Meet Anuradha, Tsartlip’s Human Resources (HR) Coordinator. Read her introduction interview below.
Can you tell us a bit about who you are and where you’re from?
My name is Anuradha Walisundera. I have been in Canada for one and a half years but am originally from Sri Lanka. My educational background includes an MBA from University Canada West (UCW) and a Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management from Sri Lanka. I am also a Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) passed finalist.
Apart from that, I have seven years of experience in Human Resource Management in different sectors, including manufacturing, telecommunication, and consulting. My most recent experience is at KPMG, Sri Lanka, where I worked before immigrating to Canada.
What experience and expertise do you bring to the table?
While this is my first time working in a full-time capacity with First Nations in Canada, I worked on a few projects while studying at UCW with Squamish Nations.
In terms of HR experience, I spent the last couple of months working remotely as an HR and Marketing Coordinator with the Board of Horticultural Therapy. There, I handled their business’ administrative tasks, outreach, and development.
The role I am currently performing (at Tsartlip) is more of an HR generalist position where I handle the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment to exit interviews, including performance management, training, and development. I worked in a similar role back in my home country and provided consulting advice at KPMG. So, I am confident that I will do a good job in this new role with Tsartlip First Nation with the support of the many talented people here. It’s a win-win situation: I can learn from them and, hopefully, give back.
What kind of impact do you hope to have at Tsartlip First Nation?
I’m still in the early stages of learning the current processes and procedures related to HR, but I already see many opportunities where I can add value. For example, by improving work-life balance, current employees can truly enjoy their work and love their workplace.
I am also the first person to hold this new position. Until now, an external consultant handled their HR policies, but this internal position is fresh. That means there are a huge number of things that I can improve.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
I’m a busy mom with two toddlers, but in my spare time, I love to read. I also love travelling, and ever since moving to Canada, I have found interest in the many hiking trails as a nature lover. I recently moved to Victoria from Vancouver, so now I live in Cordova Bay near the beach, and I’m enjoying the breeze and the calm.
Is there anything else you would like to mention?
Since this is a new position, I’d like to invite all of the employees at Tsartlip to collaborate and be open to fresh ideas. This job requires teamwork, every person is an HR person, and I would love to hear from them. I invite all team members to come up with their own ideas, complaints; anything that they have so that we can work together and make this place a better place to work.
