Christine Hayward
Board Member
Joined CPM September 2020
A Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant and Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, Christine has over 25 years of experience in various senior finance and accounting positions. She is also a board member of the CPM group of companies.
Christine has an extensive track record aligning core financial and operational business support services with organisational strategies and has supported companies across a broad range of industries, including Infrastructure, Transport and Construction. She has held various executive roles including CFO, company secretary and acting chief executive for a period of 12 months in a mining services entity. Both realistic and aspirational in her approach, she has a proven ability to effectively establish and improve business operations through strategic financial planning and establishment of the associated financial, management and good corporate governance control structures.
What drew you to your career?
Since leaving school at 15, I worked in an Accounting Firm and then various book-keeping roles for a number of commercial enterprises. My husband and I then had our own small business where I maintained the accounting records. Our accountant wanted to know why I wasn’t a qualified accountant and this started my journey to achieve a Bachelor of Commerce Degree as an external mature aged student while having our two children. Once I completed my degree, I then went on to complete the CPA program and Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance to become an International Chartered Secretary. I am not an accountant who has trained with the Big 4 accounting firms as my key focus is on commercial entities and how they can perform better.
What is your favourite part of your role?
When I am able to implement changes within a business that enables them to achieve efficiencies (cost savings) while developing strong governance platforms for future growth. In particular, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with my teams and peers to help them understand and recognise poor governance practices and financial impacts of key decisions.
What does unlocking hidden value mean to you?
There are so many small back office processing improvements that, once identified, provide significant benefits to a business and its employees. Most often these little gems are identified by the people who feel comfortable raising an issue and then I am able to find the solution with them to achieve a much better outcome. If I can encourage teams to look for the little wins – this results in unlocking real value for a business.
What is your proudest achievement, greatest learning, career highlight?
My proudest achievement is a marriage of 37 years with my husband, Ross and our two children. (Jessica who is a Protective Services Officer responsible for Queensland School security for the Department of Education and Ryan, who is in the Australian Defence Force, 2nd Calvary Regiment – Tanks.
My greatest learning is that everyone around us has knowledge to share and by listening we learn new things every day – about how we can improve ourselves and support those around us.
Career highlight – every role I have undertaken has been a highlight. I usually work on some of the most challenging business issues and am seen as a safe pair of hands to work through difficult business situations. While this is challenging I feel recognised for my integrity and commitment to supporting teams and Boards through challenging situations.
What are your passions, hobbies, interests outside of work?
My husband and I have 50 acres in Gympie where we have our horses – riding has been a passion since I was a baby and it has not gone away. Our property backs onto a state forest and we have over 1,000 acres of riding available to enjoy. There is nothing better than being out in the fresh air, in the bush and on a horse for a couple of hours. Horse time is “me” time – it is where my brain gets to rest and recharge.