Who got that job?

* Education and training manager, MYOB


Pocket CV

Name: Mary Barry

EXPERIENCE

2004-2002 National training manager, Asia Pacific Training, a division of Chubb New Zealand


2001-1999 Project manager, Workbase (the National Centre for Workplace
Literacy & Language)


1999-1996 Marketing and liaison, ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation




Q: What were you doing before accepting your new position?

A: I was the national training manager for Chubb New Zealand. Chubb had bought a private training establishment that specialised in security training and needed someone to bring it into the larger company.

Q: Why did you apply for your new job?

A: I saw the unusual advertisement by accident and inquired out of curiosity. I had steered the projects in my previous job to a new phase and could look at a change of direction. MYOB is at an exciting point in its rapid growth as the accounting software of choice for more than half the New Zealand businesses that use a business-management solution.

Q: What are the major challenges?

A: To support the business division and our network of partners with a variety of education and training projects, and to provide our end-users with opportunities to access technical and business expertise. MYOB is also looking at ways to expand its relationships with secondary and tertiary education providers.

Q: What qualities do you bring?

A: My experience working with SMEs has given me an understanding of the issues they have. I enjoy being part of a team that is working to develop imaginative solutions designed to enhance a business expertise. I'm also committed to finding ways to improve and reinforce the abilities of team members. Churchill's advice to "never give up" is a key part of my thinking.

Q: What do you enjoy about working in this role?

A: The opportunity to develop a new team and being part of a growth industry - software has endless possibilities as a business support tool. There's also an excitement about MYOB that appeals.

Q: What does being education and training manager mean to you?

A: Challenge and more challenge, learning new skills and making a difference to New Zealand businesses.

Q: What else might you have done?

A: My husband and I hold Irish passports and had discussed the possibility of working together overseas, maybe managing a fishing or tourism lodge or an environment restoration project.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: I love the bush and am an amateur botanist, an obsessive reader and enjoy family life, friends, travel and films.