Super Speirs top professional

YARRAValley Water’s senior people partner

Rachel Speirs has been recognisedasone of the top professionals in Australia’s HR industry.

Ms Speirs, who grew up in Traralgon,has been listed in the 2022 edition of HumanResources Director’s (HRD) Rising Stars Report.

In August 2018, she joined Yarra Valley Water and jumped from HR business partner to senior HR business partner within 12 months.

Sincethen, Ms Speirshas taken the diversity and inclusion portfolio to another level, and helped grow the organisation from having adiversity lens to being focussedontruly creating an inclusive culture.

As senior people partner, Ms Speirs has led the company’sdiversityand inclusion strategy, and is recognised as atrusted advisor of Yarra Valley Water’s pride network.

In 2021, she established the water utility’s diversity and inclusion committee.

Ms Speirs said she was honoured and humbled to accept the accolade.

“I’m really humbled and honoured to receive this award. Asincere thanks to my colleagues for the nomination,” she said.

“I'm grateful to HRD for continuing to highlight the contributions of emerging talent in our industry.”

One of her biggest achievements has been leading Yarra Valley Water’s first gender equality action plan. This has led to initiatives such as aremuneration review of senior employees aimed at closing the gender pay gap, increasing flexibleworking arrangements and providing above national standard leave entitlements for parental leave.

General managerpeople,performance and culture, Amy Singe,saidMsSpeirs wasthe perfect example of what agood HR leader should be.

“Rachel is smart, strategic, and business focussed

Great guns: Rachel Speirs, whogrew up in Traralgon, has been listed in the 2022 edition of Human Resources Director’s (HRD)Rising StarsReport.

Photosupplied as well as being empathetic and agreat listener," she said.

"Shequickly moved up the ranks because she workshard and delivers exceptional results for our business.

“These are some of themost prestigious HR awards in Australia, and it's so greattosee Rachel recognisedfor herrole-modellingand strong work ethic. She is an exceptional HR professional who continues to go from strength-to-strength in her career.”