Jude MacDonald CFHRINZ

How did your career in HR begin, and what was the journey like to get to where you are now? 

My HR career started with my appointment as Personal Manager with Northland Dairy Company based at the Dargaville site in November 1992. This followed a couple of years as Training Coordinator at the Maungaturoto site. I completed two Diploma’s in Business Studies through Massey University with Endorsement in Personal Management in 1994 and Endorsement in Training and Development in 1992. The Dargaville site was closed in 1999. 

I moved to Whangarei and was employed by Northland Regional Council as HR Advisor in July 1999. I was appointed to the position of HR Manager in July 2006 and had two part time staff – HR Advisor and H&S Advisor as direct reports. My position was disestablished and I finished in September 2015. 

I was then employed by Waikato District Health Board based in Hamilton from October 2015 as HR Consultant where I spent the next two years. In October 2017 I joined the University of Waikato as an HR Advisor. Following a six month period (October 2022 until March 2023) as acting HR Director I was appointed as Manager HR Business Partnering in late 2023 and I remain in this position with four HR Business Partners as direct reports. 

What do you love about having a career in HR? 

I love interacting with people and always aim for a win – win which is not always possible. I believe that employees know that I will be professional, respectful and honest and trust is critical to any relationship. 

My personal philosophy is to “pay it forward” and in everything thing that I do. I also always treat others as I would want to be treated. And as a line manager I aim to coach and mentor my employees so that they can be the best version of themselves. 

What are some defining moments from your career journey so far? 

Working at Northland Regional Council was like working with family and was an opportunity to grow and develop as a generalist HR practitioner. 

Working at the Waikato District Health Board was a highlight and a lowlight. I learnt more in two years there more than in any other role. I had a dismissal in my first week there and the saying that it was life or death was a reality. A role not for the faint hearted. 

What advice would you give to someone early on in their HR career? 

Life is like a box of chocolates, and you never know what you will get on any given day. You are never bored in HR and there are always new and different challenges. I believe that coming up through the ranks is the best way to learn and I appreciated starting as a generalist and not specialising. 

Why is HRNZ important for the HR community? 

The networking and benefits from joining HRNZ are endless. You can converse with a group of like minded people and share ideas and issues and get suggestions. I have also enjoyed being an Assessor and have met some great HR people through this, both panel members and candidates. It great to give back to the profession. 

What was your path to Chartered Fellowship like? What did you enjoy about the process? 

Prior to 2005 I acted as HRINZ Northland SIG organiser arranging events on an ad hoc kind of basis. I was then heavily involved in the formation of the HRINZ Northland Branch which occurred in 2005. I became a professional member of HRINZ in July. During 2006 and 2007 I was on the Northland HRINZ committee and held position of Events and Communications. Then in 2008 I was appointed as President. In 2009 I remained as Ambassador for the committee. I won Northland HRINZ HR person of the year in 2006. In late 2009 my second daughter was born and I was not as involved with the committee after this date but the branch was doing well. 

It was not until I started at Waikato District Health Board that I considered Chartered Fellowship and it was humbling to put an application together. I got my Chartered Fellowship in December 2016 and the rest they say is history. 

What is next for you in this chapter of your career? 

Hoping for retirement! I enjoy my role and hope to remain in it for the next few years. Looking forward to more challenges and opportunities to further my learning and to have someone be my successor.