Amanda is an integral member of the Arete Executive team.  She began her career within the Insurance industry with AAMI as a Management Accountant and later moved into the role of Administration Manager Qld. To benefit from her accountancy studies  she then moved into roles predominantly focused on finance.

For the past 10 year she has predominantly  worked in a Finance/ Business Consulting role  with a wide range of SME businesses within Professional Services, land development,  public health and hospitality environments.  Her support has included management reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Payroll, Superannuation and Human Resource Management.

Amanda manages all finance and administration for Arete Executive.

Karen Pandy was a valued member of our team since September 2010. She joined us having recovered from breast cancer however mid December 2011, post our team Christmas party, we received the latest news.  Karen sadly passed away from cancer on Monday 9th April, 2012. Help us to support research into cancer. This is Karens story.

"I was 34 when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2009. With no family history or significant risk factors, it came as quite a shock. In a matter of weeks I went from living alone in town and my life being full of social engagements and espresso martinis; to  living with my parents and my life being consumed by doctor's appointments and a cocktail of chemo drugs and radiation. I spent much of 2010 looking like Uncle Fester. 2 years to the day of diagnosis, I was back in hospital to have my portacath removed, which was used to administer the chemo, and I felt it was the end of that chapter of my life. Less than 2  weeks later, I found myself back in hospital to have a malignant brain tumour removed. I wouldn't need chemo, which was a relief, but the radiation would make me bald again. Even though I had gone through this before, nothing can prepare you for that moment when you can pull your hair out in clumps. Two weeks after the radiation finished, I developed numbness on my left side. I went back in hospital for more  scans which showed the brain tumour had returned, but  was not causing the numbness, so more tests were ordered. The results of the lumbar puncture revealed that I had malignant cancer cells in my spinal fluid, which was affecting my central nervous system. Previously, there was no specific treatment for this type of cancer and patients were advised to get their affairs in order. Luckily for me, there are now specific drugs available which target the malignant cells in my spinal fluid, which has provided me with some hope. This is not a cure, but it does give me a chance of a life where I am able to regain some independence. I am looking forward to the day when I can go to the bathroom and shower without a support crew!"

This was Karen's last blog as such. Prior to her passing the Arete Executive team chose to support shave for a cure in Karens name.  We managed to raise $11,788. It is still open for donations. We remember our colleague and friend as someone who was brave, funny, intelligent and a great friend.

http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/KarensCrew 

Karen had also written a blog about her experience http://findinghumourinmytumour.blogspot.com.au/

Michelle has over 12 years’ experience in the recruitment industry, in both Australia and New Zealand.

She draws upon an earlier background in sales and marketing roles, including working in the UK. The recruitment industry has become her career of choice as she has progressed from end to end recruitment with one of Australia's largest generalist recruitment agencies through to her most recent role as State General Manager for an Australian listed firm.

Her specialisation over the last 11 years has been centred around commercial and public sector clients, primarily recruiting professional roles from middle management through to executive leadership. Key industries include; Accounting, Banking & Finance, Energy & Infrastructure, Sales & Marketing and Not-for-Profit.

She has provided successful candidates within a vast array of challenging and complex organisations. Her clients have recognised her expertise and she has been asked to sit on many client interview panels.Michelle firmly believes and accordingly treats her clients as business partners, not transactions and enjoys a strong referral network.

Michelle's specialties include Middle management through to Executive Leadership roles with a passion for the Energy, Infrastructure sectors and a broad array of Government clients.

Kara has over six years’ experience in the Recruitment and Human Resources Consulting industry. She began her career in South Africa, working for an SME that specialised in innovative recruitment solutions as well consulting in all aspects of Human Resources.  Kara built up a strong profile and understanding of the engineering industry in South Africa and then set her sights further abroad, moving to Australia in 2009. Kara has since worked as a Recruitment Consultant in the Civil and Consulting Engineering Industry focusing primarily on Senior to Executive and Technical roles.

Kara has recruited both locally and internationally with clients ranging from small to medium industry specialists to large multi-disciplinary consultancies working at a global level. She is strategic and consultative in her recruitment approach and as a result understands both the client and candidate in depth; ensuring that she not only successfully attracts high performing individuals but also that they are retained in the immediate and long term.

Kara has completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management with distinction and is currently completing her MBA in International Business. Additionally, Kara is an active member of both the RCSA (Recruitment and Consulting Services Association) and AIM (Australian Institute of Management).

Kara is an industry professional who has strong commercial acumen and is solutions driven. She is both consultative and transparent in her approach and believes that synergistic partnerships are the key to successful Executive Recruitment.

Angela is an experienced executive recruiter, having worked in the industry for eight years. She began her recruitment career in Sydney, working for Michael Page International, before being asked to return to Brisbane to assist with the ‘start-up’ of their Queensland operation. Having built a solid reputation for delivering top quality candidates and superior client service, Angela was then headhunted by an executive search firm to establish their property business unit.

Angela prides herself on establishing long term business relationships and ‘partners’ with key organisations to deliver best practice recruitment solutions. Prior to joining Arete Executive she had been an independent consultant for three years offering workforce planning solutions and national and international sourcing strategies to a range of businesses. Her recruitment methodology is based on integrity, commitment and developing long lasting relationships coupled with a true appreciation for identifying top talent.

HAngela has a Degree in Business Management and a Post Graduate Diploma in IT Management and is passionate about continual professional development.