Belinda Lofts, Director, Network Assurance

"I am currently the Director of Network Assurance. My team is accountable for the monitoring and availability of the Optus Network Australia-wide – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Beyond assuring the Network, the team is also accountable for cybersecurity and are constantly monitoring for any potential threats and continuing to improve our overall security posture.

Optus has opened many opportunities for me to advance my career and develop my skill set. I have worked across both the IT and Networks teams in varying roles (from Operations to Application Management) and along the way have achieved my ITIL Masters (Information Technology Infrastructure Library).

I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors from within the organisation, opportunities to stretch myself into challenging roles and most importantly, had access to the training needed to support my leadership journey.”

Gemma Dias, Associate Director, Data Management

"In my current role at Optus as Associate Director, Data Management, I lead the Data Management team, where we architect, design, build and deliver data management tools, applications and frameworks to enable Optus to comply with Data Governance and Regulatory policies.

I have been very fortunate to be given the opportunity to lead many new and exciting initiatives during the nine years that I have been at Optus in a variety of roles, all in the data space.

Around two years ago, I took up my current role in data management. My team and I have architected and implemented brand new data management capabilities, which Optus never had before! It has been a very challenging but exciting and rewarding journey.”

Isobel Fraser, Cyber Security Governance Coordinator

"I really wanted to work at a telco since year 11, and after university I was fortunate to be granted an Optus scholarship. I’ve never looked back since!

I undertook two internships (switch engineering and a transformational project), then I did an industry thesis on electromagnetic energy (EME) and was an WHS Analysis. I then became a Graduate, where I held roles in three different teams: Deployment Engineering, Project Management and finally Cyber Security. Upon completing my time as a Graduate, I remained in Cyber Security, where I’m now a Cyber Security Governance Coordinator."

Angela Lemon, Associate Director, Content Marketing & Production

“I work in the SMB Marketing team and I am lucky enough to look after the SMB brand, the SMB Retail bays in our stores, and all our content and production.

I only joined Optus in Oct 2020 – but my first big project was the SMB Brand Refresh (not the smallest job to cut my teeth on!) I was immediately impressed by how helpful and friendly everyone was from the beginning, and the level of encouragement I received from colleagues at all levels of the business.”

Leena Patel, Service Delivery Manager

"As Service Delivery Manager, my role is to provide business level support to our respective state-based customers in collaboration with our sales, client delivery and delivery teams.

Through the 13 years I’ve been with the company, Optus has provided me with opportunities to reach my full potential and stretch my wings. I’m proud to work for an organisation that has supported me through continuous learning and development, and in turn, provided me with new opportunities and a promising career path."

Toni Vlatko, Associate Director, Group IT & Digital Technology

"My role is to lead a team responsible for Digital Technology Platforms. It is our job to enable brilliant digital customer experiences through technology with a focus on maintaining business integrity, operating effectively and managing risk.

Leaders at Optus are committed to supporting my personal development plan. Not only have I been mentored by my direct leaders, but leaders across the enterprise have taken the time to meet with me and discuss my development plan and provide me support when I have asked.

I have also taken part in several formal training sessions both internally and externally.

Optus empowers me to excel my own career path at my own pace, and I have been making the most of it."

Michelle Schultz, Technical Support Manager

"My current role at Optus is Technical Support Manager within the Optus Enterprise group, and I have 15 people reporting into me across the eastern seaboard. The team (Contact Centre Operations) and I support the majority of our enterprise contact centres with a wide range of clients spanning the following industries: Government, Financial Institutions, Insurance, Energy Providers, Travel, Education, Media and others.

Optus has provided me a platform to explore many different roles within the company, to be able to eventually lead a team of highly skilled technical resources across many different contact centre technologies.

I was fortunate enough to attend the annual Women in Technology Conference a couple of years ago and this really broadened my horizon at how many opportunities we have at Optus to work in technical roles."

Kirby Grattan, Director - Human Resources Shared Services

"Shared Services is a HR function that provides people services and solutions across a wide spectrum of the employee lifecycle. We have the very important job of bringing talent into Optus, enabling them and their leaders to do their best every day, stay safe and well and be fully supported across our HR systems, policies and processes.

So far in my career I have been lucky to have two roles in Optus. During 2020, I was asked to lead much of Optus’s COVID response and I was very lucky to work with and learn from so many amazing people across the business – a journey that is continuing. I have also been empowered through relationships with my Singtel colleagues, where their guidance and support has helped me to grow, look at challenges from different perspectives and work up and across Asia Pacific."

Jayamalie Tillekeratne, Technical Specialist

"As a Senior Technical Specialist of IP & Transport COE team in the Service Assurance organisation, I am responsible for governing Nokia Managed Service Provider and supporting the Optus Landing Party for both Southern Cross Submarine Networks and Indigo Central Submarine Networks.

My managers at Optus have played a key role in empowering me by providing opportunities to cultivate my skills and capabilities over the years and provided me with the flexibility to balance my work and family life. Optus provided not only tools and training, but most importantly a supportive environment where guidelines and expectations were clear, and collaboration was promoted.

Working in the service assurance organisation requires real time action in solving complex problems. Optus empowered me by recognising my abilities, trusting my judgement and giving me a level of autonomy in resolving these problems.”

Bee Castellano, Area Manager, Consumer Team

“I manage nine Retail Co stores across the western suburbs in Melbourne, extending to the outer metro city of Geelong. I work with store managers and aspiring leaders to drive excellence in Customer Experience, Team Experience, Sales and Operations.

I am grateful and blessed to do this job because I’ve had the opportunity to work with the beautiful, eclectic bunch I call my team: a special group I learn from, and who challenge and surprise me every day.

People are at the heart of everything I do. Optus is a company that drives you to reflect differently and more curiously and I thrive on this. It continuously challenges you to consider the impact you can and do have on others. This culture allows me to do what I do best, in a space that welcomes a diversity of thought, and values and further asks for my perspective.”

Adriana Paul, Digital Content Adviser

"As Digital Content Adviser, I give our execs a hand with all things social media. I help bring their stories and ideas to life and hero the amazing work their teams do on their personal social media channels. This has given me the chance to be creative, present ideas and learn new things. Nothing is off limits!”

Tarliea Wallace, Manager – IT Asset & Service Configuration Management

"I am the business process owner for IT Service Asset & Configuration Management within Optus Enterprise, leading out a large team across our Australian delivery centres and Kuala Lumpur.

I started at Optus back in 2004, and have moved through seven different roles in five different teams since that time. Each of these changes has allowed me to develop and grow my experience, and then use this acquired knowledge as a strong foundation for my next role. I have always leveraged the available training resources to complement my day job, and to provide some structure to my management and soft skills.

Over the past four years, I have been lucky enough to be part of a strong and experienced leadership team, which not only provided me with some strong role models and coaching, but also encouraged and supported me to take on new challenges.”

Rani Narayanan, Technical Project Manager (Optus IP Network Engineering)

"As a Technical Project Manager, Optus IP Network Engineering I am responsible for onboarding projects into Optus Networks. This is a key role working on various projects in IP and Transport domains and delivering key capabilities for Optus Networks/Business teams.

Optus has bestowed me with many opportunities and empowered me to excel in the different roles I have been doing since 2008. For instance, I was part of a talent transformation initiative wherein a group of leaders were trained in different aspects of leadership. As part of that I was given an opportunity to have a casual chat and afternoon tea with ex-CEO Allen Lew along with leaders across the organisation. I consider myself very privileged to have this opportunity and great exposure to the senior management team’s vision and strategy.”

Jane Peter, Director of Leadership, Culture and Capability

"As Director of Leadership, Culture and Capability, my role is to ensure that Optus is the right place for the best people. I get to look at how we lead, grow our capability and drive a culture that powers optimism with options. I love my job because at its core, its purpose is to ensure Optus is a great place to work for all our people.

I joined Optus just as COVID hit. I was given a huge opportunity to run the Amazing People program – one of the three strategic priorities for Optus and, driven by our new CEO, the first time Optus has had its people at the heart of the strategy. This gave me the opportunity to own and execute on how we ensure we have a purpose-led culture that grows the capability of our people and builds an innovation mindset. This ownership and delegation empowered me to grow my networks, capability and thought leadership to be an exceptional leader.

I think a culture such as this allows every member of the team to feel empowered and confident enough to share their views. We can all achieve great things if we continue to encourage each other!”

Chris Munro, Director Strategic Accounts

“I am the Director of Strategic Accounts for Southern Region in Optus Enterprise. We manage the top 60 Enterprise customers in Australia.

Being part of the Optus Enterprise team is a very rewarding and energising experience. There is true encouragement and drive to create bold, committed, innovative and successful teams.

By embracing diversity across all facets of our business, we are primed to build teams who are the best they can be. Bringing together men and women of diverse backgrounds, age and beliefs, adds a level of balance to our workplace culture. We are highly relatable to our colleagues, partners and customers alike. Optus is truly new age.”