International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements, as well as the contribution women make across our operations at ComfortDelGro Australia.
This year, we’re proud to share the stories of some of these women who work in our bus and patient transport businesses.
From customer experience and depot supervision, to bus driving and critical care nursing, it is our people who continue to make ComfortDelGro Australia a leading transport provider.
Read their stories here.
Angela Dunkley
Manager
Buslink NT
What do you enjoy about your role?
There is a great network of people, some are just down the hall and some I may never meet in person but I never feel like there’s no one to reach out to.
What is rewarding about it?
The challenge of learning about the business from a different perspective, having come from an accounting background and expanding into being more involved with the operational side of the business.
What attracted you to the company?
I joined Buslink as I was attracted to a family-owned business and wanted a good work-life balance with three small children. Buslink was later bought by ComfortDelGro Australia which has continued to support me in balancing work and family.
Lisa Parker
General Manager Operations, NT and Queensland
CDC Regional Australia Division
What do you enjoy about your role?
The challenge of managing the rapidly changing environment of growth and expansion of ComfortDelGro Australia in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
What is rewarding about it?
The opportunity to expand my knowledge within the different parts of the bus industry.
What attracted you to the company?
When Tony Hopkins (CDC Regional Australia Division CEO) presented the vision of what he wanted to accomplish, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it.
Deidre Eding
Operations Administrator
Forest Coach Lines North
What do you enjoy about your role?
I like the diversity of my role and the challenges that come with it. I cover all aspects of the business here at Sawtell including printing school passes, receiving and processing invoices and purchase orders, staff rostering, customer service and helping our other Forest Coach Lines depots to name a few of the things I do.
What is rewarding about it?
The most rewarding part is the helping people along the way. I help staff at my depot with school passes, behavioural issues of students on buses and general queries. I also help operations staff from our other depots and our accounts department in Sydney, while being as efficient as I can.
What attracted you to the company?
I was working at another company and was given the opportunity by my Regional Manager, Tony Mills, to help with the Forest Coach Lines business. With Tony’s guidance and knowledge, I have also increased my confidence and knowledge.
Jacqui Hart
Depot Manager, Gladstone
CDC Queensland
What do you enjoy about your role?
I enjoy working with our team here in Gladstone. Seeing their happy faces each day, helping them with their questions and concerns. Also working closely with the other depots and the leadership team, knowing that if I need advice or assistance that there is always someone in the business just a phone call away who is willing to share their wisdom and words of encouragement.
What is rewarding about it?
When our team bands together in challenging times and we pull off what can sometimes feel like the impossible. Once the storm settles, the feeling of accomplishment makes it so rewarding.
What attracted you to the company?
I have been at the Gladstone depot for over nine years so I’ve seen the company grow and evolve. Providing such an essential service to the Gladstone region in the form of safe and reliable transport is what attracts me most.
Nalani Slater
Depot Supervisor Kunda Park
CDC Queensland
What do you enjoy about your role?
The job is everchanging, there is never a boring day!
What is rewarding about it?
Making sure our drivers get out and back to the depot safely.
What attracted you to the company?
Coming from a hospitality and finance background, I have really enjoyed the change of industry and a chance to expand my experience and skills.
Nikki Roden
Fleet Administrator
CDC Queensland
What do you enjoy about your role?
The team atmosphere, one team working towards a common goal.
What is rewarding about it?
Helping the mechanics do the jobs effectively, but above all, safely.
What attracted you to the company?
The opportunity to continue in a role I love, working with great people.
Sarah Hunt
Critical Care Registered Nurse
National Patient Transport
What do you enjoy about your role?
I enjoy the variety of the work I do for National Patient Transport . I enjoy driving to different places, looking after different patients. I enjoy the one-on-one nature of the role and being able to listen to the patient’s stories. I also enjoy working with a new team member every day and just generally being out on the road.
What is rewarding about it?
When a patient has been in the hospital for 36 days and you get to be the one to take them home, out into the fresh air for the first time in a long time, to be able to be part of making that moment happen, is rewarding.
What attracted you to the company?
I was attracted to work for NPT by the idea of being out on the road and being able to experience nursing from a different perspective.
Sky Palmer
Operations Administrator
CDC Queensland
What do you enjoy about your role?
No two days are the same, there is always something new or different happening.
What is rewarding about it?
Working towards a common goal with a diverse group of people.
What attracted you to the company?
I had previous experience working in the bus industry, working at CDC Queensland has allowed me to expand on that knowledge and apply my skills working with a school service.
Kim Petrou
General Manager Business Development
National Patient Transport
What do you enjoy about your role?
I enjoy providing the very best service to customers and patients and looking for new opportunities.
What is rewarding about it?
Working with the Operations Centre to improve customer satisfaction and retain contracts is extremely rewarding. Further development of innovative services and growing the business continue to motivate me on a daily basis.
What attracted you to the company?
When I started at National Patient Transport in 2005, I came on board for three months to help it retain a highly valued contract and to help with the recruitment of a business development manager. That was over 16 years ago and I am still here. The work is challenging, health-related and there is never a dull moment.
Amanda O`Shannessy
Customer Experience & OCC Manager
CDC Victoria
What do you enjoy about your role?
The opportunities and learning different aspects of the business. I started in charter, then gained some operational experience and now I work in the Operations Control Centre (OCC) and customer experience, which is so great.
What is rewarding about it?
The most rewarding part is being in the OCC and being the support for our drivers, which is the core of our business. Whether it’s a lost property or a bus incident, whether it’s early morning or late in the night, we are available with that essential support.
What attracted you to the company?
I wanted to get into the transport industry and then CDC Victoria popped up with a Charter position. I thought that was my foot in the door to try and get into the operational space and understand the bus industry better.
Mersha Antachew
Bus Driver
CDC Victoria
What do you enjoy about your role?
I love driving. I have always enjoyed driving. So, I love my job!
What is rewarding about it?
I get compliments from passengers for my good driving, which is quite rewarding.
What attracted you to the company?
I was an Uber driver before. I used to see the buses on the road and think, maybe that’s my future. One day, an opportunity came my way and I knew this is for me. Here I am today, I have been driving a bus for more than a year now.
