Hellen has an extensive background in Human Resources and Administration, having undertaken various such roles throughout her professional career. Prior to coming to Australia she was based in Kenya, her home country, where she completed a three year Diploma Course in Labour Studies & Management. She also studied Italian up to Diploma level, but confesses that her grasp of the language is in danger of slowly becoming extinct for lack of practice!
The major part of Hellen’s working life has been with a leading Coffee Roasting and Export Company for about ten years. Initially engaged as an Administrative & Personnel Assistant, she gradually took on other positions, including PA to the General Manager, and then Acting Area Manager for the Coast Province. She was later Factory Manager in charge of the Roasting Division, as well as Sales & Marketing Manager. Hellen admits that this latter appointment with the Organization was her most challenging because it was entirely out of her comfort zone. As the Sales & Marketing Manager, Hellen was in charge of roasted coffee sales for the local and export market. For someone without any formal training in Sales & Marketing, this seemed like an uphill task but the product knowledge and people skills developed while managing the Roasting Division served her in good stead. Hellen held this position for close to two years, before resigning to pursue further studies in Australia.
Hellen’s interest in social justice work has been influenced by the social inequality in Kenya and other countries in Africa. This is characterized by widespread poverty, disease, starvation and illiteracy. Against this dreary background, though, is an underlying optimism, fuelled in part by social justice initiatives carried out by various organizations. Being part of such an initiative at the ERISJ is therefore a humbling and delightful opportunity for Hellen.
Hellen is now completing a degree in International Business at Murdoch University. She intends to keep up her quest for knowledge for as long as she is not a “few sandwiches short of a picnic” (PS: Hellen finds Aussie slang hilarious!). She is also very excited about the ERISJ plans for her to teach Swahili to ERISJ staff and volunteers who will attend Tanzania Immersions. In the meantime, she is enjoying every minute of “immersing” herself in the Social Justice world!
