Charles Darwin University’s new Executive Director of Finance and Asset Services brings to the Darwin-based position long experience in working with indigenous people.
Rob Brelsford-Smith has just arrived at CDU from New Zealand’s Auckland University of Technology (AUT), where he worked for the past nine years.
He is passionate about his visions for his CDU role, including his plans for staff professional development, the maintenance of a high-performance culture, encouragement of entrepreneurship and adding value, the recruitment and retention of talented professionals and encouraging employees to maintain work-life balance.
But one of the areas he is most enthusiastic about stems from his own study at MBA level of incorporating indigenous people into the work force.
“Obviously the high population of indigenous people is one of the striking similarities between Auckland and the Northern Territory,” Rob said.
“At AUT, I introduced a number of initiatives to help provide a conducive environment for indigenous people to participate and realise their desired level of attainment and I would like to contribute to the similar system already in place here at CDU,” he said.
“I worked closely alongside the (AUT) faculties to identify indigenous students who may be looking towards a career in finance, encouraging them to come and work with us during their studies, ultimately with the aim of offering them employment. And many of them did actually go on to become permanent staff.”
This is just one of a host of initiatives Rob aims to implement at CDU.
“I’m really keen to make the best of this job. I have a real desire to add value to the University and do all I can to help it achieve its Futures Framework and for me to achieve my own.”
Rob’s move to the Northern Territory is the realisation of a long-held dream.
“My wife and I both became huge fans of the Territory after our first visit back in 2003 and have returned for a few more holidays since then. So to become real life ‘Top Enders’ really is our version of living the dream,” he said.
Rob, his wife Marie and their young sons are now ensconced on their 2.5ha block in Humpty Doo, about 50km east of Darwin, which Rob describes as “just brilliant”.