Cheryl Kenwright CMHRNZ

What led you to a career in HR/ the position that you are in currently? 

I have always been fascinated with human behaviour and how organisations can create a more positive work environment to influence the well-being and productivity of staff.  After finishing my BSC in Management I was given my first opportunity to work as a HR Coordinator for Recreational Services.  My HR Manager at the time was an incredible HR practitioner and her mana had a profound effect on my love for HR, early on in my career.  Tragically, she died of breast cancer and this experience drove my desire to work for Mercy Hospice, where I have been for just over twelve years as Head of People and Culture.  Mercy Hospice is such an incredible charity, providing end of life care to those in the Auckland community and to be part of that is very special.   

What do you love about working in HR? 

I love the fact that I can influence how people feel at work through the interactions that I have with them and the HR practices that we create.  Whilst a career in HR isn’t for the faint-hearted, the strong connections that I have developed throughout the whole organisation make it all worthwhile. I honestly feel that through the work that I do I can significantly impact the outcomes of Mercy Hospice through the valuing of our staff.  

Are there any specific highlights of your career that you wish to share? 

My Mercy Hospice experience to date has been my greatest achievement.  I love Mercy Hospice and started in the role as a sole practitioner with few systems in place which were all manual.  I grew the service to include a team spanning across People and Culture, L&D, H, S&W, Payroll and Volunteering with over 150 staff and 600 volunteers – I am proud of what I have achieved, but I couldn’t have done it without the support of my team and the incredible people I work with.  

What are your thoughts on Chartered Membership? How do you feel about being a Chartered Member?

I was thrilled to hear that I had been selected as a Chartered Member.  The assessment panel (Judy and Kerry) were absolutely delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with them.  

What motivated you to work towards becoming a Chartered Member? 

For me it is the recognition that my HR Career had reached a senior level and my commitment to the profession.  

What are your next steps in terms of your career now that you are a Chartered Member?

I want to continue to grow as a HR practitioner and make connections with people in similar roles as me.  People can behave in unorthodox ways and as such HR can be challenging at times but in saying that I wouldn’t ever want to change my career.