HR Coach Research Institute Appoints Independent Review Panel
National hub for business and employment research, the HR Coach Research Institute, has appointed an independent review panel of industry leaders and high profile academic researchers, in conjunction with the launch of its national benchmarking and research project.
The STAR Workplace Program was launched in June 2007 as an innovative program for the SME business sector to recognise high performing workplaces across all industries. Several well-known market leaders have already adopted the STAR Workplace Program initiative. The STAR Workplace Program is set to become the benchmark certification that employees look for when evaluating potential employers; a sought-after tick of approval in Australia’s current tight labour market.
The STAR Workplace Program was developed from the findings of the Queensland- founded HR Coach Research Institute which has studied the link between employee activity and business strategy since 2000.
The Research Review Panel was established to evaluate the methodology and Strategic Action Framework developed by the HR Coach Research Institute and brings together expertise from major universities and industries, encompassing tourism, entrepreneurship, management and human resources.
Founding Director of the HR Coach Research Institute, Ms Louise Broekman, says the combination of experience and knowledge offers both the Institute and the growing Australian SME sector an unparalleled means for analyzing data and trends to enable businesses to practically adapt and apply research to immediate pressures and needs.
“We are taking the step beyond simply exploring and proposing theory to checking how research can assist any workplace, in any industry, to better manage its planning and assets, most especially its people,” Ms Broekman said. “It’s grassroots research work – and a first for Australia to have such a focused think tank available to business.”
The Panel will continually evaluate data collected within SMEs via the STAR Workplace Program to paint a picture of national, industry and regional results, longitudinal trends and emerging issues. This real-world information will then be publicly available and State governments are already lining up for the Institute’s reports.
“This is an important development for the business sector and for government review. Capturing and measuring data is critical for business to chart their growth and sustainability. For industry, government and stakeholder groups the collective data will give us an unprecedented understanding of the real pressures in workplaces. This level of information has not been available before,” Ms Broekman said.
Research Review Panel members include:
Louise Broekman: HR strategist and founding Director of the HR Coach Research Institute.
Dr. Polly Parker: Director of MBA Studies at the UQ Business School and senior lecturer in leadership and human resource management. She has published articles in international refereed journals in her research areas of career management, leadership and the intersection of leadership and career development.
Professor Marie Wilson: Head of Management and International Business at University of Auckland. Her career spans Human Resources, including as an executive in the US computer industry. She holds a PhD (Management) and JD (Employment and Commercial Law) from the University of Arizona.
Martie-Louise Verreynne: Lecturer in entrepreneurship at the University of Queensland. Martie-Louise has published and presented research in the areas of strategic management and corporate entrepreneurship. Her current research looks at growth in Australian small firms.
Sandy Deans: Sandy has a Masters degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Sandy now works in human resource development for the medical science and research sector. Sandy’s expertise includes roles as General Manager of Human Resources with the Bank of Queensland; Director of Human Resources at Conrad Jupiters; Manager for Volunteer Recruitment for the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games and consulting to the Coles Myer merger and World Expo 88.
