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, Jodi brings a refreshingly grounded, data-savvy perspective to the realities of modern people management.

From making a 2:00 AM mad dash across state borders during COVID to rebuilding corporate intranets from scratch, Jodi’s story proves that the best HR practitioners are the ones who refuse to be boxed in. Together, Jonathan and Jodi unpack why the industry urgently needs to master data analytics, the hidden toll of vicarious trauma on HR teams, and why chasing blanket "fairness" might actually be killing workplace meritocracy.

In this episode, we cover:

• How a Body Shop book inspired Jodi to ditch accounting for a global HR career
• Working HR roles in remote Kununurra during a 3.5-year lap around Australia
• Why early-career HR professionals need to balance high confidence with being humble
• The terrifying, exciting reality of AI and why Australia lags behind in adoption
• The vicarious trauma HR teams face managing legislated domestic violence issues
• Why human resources desperately needs a dedicated seat at the government table
• The controversial downside of workplace fairness versus rewarding hard work
• Rapid fire: Empire Records, gluten-free baking, and restoring a 1957 Rover

When the workplace gets complicated, the best way forward isn't narrowing your focus—it’s broadening your mindset.

South Geldard Lawyers — HR & Employment Law Support: southgeldard.com.au
Do you think mandated workplace "fairness" makes it harder to reward your highest performers? Let us know your thoughts below

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Produced and published by Law Firm Marketing experts, Practice Proof

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 returning to human resources to solve a massive industry gap: the chronic under-resourcing of people operations within the community services and not-for-profit sectors.

Carla and Jonathan unpack why so many small-to-medium NFP and NDIS organisations are trapped in a reactionary HR cycle, often only seeking support when facing Fair Work disputes or funding risks. From navigating generational divides over work-life balance to the simple, preventative power of morning tea and cake, this conversation explores how organisations can transition from pure risk management to active culture and capability building.

In this episode, we cover:

• Moving from corporate legal administration to drug and alcohol rehab counselling
• Why the community services and NDIS sectors are chronically under-resourced in back-of-house support
• Navigating the shift from reactionary crisis management to proactive workplace compliance
• Why bringing cake to morning tea is actually a brilliant preventative HR strategy
• Bridging the work-life balance divide between office staff and frontline support workers
• Golden career advice for both early-career generalists and senior HR executives
• Carla's rapid-fire insights on micro-moments of self-care, coast trekking, and volunteering in Laos

True workplace transformation begins when we stop treating human resources as a compliance checkbox and start actively empowering the individuals delivering frontline care.

South Geldard Lawyers — HR & Employment Law Support: southgeldard.com.au

How does your organisation encourage proactive relationship-building to catch team issues before they turn into major challenges? Consider your own workplace strategies as you listen to today's episode.

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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 of modern leadership.

This conversation breaks down why logic and data often fail to move the needle when it comes to organisational change. AJ explains that real influence requires building "trust in the bank" long before you ever need to withdraw it. By shifting your mindset and "hugging the cactus," you can bridge the execution gap and move people from where they are, rather than where you wish they were.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "TLC" Framework: Think, Look, and Communicate
• Why leaders must "hug the cactus" and embrace uncomfortable conversations early
• Building institutional trust versus peer-to-peer credibility in the age of AI
• Using strategic storytelling to shift identity and drive executive action
• The secret to solving 100 small problems versus tackling one horse-sized challenge

How to "level up" your leadership by mastering execution intelligence
Mastering these capabilities makes every future challenge easier to navigate and far more rewarding.

🔗 South Geldard Lawyers — HR & Employment Law Support: southgeldard.com.au

What is one "cactus" you have been avoiding hugging in your workplace recently?

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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 space.

Sarah shares her incredible journey from stepping into management at just nineteen to becoming a leading voice in learning and development. This wide-ranging conversation tackles the biggest challenges facing HR professionals today. From the alarming trend of burnt-out teams acting as a dumping ground for unresolved conflicts, to the vital importance of articulating your financial value, Sarah explains why intentionality is your ultimate survival tool.

Jonathan and Sarah also dive deep into artificial intelligence. Sarah breaks down how leaders must shift their mindset to successfully adopt AI—moving away from a scatter gun approach to a deliberate tech strategy—before they are left completely behind.

In this episode, Jonathan and Sarah cover:

• The ROI of L&D: How to move learning and development from a fluffy afterthought to a deliberate business driver.
• Early Career Lessons: Sarah's honest reflections on becoming a manager at 19 and why leaders should always use the 24-hour rule.
• The HR Exodus: Unpacking why HR professionals are burning out and how business leaders avoiding hard conversations is the root cause.
• Selling Your Value: Why failing to articulate your commercial value makes HR teams vulnerable to redundancies.
• Deliberate AI Strategy: How to stop dabbling with ChatGPT and start building an AI framework that delivers real financial returns.
• Rapid-Fire Fun: We get to know Sarah outside of work, touching on Reformer Pilates, terrible driving, and the Maldives.

If you are ready to step out of transactional tasks and start leading with an intentional strategy, you will not want to miss this masterclass.

Need practical, jargon-free employment law advice? Reach out to the team today (and mention the podcast for a listener discount!):

🔗 South Geldard Lawyers — HR & Employment Law Support: southgeldard.com.au

💬 We want to hear from you! What was your biggest takeaway from Jonathan and Sarah's conversation on the future of HR and AI? Reach out and let us know.

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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 Afghanistan. What followed was a career built on variety, resilience, and the courage to keep saying yes — even when it meant starting over.

From her start at Rio Tinto's coal mines in regional Queensland, through a breast cancer diagnosis at 30, to stepping back into a more junior role to eventually lead the People & Capability function at Isaac Regional Council — Trudi's story is a masterclass in backing yourself.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why regional Australia is one of the most underrated career launchpads for HR professionals
• Being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at 30 — and the workplace support that changed everything
• Why taking a step back in your career is sometimes the smartest move you'll ever make
• The case for generalist experience over specialisation — especially early in your HR career
• Why burnout in HR is real — and the practical habits that actually help
• Why manager capability is the single biggest challenge facing organisations right now
• A controversial take — why HR and unions are actually working toward the same goal
• The evolution of HR from "protect the company" to strategic partner and wellbeing champion
• "Sometimes you need to do less to be more." — the quote that recently changed Trudi's life
• The power of mentorship and Women in Leadership programs at any stage of your career
• Rapid fire: Ocean's Eight, Mexico, a Las Vegas timeshare, and being a hardcore dance mum

Whether you're just starting out in HR, navigating burnout, or wondering if the variety in your career is an asset or a liability — this episode will leave you motivated, grounded, and ready to back yourself.

South Geldard Lawyers — HR & Employment Law Support: https://southgeldard.com.au/

Subscribe so you never miss an episode of the HR Engage Podcast — where real HR leaders share real stories.

Produced and published by Law Firm Marketing experts, Practice Proof

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 podcast.

Chantelle's journey is anything but conventional. From music teacher to facilitator, L&D specialist to global HR leader — she's built a career by saying yes first and figuring it out after. And she's bringing that same bold energy to one of Australia's most exciting workplaces.

In this episode, we cover:
🎯 How Chantelle went from classical vocalist to Head of People & Culture
💡 Why HR must think commercially — not just culturally
🚀 The real challenges of scaling culture during hyper-growth
🧠 Mindset vs. generational differences in leadership
📋 Why more policies ≠ fewer problems
📚 Must-read book recommendations for HR and people leaders

Whether you're just starting out in HR or you've got decades under your belt, Chantelle's insights on authentic leadership, people strategy, and building culture at scale will leave you thinking differently about the work you do.

🔗 South Geldard Lawyers — HR & Employment Law Support: southgeldard.com.au

💬 What's your biggest HR challenge right now? Drop it in the comments — we'd love to hear from you!

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of the HR Engage Podcast — where real HR leaders share real stories.

#HREngagePodcast #HumanResources #PeopleAndCulture #HRLeadership #workplaceculture

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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 radical shake-up.

Jay shares his unconventional career journey from research physics to the frontlines of people management across industries like banking (Barclays), oil & gas, education, and consulting. He breaks down the 3 biggest challenges facing HR right now — skills shortages, AI disruption, and evolving workplace legislation — and delivers bold advice that some HR professionals might find controversial.

The HR Engage Podcast is by HR people, for HR people. If you're in HR, people & culture, talent management, or business leadership — this episode is a must-listen.

Produced and published by Law Firm Marketing experts, Practice Proof

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?”

Their answer tells her everything about whether HR is truly valued in that organisation.

🔑 You’ll learn:

→ Why value alignment matters more than salary 💡
→ The career advice early HR professionals learn too late ⏳
→ How AI is reshaping recruitment (and what stays human) 🤖❤️
→ Which roles are in highest demand right now 🔥
→ How to know if an organisation truly values HR 🪑

Whether you’re:

• An HR leader building your team
• An early-career professional planning your next move
• Or somewhere in between

👉 This one’s for you.

Produced and published by Law Firm Marketing experts, Practice Proof