We’re back with our Touch Base with TeamBSE series, focusing on our leaders and national team. Today we speak to Claudia Faulkner, our National People & Community Manager. Claudia recently joined BSE, a strategic addition to our management team, who brings exceptional skills and experience in growing and developing engineering teams. Claudia’s knowledge and people-focused approach is essential for BSE to deliver outstanding experiences to our existing team members, and new starters as we continue to grow.
What is your background story?
My career began in HR while working with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the peak employer body. The Waterfront Dispute of 1997 was a key motivator for me - witnessing the impact of employee actions on businesses and how businesses navigated these challenges was eye-opening and fuelled my interest in industrial relations (IR). Working with my then boss, a key Advisor to the Employment Minister at the time, exposed me to the complexities and necessities of IR law amid union aggression. This experience highlighted the broader implications of IR on Australian industries and led me to focus on practical IR applications within workplaces. After further studies, I joined a large engineering consultancy in a combined EA and HR role, which was a pivotal starting point in my HR career. Within a year, I transitioned to a full HR role, captivated by the diverse challenges of the engineering industry. My subsequent move to a smaller growing engineering consultancy, was a strategic decision, allowing me to grow their HR function from the ground up. My passion lies in connecting the right people and addressing necessary issues, emphasizing the importance of the function over the role. Despite the challenges, I thrive on making impactful contributions and fostering positive work environments.
Did you choose engineering, or did it choose you?
As we covered, it certainly chose me initially, then I made the intentional choice to stay.
How do you feel services engineers add value to projects?
Before working in the industry, I probably took for granted services like lighting, running water, and flushing toilets. Now I can fully appreciate the critical role that services engineers play in these areas. A quality services engineer works to ensure their project meets design intent and safety standards, both in the short and long term. The engineer also adds value through their inspections, reviews, and integrating safety considerations into the design process, which ultimately keeps all the users of the space safe and comfortable, with the highest standards maintained.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
I am an innately motivated person, driven to be the best I can every day, be it a Monday or a Sunday. This motivation gets me out of bed!
I am someone who thrives on doing, creating, and seeking new challenges or ways to do things. I love to connect with new people and support others in personal and professional development. It is important that people feel heard, respected and understood. My aim is to leave people feeling inspired, motivated and encouraged after any interaction, knowing that I have made a positive impact on their professional lives energises me.
Pineapple on pizza: yes or no?
No.
