Interview with Nancy Taia MRIM

INTERVIEW WITH Nancy Taia

MRIM

Nancy Taia MRIM is the Qld Branch President, the Qld Chapter Secretary and Lead of the Awards and Recognition Portfolio. She has been involved in RIMPA since 2000 and a key contributor to the direction and success of RIMPA in Queensland over the past 21 years.

1. Tell us briefly about your career…

I’m one of the lucky ones in our industry, I fell into it but chose to stay and because of that choice I’ve spent more than half my life loving what I do. I like to solve puzzles and to help others solve puzzles and records and information management, at its core, enables just that. I’ve built my knowledge through doing just about every task involved in R&IM and can honestly say it’s taught me well. Without that experience I would not have been able get to where I am today.

2. What brought you to the records, information management industry?

Like most of us in the industry I fell into my career by accident, I didn’t plan it and it wasn’t my childhood dream. I was 20 and looking to move out of a secretary role in a private company and my dad was dating the Manager of the Records Branch at Logan City Council. In those days you could get a job in local government through the people you knew and in September ‘93 I started a four-week role as a temporary Clerical Officer.

Fast forward 28 years later, and it’s no longer a job but a lifelong passion. I moved through the ranks quickly from the temporary role to Records Officer, then Classifier, then Supervisor. After a short stint of 3 years as the Manager, Records and Information Management at Legal Aid Queensland, I am now an Information Management Consultant working for Records Solutions.

3. Throughout your career what has been your proudest achievement or milestone?

Helping to run a successful Qld Branch and Chapter of RIMPA over the past 21 years. I really don’t remember a time when I wasn’t involved in either and I’m very proud to say I have been one of the reasons we have been the RIMPA Branch of the Year for the last 10 years.

4. Who has had a significant influence on your career?

This is an easy question to answer – without a doubt Meryl Bourke. She has shown me what it is like to be a successful, strong and passionate woman. Meryl has taught me the ins and outs of navigating our industry with integrity and confidence. We worked together for 25 years and served together on the Qld Branch and Chapter Councils for the past 21 years and are still having a blast! She has been my mentor, sounding board, co-worker, boss and cheerleader, but most of all she’s been my friend in this crazy journey I’ve travelled.

5. You have been a professional member of RIMPA since 2000. RIMPA greatly appreciates the immense contribution you have provided as a member toward the association. What do you love best about being a part of RIMPA?

Being involved in RIMPA early in my career gave me a grass roots understanding of the industry and strengthened the skills I developed while working. I’ve built a vast network of “sounding boards” who I can count on to give me advice on anything R&IM related. The best part is I’ve gained some lifelong friends.

6. Where do you see the profession heading in the next decade?

I see us moving in the same trajectory the profession started on about five years ago – moving away from compliance enforcers into business enablers. Working with business to achieve strategic objectives whilst performing R&IM by stealth. Embracing technology more, particularly across government, with increased use of AI, cloud services and collaboration tools. Taking a step back and looking with a helicopter view to see the whole picture to help our customers do their jobs better.

Do you know someone who would benefit from a RIMPA Membership? Visit www.rimpa.com.au