for a conversation every HR professional needs to hear.  Leanne reveals:  • What the HR job market really looks like right now 📊 • The #1 mistake candidates make without realising it ❌ • Why she asks every client one simple question:  👉 “Is it a chair or a stool?”...

She didn't choose HR — HR chose her. And it took 7 years, 11 schools, a construction site, and a whole lot of "I don't have all the answers" to get there.  In this raw and refreshingly honest conversation, Chief People Officer Melitta McDonald pulls back the curtain on what it ACTUALLY takes to build a thriving HR career — no sugarcoating, no corporate jargon, just real talk fr...

How do you tell 320 people their jobs are gone—and have them THANK you for it? 🤯 In this powerful episode of the HR Engage Podcast, host Jonathan Mamaril sits down with veteran HR generalist Simon Lever, whose career spans aviation, construction, healthcare, government, and international projects. Simon shares raw, real-world lessons from 25+ years navigating the toughest moments in human resourc...

What does it take to build a thriving HR career from the ground up—and lead a team of 18 through organizational chaos?   Rae Headey's journey to General Manager of People & Development at Carers Queensland wasn't linear—and that's exactly what makes her story so powerful. From beauty therapist to yacht stewardess to HR executive, Rae shares the unconventional path that shaped he...

In this episode of the HR Engage podcast, Jonathan Mamaril talks with Holly McBride, a powerhouse HR leader who went from retail management in Birmingham, UK to leading People & Culture at Fraser Coast Council in Australia. This conversation is PACKED with actionable insights that will change how you approach both your career and personal growth!  In this game-changing episode, discover:  ✅ H...

In this milestone 20th episode , host Jonathan Mamrell welcomes a true pioneer in business and purpose— Paul Dunn . Paul was one of Hewlett Packard’s first ten employees in Australia, went on to become a globally recognised speaker who has reached more than 236,000 people , and is the co-founder of B1G1 , the groundbreaking giving initiative that has already created over 374 million impacts worldw...

Is AI about to revolutionise HR forever? 🤖  This conversation will change how you think about the future of Human Resources!   In this episode of the HR Engage Podcast, host Jonathan Mamaril sits down with Josh Campbell, an 18-year HR veteran who's gone from safety compliance to leading HR at a cutting-edge EV charging technology company. Josh shares his controversial take: AI won't rep...

What happens when you combine a degree in HR, 500 earthworms, and the courage to ask for what you want? You get one of the most inspiring HR transformation stories we've ever shared on the HR Engage Podcast!  Join host Jonathan Mamaril as he sits down with Candice, a powerhouse HR leader whose journey from Johannesburg to Brisbane includes building a consulting empire within RSM, managing glo...

From Psychology Graduate to Global HR Expert: The Unconventional Career Journey That Led to $50K+ Salary Savings   Ever wondered how a farm kid with a psychology degree becomes a sought-after compensation consultant saving startups tens of thousands on salary costs? 🚀  In this eye-opening conversation, Matt McFarlane shares his unconventional journey from struggling to land his first HR role to l...

Ever wondered what would happen if every HR professional walked into work as though they owned the place? You’re about to find out. Welcome to HR Engage with Jonathan Mamaril. In this episode, Jonathan is joined by Claudia Faulkner—Canadian-born, UK-raised and, for the past three decades, a force in Australian HR. Claudia was forged in the fiery world of industrial relations at the Australian Cham...

In this episode of HR Engage , host Jonathan Mamaril  sits down with Tanya Hibbard , a “pracademic” who has steered people strategy everywhere from high-stakes automotive showrooms to remote mine sites and, most recently, oil-and-gas operations. Tanya unpacks how turning HR into a profit centre helped her rise from coordinator to multi-site leader, why mapping every stakeholder (even the finance t...

From London boardrooms to Queensland beaches — meet Heidi Mayhew-Sanders. 🌍💼  In this episode of the HR Engage Podcast with Jonathan Mamaril, you’ll step into the shoes of a global HR leader whose journey spans continents, career pivots, and powerful insights. Heidi opens up about transitioning from operations to HR, navigating the challenges of returning to the Australian job market after 17 ye...

In this episode of the HR Engage Podcast, Jonathan sits down with Hayley Fielding , Head of People and Culture at Tunstall Australasia, whose journey into HR didn’t start in a boardroom — it started in a campervan. 🛻 From leading teams in retail and healthcare to becoming an executive HR leader, Hayley’s story is a masterclass in learning by doing, backing yourself, and building real impact in pe...

In this episode of the HR Engage Podcast,  Jonathan Mamaril sits down with Nathan Bryant , HR Manager at Nauru Airlines , for a refreshingly honest and insightful deep dive into what it really means to lead in today’s evolving HR landscape. Nathan’s journey spans from stacking shelves on night shift to steering HR strategy across borders — and in this conversation, he unpacks it all. From industry...

Welcome to this episode of the HR Engage Podcast, with Jonathan Mamaril. Today, Jonathan talks with Sonya Law — an accomplished HR leader, leadership coach, and wellbeing advocate. 🌟 Sonya shares her inspiring journey from studying IT and accounting to becoming a respected voice in human resources and leadership. With a career spanning mining, education, and organisational transformation, she bri...

In this edition of the podcast, Jonathan sits down with the Rod Francisco, a HR leader with a diverse background that spans from his early career in the military to strategic roles in the resources sector and local government. Rod shares his journey of transitioning from the army to human resources, where he developed his passion for leadership, culture, and values. He offers insights into the sim...

Welcome to the HR Engage Podcast with Jonathan Mamaril, in this episode of Jonathan sits down with renowned HR leader Mark Linley, whose career spans over two decades across diverse industries including aviation, retail, corrections, and immigration. Mark brings rich insights from his 12 years in Dubai, where he managed regional HR operations for organisations with workforces exceeding 220,000 emp...

In this episode of the HR Engage, host Jonathan Mamaril is joined by Oloff Visser, a seasoned executive with an impressive career across South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. From industrial relations and legal negotiations to large-scale change management and business transformation, Oloff’s journey is packed with wisdom for HR professionals at every stage of their career. Jonathan and Oloff...