Joel Smith

Background

About Joel Smith

I am a transformational change leader, having held a variety of senior leadership roles inclusive of strategy, operations, clinical, and corporate within Queensland Corrective Services (QCS), delivering significant cultural and business performance improvements. across each of these domains. Drawing on my forensic psychology background, I have a proven record of conceptualising, developing and implementing models to improve people, safety, risk and compliance outcomes across high pressure operational and corporate workspace. My innovative models of service delivery; performance management; and, governance and oversight have been recognised as best practice through awards and translated into state-wide practice. I have a passion for improving teams through cultural enrichment; empowerment through professional development; and, creating accountable, inter-dependent cohesive working relations. Leading this experience has consistently resulted in highly-motivated, autonomous teams that achieve incredible levels performance matched with job satisfaction. I have a keen business acumen that has seen the introduction of several efficiency initiatives. I have a supreme ability to scrutinise the many moving parts of running a complex budget to match P&L targets, whilst simultaneously driving performance towards KPIs. I am highly accountable, ethical and transparent with financial management. I am adept at managing contracts. I am an expert influential communicator and public speaker; having produced critical ministerial briefs; forensic testimony in the Supreme Court; and lectures and speaking addresses as part of my university tenure and key note role in national conferences. I use these skills along with my deep understanding of workplace culture to skillfully navigate complex industrial matters and negotiate outcomes with stakeholders in a highly unionised industry. I am supremely diligent and have a relentless drive to achieve results. I have the socio-emotional skillset, energy, and mental horsepower needed to establish a campaign for success that wins the 'hearts and minds' of teams to strive and exceed business objectives. I am adaptable and anti-fragile, with demonstrable ability to thrive under crisis; including extreme political and industrial pressure situations. My preparedness and decisive actions early in the pandemic resulted in state-wide adoption of several innovative business continuity practices and saw the unprecedented move by union members to pass a vote of confidence in my leadership.