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Rachael Robertson has recently returned to Australia after 12 months in the Antarctic, where she successfully led the 58th Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition to Davis Station. She is only the second female to ever lead a team at the Station.
This leadership role is truly a very unique experience. Faced with 9 months of total isolation, with 18 people Rachael Robertson hardly knew, ensured this was no ordinary leadership role. Antarctica in winter is totally inaccessible which means once the last ship leaves at the end of February, no one can leave the base under any circumstance (not even if you are dying) until the ship returns in November.
In 2004 Rachael Robertson was seconded to the Australian Antarctic Division from her job as a senior manager (Chief Ranger) at Parks Victoria. In this role Rachael is responsible for a team of over 30 staff but more importantly the safety of millions of visitors who come to the Port Phillip Bay region each year.
As Station Leader Rachael Robertson was responsible for all aspects of life on Station, from the safety and welfare of over 80 expeditioners to the delivery of the Australian Government’s $10m science program. In any circumstance, this would be a very tough roll, however for a female in a very male dominated environment, this certainly added to Rachael’s challenge!
Before her departure, Rachael Robertson underwent three months training in Hobart before setting sail for the three week voyage through the Southern Ocean to Davis Station.
What Rachael Robertson shares with her audiences:
With breathtaking photographs and plenty of humour, Rachael Robertson will recount her leadership and team building experiences from a year in the highest, driest, coldest and windiest place on earth.
After managing a highly complex operation with the added challenge of isolation and extreme risk to life, Rachael Robertson’s talk will focus on the lessons she learnt from her most challenging leadership role to date.
From the complicated logistics of using airplanes and helicopters to deploy scientists thousands of kilometers away deep into remote Antarctica; to managing a team of trades people delivering a maintenance program for the station infrastructure including an adequate supply of power and water, there was never a dull moment.
A story of success and achievement that explores themes including:
· The ability to adapt to a changing environment
· Holistic Management
· Leadership in very difficult circumstances
· The power of preparation, training, planning, systems, teamwork and trust.
· Performing under pressure
· The importance of great communication
· Managing risk, managing fear and calculated risk = Success
· Expect the unexpected
· Managing difficult people
· Laugh often!
Although Antarctica is dedicated to international peace and science, having dealt with everything from plane crashes to negotiating a diplomatic settlement in the bacon wars, her conclusion is that life down south isn’t always peace and harmony.
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