Staff Spotlight – Meet Kim

Meet Kim Collins, MMC’s new Head of People and Culture, who brings a wealth of international experience and a passion for building supportive, thriving teams. After years in the not-for-profit sector, she is already making a meaningful impact within our community. We spent five minutes chatting with Kim….

Full Name: Kim Collins

Position: Head of People and Culture

How long have you been at MMC? Two months.

Where were you beforehand? 

Recently, I worked for a not-for-profit organisation in Australia, following many years of living and working in Canada.

What do you love about working at MMC?

Having worked in not-for-profits for many years, and in sometimes difficult sectors, coming to an education environment where I am able to observe students learning and developing in such a positive manner is just enlightening and heart-warming.

Working with the MMC team has also been amazing; everyone has been super welcoming and supportive, and I love the commitment you are all making to enrich the lives of our future leaders.

What inspires you as a Montessori educator/team member?

I love what I do.

I know some people perceive People and Culture (HR) as being all about rules, policies and compliance – it’s so much more than that for me. While we need structure to meet compliance, once this is in place it is all about creating a welcoming, supportive environment where our team feels connected, valued and able to do their best work. When our team feels supported, they can thrive in the classroom and beyond, and that’s what ultimately creates meaningful impact for students and their futures.

What are some interesting things about you we may not know?

1. I’m an avid hiker and have completed some pretty intensive hikes in the Rocky Mountains in Canada: through caves, climbing around the sides of mountains with chain links and I have seen over 50 bears in the wild.
2. I love a dinner party. I have some amazing successes in the kitchen, but I have also had some pretty abject failures where we needed to order take away!
3. I served as Organisational Development Manager for Oxfam New Zealand, leading the facilitation and implementation of the Aid and Development Strategy across multiple developing countries in the Pacific region. The experience was both professionally and personally meaningful, underscoring the importance of development work.
4. I have travelled overseas quite a bit and also spent approximately six weeks travelling through the centre of Australia and from Broome to Darwin along the Gipp River Road; sleeping in a swag, swimming in watering holes and hiking 10 – 12 kms a day. It was a phenomenal experience.
5. My passion for cooking began in my grandmother’s kitchen, using a wood-burning oven every summer holiday as they lived in remote Western Australia without electricity or running water.

What does your weekend look like?   

Out for drinks and dinner on Friday night in the CBD and I do love my AFL football – having recently lived overseas for 14 years, I am excited to be able to watch the footy again.

What is your favourite Maria Montessori quote?       

The child is both a hope and a promise for humankind.