Michelle Hayter-Falconer | Senior Equity and Diversity Officer
How long have you been at Macquarie?
About 18 months, but I feel really at home here already. This is the first time I’ve held a position that was ‘inward facing’ within an organisation – all my other jobs have included work that involved mostly working with people outside of my own organisation. Lots of liaison, advocacy, external stakeholder relationship and sector development work.
What is your favourite thing about working at Macquarie?
I love the people here. Most people I meet really love Macquarie and what it stands for. I love working for an organisation where I feel my values match well with my work and the organisation’s direction. Also, it’s a beautiful campus, and I love being around the students. So much energy.
How do you get to campus?
After a morning marathon of getting our four kids (that’s four year old twin boys and eight and 10 year old daughters) ready! My husband and I share the morning duties usually, so together we herd the rowdy bunch out the door and share the drop offs. Then I battle the traffic all the way from Penrith, often for an hour and half. Once I get to my office I am VERY glad to be here and flop into my seat with a big exhale.
What was your earliest childhood career aspiration?
To be a jet fighter pilot! My dad used to take me to air shows at Richmond Air Base, and I was always awed by the F-16s. But at the time, I was told that girls couldn’t be jet pilots. As I got older I realised that I wanted to do something that would help to make a difference, and address unfairness in the world.
If you weren’t a Senior Equity and Diversity Officer, what would you do?
I’d be a bit of a grump, ’cause I actually really love my job and the people I work with.
What would you want to learn if given the chance to learn it instantly?
How to paint like Vincent van Gough. I’d love to be able to produce beautiful things the way he did. My four kids are my best creations, all beautiful in their own way.
Favourite film, book or TV show?
One of my favourite movies is To Kill A Mockingbird, and my all-time favourite TV series is West Wing. I still miss it, and wish they would make another series – maybe about the first woman President!
What were you doing before you started these questions?
I was looking at the results of our staff survey and planning Macquarie’s disability portfolio for 2015 – it’s looking really exciting. We’ve had a great year in implementing the university’s Disability Action Plan. That’s a big part of my part-time role here!