Lisa Dickson CMHRNZ

Please walk us through the journey that led you into your current role.

I have been involved in aspects of HR throughout my career, initially working in policy and communications before branching into health and safety and then into HR. I am particularly interested in the overlap area between people performance and safety, understanding how leadership, culture, behaviour, systems and the work environment can all work to help people thrive in the workplace.

What is the best part of your job?

Being able to work across businesses, helping people to influence, make good decisions and support each other. I enjoy being able to see the bigger picture, bring different perspectives together and help create an environment where people can succeed.

What is a career highlight that stands out for you?

Working as part of the team that responded to the Westport flood events of 2022. It was an incredible difficult and significant time, and it was a privilege to help support our frontline staff as we worked thought the immediate response and recovery.

What does becoming a Chartered Member mean to you personally?

Going through an accreditation process is always challenging. I think so many of us are filled with concern about how we will measure up, and we question our worthiness! Chartered membership for me is a time to stop and reflect, an acknowledgement of what I have learnt, experienced and achieved.

What pushed you towards pursuing Chartered Membership?

I was mentoring a colleague through her HR development programme and, as part of that, recommend that she apply for her Accredited Professional membership As I was explaining the value of accreditation to her, I realised I was encouraging her to do something I had not yet done for myself! Having already worked through my Health and Safety professional accreditation, I knew how self-empowering the process could be. It is an opportunity to reflect on your experience, recognise your strengths and identify areas for further development, as well as opening doors to new opportunities. 

Now that you are a Chartered Member, what do you see as being the next steps for your career?

I’ve just started a new role, which is presenting lots of new opportunities. I really enjoyed the mentoring process, and was surprised by how much it taught me about my own practice, as well as the satisfaction of being able to support someone else’s growth. I would be very open to future opportunities to support and encourage others who are considering following the accreditation path.