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July 23, 2025
Kirsten
Haywood
Head of Corporate Affairs or Head of Sustainability
Queensland
Brand statement
Career Journey
Career Story
I am passionate about helping organisations grow sustainably, working alongside them to build reputation and stakeholder trust and deliver on their corporate purpose. I have 20 years of experience across sectors and industries, working mostly in roles that focused on sustainability and social outcomes. Most recently, I held a Head of Corporate Affairs, Marketing & Sustainability role with Westpac Group, and before that I worked for the World Bank Group. I have also worked on numerous large infrastructure and divestment/M&A programs. My expertise runs across reputation management, including communications and stakeholder relationships, issues and transformation, brand and sustainability/ESG governance and program management. I also teach sustainability and social impact at RMIT University.
Career Highlight
Career Goal
Experience
Experience 1
Experience 2
Experience 3
[ { "role": "MBA Candidate", "company": "AGSM UNSW", "endYear": "2025", "endMonth": "5", "location": "", "startYear": "2024", "startMonth": "6", "currentRole": true, "description": "" }, { "role": "Industry Mentor/Lecturer", "company": "RMIT Online", "endYear": "", "endMonth": "", "location": "Online", "startYear": "2023", "startMonth": " 7", "currentRole": true, "description": "Deliver a micro-credential course in Sustainability and Social Impact that helps professionals to build skills and change career direction.\n\nAchievements: Achieving a cumulative good teaching score (based on student satisfaction surveys) of 4.5/5 and awarded the RMIT Future Skills Outstanding Practice Award for 2024.\n" }, { "role": "Head of Corporate Affairs, Marketing & Sustainability", "company": "Westpac Pacific (offshore banks in Fiji and PNG)", "endYear": "2024", "endMonth": " 7", "location": "Hybrid - WFH Gold Coast and Sydney", "startYear": "2024", "startMonth": "1", "currentRole": false, "description": "Managed the re- setting of business strategy, marketing and sustainability programs following a number of sale processes that did not proceed. " }, { "role": "Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Stream Lead (in addition to existing Head of dept role with Westpac Pacific)", "company": "Westpac Group", "endYear": "2023", "endMonth": "12", "location": "Hybrid - WFH Gold Coast and Sydney", "startYear": "2020", "startMonth": "3", "currentRole": false, "description": "In 2020, Westpac Group conducted strategic reviews and subsequently decided to sell a number of businesses within its portfolio. Whilst initially in the role of Head of Corporate Affairs, Marketing & Sustainability for Westpac’s operations in the Pacific, role remit was broadened in 2020 to also oversee stakeholder engagement workstreams for five divestment or wind-down programs." }, { "role": "Head of Corporate Affairs, Marketing & Sustainability", "company": "Westpac's Pacific banks in Fiji and PNG", "endYear": "2023", "endMonth": "12", "location": "Hybrid - WFH Gold Coast and Sydney", "startYear": "2017", "startMonth": "3", "currentRole": false, "description": "Lead a multidisciplinary team across three countries responsible for reputation and brand management for Westpac in the Pacific. Broad remit including communication (external and employee), marketing and brand management, sustainability/community programs, ESG governance and reporting, partner and stakeholder relationships (DFAT, regulators, industry groups, NGOs) and customer complaints." }, { "role": "Consultant", "company": "International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade", "endYear": "2015", "endMonth": "3", "location": "Various locations", "startYear": "2012", "startMonth": "3", "currentRole": false, "description": "Following a 3-month business volunteering stint in Solomon Islands, continued as a Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade consultant and then moved to work for the World Bank Group at its Sydney office (with regular travel across Asia Pacific)." }, { "role": "Various roles", "company": "ACTEW Corporation (State-owned entity in the water and energy sector)", "endYear": "2012", "endMonth": "", "location": "Canberra, Australia", "startYear": "2007", "startMonth": "", "currentRole": false, "description": "Communications, Marketing & Community Engagement leadership roles related to the Millennium drought and new infrastructure programs" }, { "role": "Various", "company": "Australia Council for the Arts", "endYear": "2006", "endMonth": "", "location": "Sydney, Australia", "startYear": "2001", "startMonth": "", "currentRole": false, "description": "Various communications roles, progressing from graduate level" } ]
Career & Personal Growth
My career goal is...
Develop a fractional consulting career, where I have deep relationships with a few companies and can work with them over time to grow sustainably.
My personal goal is...
Vision of Success
What success looks like to me..
In five years time, I want to be...
Pursuits
What I want to make or do...
I want to take on more...
Red Flags & Focus Areas
Stop me if I ever...
I want to take on less..
Contact Information
Phone
+61 411 989 331
Email
kirstenbhaywood@gmail.com
LinkedIn Profile
CV
Work Preference
Prefered Working Location
Brisbane hybrid or remote
Work Preference
WIP
Expertise & Skills
Primary Expertise
Strategy
Secondary Expertise
Business Operations
Seniority Level
20+ years
Key Skill
Adaptability,Communication,Compassion,Creative thinking,Crisis managing,Decision making,Brand,Goal-setting,Leadership,Marketing,Problem solving,Program management,Project management,Public relations,Storytelling,Strategic planning,Strategy,Team building
Impact
What type of impact are you interested in making?
Impact By Numbers
Flair
Beyond the Bio
Fun fact 1
Fun fact 2
Fun fact 3
Learning
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