Peter Smithard Email & Phone Number

Brisbane, Australia

Now in semi retirement from Corporate life my objective is to assist and provide tailored Human Resources solutions and people management services to SME's.

Wacol, Qld

Appointed to the role of HR Manager with Mack Trucks Australia Pty Ltd in 1995 (a subsidiary of Mack Trucks Inc USA, who in turn were owned by Renault Vehicle Industriel's.Following the acquisition by AB Volvo of Renault Vehicle Industriel's in 2001 the operations of Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks were progressively amalgamated (inclusive of Assembly operations QLD and Retail Operations nationally) to form Volvo Group Australia Pty Ltd (VGA).With approximately 1200 employees in 2003 I was appointed to lead the HR Function in the roles of General Manager HR and Organisation Development in 2000, then to Vice President Human Resources and Quality two years later.The VGA operations progressed to incorporate three truck Brands (Mack, Volvo and UD), Volvo Bus, Volvo Penta (Marine), and a specialist Defence/Gov't sales division, an amalgamated Truck Assembly Operation (Mack and Volvo) and a comprehensive Co owned and Private Dealer National network. Together with support functions inclusive of a National Parts and Distribution centre the total employee footprint in 2015 grew to circa 1350 across 18 sites nationally.The HR teams covered the full spectrum of HR services inclusive of Recruitment, Employee Relations, Leadership Development, Health Safety and Environment, Salary and Benefit Admin, with Quality (ISO accreditation maintenance) and later Technical Competence added to the portfolio.To say it has been a privilege to work with these great teams of professionals within a great Company is an understatement, however I elected to announce my pending departure due to semi retirement to the MD and President in 2014, in order to pursue a more selectively scheduled, but still engaged lifestyle.Effective HR and IR management has been my career passion and forward looking is my intent to add value to SME's where expertise in HR/ER can assist them 'to keep their business endeavours on the move with effective people management solutions'.

Tingalpa Qld

Led a small HR, Training and Health and Safety team within the QLD Manufacturing and Distribution operations.Assisting the Plant Manager and Management team to develop and nurture an engaged and productive culture within the site was a primary imperative, as the site was to develop in size. A highlight was the introduction of an employee 'Gain Share Scheme', which was later emulated in other State operations.

Wantirna (Vic)

This was a contracted role providing HR advice and the development of HR procedures and processes for this NFP organisation engaged in providing educational and accommodation facilities for the visually impaired across Victoria.

Essendon Vic

ATA was an Avionics Servicing operation consisting of 280 instrument Technicians initially. In addition to the main Melbourne workshop/laboratories based in Essendon, small support operations were based in Syd, QLD and WA. Apart from the avionics services direct to Ansett Maintenance, Avionic's Contract services extended to Compass and the Australian Defence Industry.Upon joining this organisation the intent was that ATA would develop as a Joint Avionics Repair Organisation (JARO) but as time went on, this strategy changed within the Australian airline developments and ultimately Ansett lost it's Industry leadership position and the rest is history.A Technical Trainer and Payroll reported to the role and predominant activities were the negotiation of an Industrial Agreement and in turn reductions in staff across the interstate sites, ahead of further reductions in Melbourne.

Morwell (Latrobe Valley Vic)

A joint initiative between the Australian and Japanese Government, financed by the New Energy Development Organisation (NEDO) of the Japanese Treasury, the BCLV 'sunrise sunset' project was a demonstration plant converting Brown Coal to Oil products (predominantly crude).Joining the operation in its commissioning stage the site (covering 40 acres and a $A300M CapEx development) consisted of a high temperature, high pressure hydrogenation process inclusive of Hydrogen Generation and a process capacity of 50 tonnes of Brown Coal per day.Reporting to the Australian Head of Personnel my role was to assist the recruitment of 160 suitably experienced operatives and technical and supervisory staff from around Australia and settle them into the Latrobe Valley for an approximate four year project life. In addition I was involved extensively in the development and negotiation of Industrial Agreements that covered terms and conditions inclusive of a 'project finish' Redundancy Agreement. In addition to the Australian Staff was a Japanese contingent of 70 Management and Technical Operatives (and their families) who were integrated into the local community and where domestic arrangements included their housing and the establishment of Japanese schooling curriculums. Their leadership and shadowing roles were designed to take away an understanding of the way industry was managed in Australia.The hydrogenation process was proven, with a cost per barrel of approximately mid $30's, at that time.The site was decommissioned through 1991/2

Clayton Initially, Then Dandenong Vic

Employed as one of two recent Graduate's at the Vehicle Assembly site (2000 plus employees) my initial role supported the Sen IR officer and Ind Relations Manager in both Assembler recruitment and Grievance resolution across the assembly operations and other personnel related dutiesDuring 1981/82 NMCA built a new Aluminium Die-casting plant (Dandenong) and I was promoted into the role of Senior Employee Relations Officer (reporting to the Personnel Manager at Head Office Clayton).I joined this development in the plant commissioning stage with primary objectives being the recruitment of operatives for both the Gravity and High Pressure Diecasting processes, closely followed by Plant Safety and a major Industrial Agreement negotiation.A highlight was the development, of a Vehicle Builders Union based agreement with prescribed unskilled, semi skilled and traditional Craft based roles (AMWU/ETU)...a first for the vehicle Industry!

Ba Psych & Sociol Majors, Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology

Activities and Societies: Member of AHRI (20 years as a chartered member) Completed a BA (double major in Psych and Sociol) - Completed.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Hons