Sally and Nick set up the Refresh Renovation Wellington branch in 2014, and have been steadily growing the business ever since. Now employing building staff, administration staff, and designers Sally is originally from Invercargill, where she grew up and lived until moving to London for six years in the early 90’s. Sally was bought up to always speak her mind and she does this frequently!
Sally has worked in a variety of different roles which have given her well rounded, practical and grounded capability. Originally working at a sawmill down South as PA to the Group Manager, Sally was often found in the Mill on the saw helping to get out export orders that were running late. Later in her career, she worked in Human Resources as an HR Manager specialising in Employment issues and law, following that Sally worked in a variety of roles – mostly in medical practice management in the UK. While there she also worked as a counsellor at the London Lighthouse, a well known HIV and AIDS clinic. Passionate about people being treated fairly, she thrived in this tough environment.
Sally always expresses her gratitude for her OE experience, she formed firm life-long friendships with some interesting and colourful people, who involved her in experiences that Kiwis travelling do not always get. On her return, she went to University where she studied Psychology qualifying with a Masters in Science. While doing her undergraduate degree Sally branched out and worked as a bouncer at some of Christchurch’s more colourful bars. This was an interesting job, sometimes leaving at the end of the night a bit bruised, but usually smiling!
After finishing her Psychology Post Graduate Degree, Sally returned to Human Resources and worked through various roles mainly in the government, eventually going out on her own as a Consultant. Sally's most recent background is in Transformational Change, Design and Management, she has more than 20 years experience working within organisations building capability and changing for future needs. She has qualifications in Psychology, Change Management, Psychometric Testing and Executive Coaching.
Sally has worked as an Employment Relations Manager (managing legal employment cases within organisations), an HR Manager, a Relationship Manager, and a Capability Manager - Designing projects to enhance or change capability sets within large organisations, designing and leading down-sizing projects mainly within the government sector. Sally and her team won a coveted HRINZ award for their work in NZ Post designing a capability and exit package and process for 2000+ staff. She is very proud that this piece of work has been picked up by other large organisations and is being utilised throughout NZ. Sally is a pragmatic people Person.
Within our company, she works to establish relationships and build on our systems to identify the most efficient processes and procedures to drive the business forward. Her passion is to have both happy employees and happy clients. She works hard in the background to ensure that things run as smoothly as possible and that everyone feels important and valued within the organisation. Humour is the main tool in her toolbox! On a Personal note, Sally enjoys socialising, reading, hanging out with family, fishing, and travelling. She makes jewellery in her spare time (not often enough!) and sells it on Felt. Recently Sally has been involved at her daughter’s school, helping to implement a breakfast club to ensure that kids are not starting school in the mornings with an empty tummy – she is passionate about kids getting the best start in life no matter what their situation. Sally is a creative at heart and is a real people Person. She likes nothing better than to see others succeed and works hard to help this happen in our company.