Meet the team.

Our team are high-spirited and fun to be around, but we take what we do seriously. We genuinely enjoy making connections and managing all the moving parts, so you don’t have to.

Contact us

Government

Claire O’Donohue

Head of Government Operations / Branch Manager – Canberra

0420 974 844

Josh Zanetti

Team Coordinator

0477 877 114

Dana Wikaire

Senior Connections Partner –
Government 

*currently on Parental Leave* 

0488 744 055

Natalie Dore

Senior Connections Partner –
Government

0439 687 312

Ritz Khanuja

Senior Connections Partner –
Government 

0428 903 902

Stuti Kapoor

Connections Partner –
Government

0437 414 537

Ryan de Roo

Connections Partner –
Government

0447 260 119
Maddy Hale of Exclaim IT sits at bench in front of window

Maddy Hale

Engagement Specialist –
Government

0436 438 272
Chris Crighton

Chris Crighton

Engagement Specialist –
Government

0474 545 379

Aisha Sharif

Engagement Specialist –
Government
0447 071 145

Tayah Amoroa

Engagement Specialist –
Government
0498 476 677

Raisa Maliha

Engagement Specialist –
Government

0437 318 208

Anissa Mashor

Engagement Specialist –
Government

0484 568 874

Alysha Khairuldin

Engagement Specialist –
Government

0437 453 488

Commercial

Emma Evans

Head of Commercial Operations

0406 071 221

Jeralee O’Byrne

Principal Connections Partner
– Commercial

0449 697 725

Kate Samba

Senior Connections Partner – Commercial

0447 696 988

Pat Hoelscher

Connections Partner –
Commercial  

0499 689 118

Kevin Wu

Connections Partner –
Commercial  

0429 524 408

Sarah Morris

Connections Partner –
Commercial  

0460 851 059

Naomi Wright

Engagement Specialist –
Commercial

0409 145 587

Alana DeLisle

Engagement Specialist –
Commercial 

0409 145 587

Jieun Lee

Engagement Specialist –
Commercial 

0455 068 483

Leadership & support

Glenn Chaffey

Managing Director

0433 141 392

Paul Dunn

Director of
Strategic Partnerships

0418 151 387

Andrew Johnson

Chief Operating Officer

0438 433 808

Kiana Wong

People and Culture Coordinator

0437 769 453

Melanie Lister

Senior Finance Officer

Dana Abdelqader

Finance Officer

Olya Belyaeva

Senior Administration and
Compliance Officer

Jess Chapman

Administration Officer –
Government

Paula Whitehouse

Commercial Administration /
WHS Advisor & MHFA Officer

Catherine Towns

Contractor Care Specialist
0467 928 218

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Brisbane office
Level 8, 316 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
1300 369 768
Canberra office
Level 1, 33 Allara Street Canberra ACT 2601
1300 369 768

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Claire O’Donohue

Head of Government Operations / Branch Manager – Canberra

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As one of our longest-standing employees, Claire knows recruitment inside out. Having worked her way up through many business areas, she is now the Canberra Branch Manager and Government Team Leader.

With a comprehensive understanding of the Brisbane and Canberra IT landscape, Claire is part of our leadership team and helps guide operational practices for the business.

While Claire has a demanding role, she always makes time for others. She prides herself on her ability to grow capable, service-oriented, and ethical recruitment professionals.

Claire’s ultimate goal is for clients, candidates, contractors and internal staff to have a positive experience with Exclaim across every touchpoint. She prides herself on building relationships based on trust, respect, and honest communication.

Claire currently lives in Brisbane with her fiancé and two much-loved Groodles. She has spent the last 2.5 years in our nation’s capital building a presence for Exclaim IT and visits regularly to enjoy all that Canberra has to offer.

Josh Zanetti

Team Coordinator

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Driven by a strong sense of personal integrity and a knack for problem-solving, Josh is the sort of person you want on your team.

Through his work with State and Federal Government, Josh has developed a keen understanding of the sector. He has a reputation for being communicative, reliable, and achieving high-quality outcomes.

When not assisting his clients in finding the best IT, tech and digital talent for their organisations, Josh doesn’t mind a game of futsal. As anyone who’s played indoor soccer would know, this is an intense, fast-paced, team-oriented game. Players literally need to think on their feet. So it seems like the perfect past-time for someone like Josh.

Dana Wikaire

Senior Connections Partner – Government

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Having spent six years as an Officer in the Australian Army, Dana is tenacious, determined and has a strong sense of responsibility. These qualities afforded her a seamless transition into recruitment in 2018.

What makes Dana unique is her ability to make people feel at ease. She strives to develop honest relationships with her clients and candidates and works to serve the interest of both.

On a personal level, Dana is an advocate for healthy, balanced living. Her weekends are usually spent relaxing with friends or keeping active, preferably at the beach.

Natalie Dore

Senior Connections Partner – Government

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Nat’s a people person – she’s easy to be around and always seems to remember the little things that make a big difference. Her attention to detail leads to exceptional outcomes for our government clients.

With a Bachelor of HR Management and over five years of recruitment experience, Nat knows how to attract the right people to a role. Her innate ability to get into the shoes of her clients and candidates goes a long way toward making successful placements.

Originating in tropical Innisfail, Nat has an ingrained love of the outdoors and adventure. She keeps active dancing, climbing mountains, and swimming in the ocean.

Ritz Khanuja

Senior Connections Partner – Government

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Ritz is an accomplished recruitment specialist with over six years of internal and agency expertise. In addition to her hands-on experience, she brings a Master Degree in HR Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration to her position.

Starting her career in Thailand, first for Parker Bridge Recruitment and then Accenture, Ritz is now a key member of our Government Team.

Fundamental to her success on this team is her commitment to consistently excellent customer service. Ritz sets out to give her clients every reason to trust in her ability to deliver.

Recruitment can be a fast-paced industry, but Ritz maintains her friendly and approachable outlook, even on busy days. The secret to her composure is yoga. Ritz takes time to practice the ‘attitude of gratitude’ each day and reflect on how she can grow and improve.

All this asana-ing and contemplation builds up an appetite for good food and connection. So, on weekends, Ritz likes to bake Thai food and cook healthy bakes with her loved ones.

Stuti Kapoor

Connections Partner – Government

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Stuti has an unparalleled enthusiasm for her work as a Connections Partner on our Government Team. Her positive energy quickly fills the office in Canberra, where she works, and the Brisbane office on her visits.

It’s a special thing to see Stuti immediately puts people at ease with her warm smile and sense of humour. But it’s even more remarkable to hear her convey this goodwill over the phone. What’s more, she maintains her bright outlook even on cold Canberran days!

Stuti’s teammates describe her as genuine, hard-working, and always willing to learn new things. Her readiness to grow and better herself is apparent through her commitment to further education. A Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Commerce and Master of International Management give her a firm understanding of business. In addition, through tertiary learning, Stuti has critical thinking skills that serve her well in her current position.

Many people with busy day jobs forget how to rest and recharge effectively. But Stuti knows that one of the best ways to care for herself is to do things that bring her joy. So, on weekends, you might find her walking with her Cavoodle, knitting or watching hot air balloons float above the National Arboretum.

Ryan de Roo

Connections Partner – Government
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Ryan grew up in Toowoomba enjoying the rural lifestyle as a kid, before moving to the big smoke – Brisbane. After nearly 10 years in the automotive sales industry, Ryan brings with him strong business development and relationship-focused skills as he kicks off his career in recruitment where he will continue to provide people with the services they need to get to where they want to be. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys beach trips and walks with his dogs, or you may find him at the drag strip racing his car or bikes.
Maddy Hale of Exclaim IT sits at bench in front of window

Maddy Hale

Engagement Specialist – Government

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Maddy’s growth here at Exclaim is the product of her tenacity and confidence, emphasised by her trust in the recruitment process – a process quite different from her previous role as a Dental Assistant! Whilst she might not specialise in teeth anymore, she can certainly still talk the talk and walk the walk, just give her a call and she’ll know what to do to assist you in your search for the right job opportunities with various clients in the government sector. Maddy stays on top of things and is a self-confessed early bird, her 5 – 8 am consists of walks with her gorgeous cavoodle Ziggy and usually sees her putting in some hard work at the gym – a work ethic she brings into the office and continues throughout the day from 8-5 pm with everything she does.

Chris Crighton

Chris Crighton

Engagement Specialist – Government

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Chris joined our Government Team in 2022 as an Engagement Specialist, bringing with him his enthusiastic energy and a willingness to learn. Despite being at the beginning of his recruitment journey, Chris’s drive and motivation are bound to propel him to great heights.

Before joining our team, Chris worked as an Air Conditioning Technician, mastering the craft of keeping things cool. However, he decided to pursue a degree in International Business and Property Economics and embark on a new and exciting career path in recruitment. We are thrilled that he made this choice, as his dedication to self-improvement and commitment to excellence are already leaving a mark in the recruitment industry.

Chris is looking forward to connecting with our candidates, leveraging his impressive background and understanding of IT opportunities, to help them find their next perfect match. His unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen makes him a valuable asset to our team.

Aisha Sharif

Engagement Specialist – Government
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Aisha is a dynamic Engagement Specialist with a robust educational background, holding a Bachelor of Commerce, a Post Graduate degree in International Business, and a Masters in Information Systems and Management. Known for her positive attitude, she seamlessly combines business acumen with a passion for fostering connections. Having dedicated over 8 years to the retail sector, including a significant 5-year in the beauty industry, Aisha brings a wealth of experience and a customer-centric ethos to every interaction. 

Beyond the professional realm, she finds solace in practising yoga and meditation, a testament to her holistic approach to life. When time permits, Aisha embarks on leisurely long drives and can be found soaking in the calming vibes of the beach, where the sound of ocean waves becomes a source of tranquillity. With a desire to explore the world, Aisha aspires to traverse the globe, enjoying the opportunity to immerse herself in diverse cultures, one country at a time, adding a global perspective to her rich tapestry of experience.

Tayah Amoroa

Engagement Specialist – Government

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Originating from Aotearoa, Tayah has made the big move to the beautiful Sunshine State. Tayah joins us from an insurance background with her most recent role in the company being solely focussed on training new Sales and Service consultants. When asked what she enjoys the most about this role, the answer was simple: the people, the relationship building and helping people identify their strengths. This is what led Tayah to pursue a future in recruitment with us!

When she’s not building great relationships with our candidates and clients at work, you’ll find her building her knowledge through a good book or dissecting a great movie!

Tayah is excited by the opportunity to “practise what you preach” after years of training new recruits, in the art of humour, empathy, effort reduction and expectation management. She looks forward to the opportunity to get to know you and match you with the perfect opportunity. 

Raisa Maliha

Engagement Specialist – Government

Raisa is our bright and bubbly edition to the Canberra government team. With a Bachelor’s in IT and a background spanning IT and Sales, Raisa’s passion for recruitment makes perfect sense—it’s the ideal blend of both worlds. Her Bangladeshi heritage also means she’s got culinary skills that can turn any office potluck into a gourmet event. Raisa is known for her spontaneity and is always up for impromptu plans. Whether it’s a sudden adventure or a last-minute team outing, she’s ready to dive in. She is a risk-taker and likes to step out of her comfort zone. If you can’t find Raisa, she’s probably at home, deep cleaning while listening to Lana Del Rey.

Anissa Mashor

Engagement Specialist – Government

Anissa is an Engagement Specialist in the Government team. Originally from Malaysia, she has seamlessly transitioned to Canberra’s vibrant recruitment landscape, embracing the change from Malaysia’s warm climate to Canberra’s cooler weather. With a background in e-commerce, consulting, and retail, Anissa has developed expertise in navigating complex technology and ensuring smooth candidate experiences. Whether handling intricate tech challenges or focusing on candidate satisfaction, she brings a versatile toolkit to every recruitment task. Outside of work, Anissa enjoys caring for her feline companions and exploring new global destinations. Dedicated to delivering tailored recruitment solutions that meet client needs, she is ready to collaborate effectively and achieve goals with precision and professionalism in Canberra’s dynamic professional environment.

Alysha Khairuldin

Engagement Specialist – Government

Alysha brings over 8 years of dedicated customer service experience to Exclaim IT, with a specialised background in IT solutions and technical support. Throughout her career, she has developed a deep understanding of customer needs and expectations, honing her skills in troubleshooting and resolving software and hardware issues during her 3-year tenure at a prominent IT retail company. In this role, she not only mastered the intricacies of technical problem-solving but also excelled in communicating complex technical information clearly and effectively to customers of varying technical backgrounds. Outside of work, Alysha channels her passion for animals by visiting animal sanctuaries and caring for her two beloved babies (cats), Buster and Oreo. She also pursued her interest in animal care professionally, having worked as a dog groomer, further showcasing her dedication and nurturing spirit. Alysha’s multifaceted background in customer service, technical expertise, and passion for animals uniquely positions her to contribute effectively to this team, where she looks forward to leveraging her skills to make meaningful connections between talented individuals and rewarding opportunities.

Emma Evans

Head of Commercial Operations

Emma brings over 20 years of expertise in technology and digital recruitment, having started her career in the UK before moving to Brisbane.

Emma is a passionate leader who blends strategic thinking with hands-on management. Her friendly and approachable nature enables her to connect with people at all levels, fostering supportive and proactive relationships.

Her leadership is marked by a strong commitment to collaboration and high performance, making a meaningful impact on those around her.

Outside of work, Emma enjoys spending time with family and friends and has a keen interest in traveling and exploring new destinations, which adds a sense of adventure and joy to her life.

Jeralee O’Byrne

Principal Connections Partner – Commercial

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Eleven years ago, Jeralee came to Brisbane directly from Waterford in Ireland, known for its glassmaking industry.

Jeralee shares many qualities with the eponymous lead glass crystal from her hometown. Like Waterford Crystal, she’s well-respected. Her clients, candidates, and contractors know her advice comes from many years of building knowledge and relationships within the recruitment industry. Jeralee also acts with transparency, delivering the truth with genuine care.

As one of Exclaim IT’s longest-standing employees, Jeralee is also one of our leading consultants and esteemed leadership team members. She’s also our Commercial Group Leader, empowering her team to achieve outstanding levels of customer service and maintain a long-term strategic partnership focus.

On Wednesdays, Jeralee spends time with her daughter enjoying the outdoors. She also goes to the gym, runs five days a week, and likes to do anything that pushes her to the limit. No pain, no gain! She balances her enthusiasm for fitness with her love of good food. For Jer, nothing beats Brisbane’s ever-growing restaurant scene.

Kate Samba

Senior Connections Partner – Commercial

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With seven years in the IT recruitment sector, Kate has a good understanding of the needs of tech and digital professionals.

Kate’s the kind of person who truly wants the best for those around her. However, she never assumes that she knows what’s best for her clients and candidates. Instead, Kate asks the right questions to uncover their vision. She also invests in building her industry knowledge so that she can share valuable insights with her customers to help them meet their goals.

At the start of each day, Kate makes the conscious choice to provide a high-quality service. In fact, she decided to work for Exclaim IT because she wanted to be associated with a brand that has a robust quality assurance approach and a reputation for delivering.

Kate is honest, focused, friendly and determined; all attributes that make her a well-regarded Commercial Team member and a fantastic mother to her two young children. In her downtime, she likes to read, take moments of gratitude and go on local adventures with her family.

Pat Hoelscher

Connections Partner – Commercial

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After joining Exclaim in early 2022 as an Engagement Specialist, Pat has proven he knows exactly how to find the right IT talent in a range of commercial industries, taking home the prestigious “Engagement Specialist of the Year” at our 2022 – 2023 Awards Night. Having built a strong foundation and knack for finding talent, he has been promoted into a role as a Connections Partner where he continues to excel and expand his network to find solutions for our clients. He is young, hungry, and keen to continue building his network in the Brisbane tech market.

When he’s not in the office, Pat is often out doing sports photography for the likes of the NRL, A-league, and Cricket Australia, or playing a game of golf. Just like IT Recruitment, he finds the most success in photography arises from networking and building relationships.

Kevin Wu

Connections Partner – Commercial

Kevin is a motivated and results-driven salesman with over a decade of experience in the sales industry. Known for his ability to build and maintain genuine relationships, Kevin has a proven track record of providing exceptional customer service and exceeding expectations as proven during his time at Mercedes-Benz. His passion for people and commitment to customer satisfaction earned him several accolades, including the Mercedes-Benz Sales Guild award multiple times.

After years in the car industry, Kevin is keen to hop in the driver’s seat and bring his strategic approach and personable demeanour to a new audience across IT. When he’s not in the office, Kevin enjoys spending time with his family and getting out on the court for a round of tennis.

Sarah Morris

Connections Partner – Commercial

With a lifelong thirst for adventure, Sarah traded the Canadian great outdoors for the bustling energy of London in 2014. There, she immersed herself in the dynamic world of tech, collaborating with global clients at a growing SaaS company. This experience equipped her with a deep understanding of the tech landscape and ignited her passion for understanding people and businesses, laying the foundation for her successful recruitment career.

Now thriving in Brisbane, Sarah brings her tech expertise to the world of recruitment. She’s passionate about crafting tailored solutions that align perfectly with your organisation’s goals. Her commitment to open communication and mutual respect has earned her a reputation for delivering exceptional results across the IT and digital disciplines.

When she’s not matching top talent with dream jobs, you can find Sarah exploring her creative side in her art studio, engaging in lively book club discussions, or hosting unforgettable dinner parties.

Naomi Wright

Engagement Specialist – Commercial
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Having worked in Talent Acquisition and Human Resource roles across the technology industry for both startups and tech giants, this Brisbane native understands how hiring good talent leads to organisational success.

Naomi is passionate about both people and the delivery of results. As an Engagement Specialist, she is dedicated to pairing clients with great candidates. When Naomi is not working, she loves to exercise outdoors, either hiking a national park or jogging along one of the Brisbane River walks.

She is also a lover of country music which stems from her North Queensland roots.

Alana DeLisle

Engagement Specialist – Commercial
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Originally from the land of maple syrup and hockey, Alana left Canada to travel across Asia and Australia before being swept off her feet by the sunny shores of Brisbane. 

With a passion for connecting with people and sharing laughs, she brings a vibrant energy to every interaction she has both internally at Exclaim but also to all the candidates and clients she interacts with in the market. Previously immersed in the renewable energy sector, she is excited to be a part of the Commercial team at Exclaim IT as an Engagement Specialist, where she loves fostering genuine connections and connecting with people from all walks of life.

Outside of work, you’ll find her somewhere on the coast where she loves to wind down with a beach day spent surfing and swimming, throwing kicks in Muay Thai, or exploring a new recipe in the kitchen!

Jieun Lee

Engagement Specialist – Commercial

Jieun grew up on the Sunshine Coast and moved to Brisbane in 2012. By day, she is an Engagement Specialist at Exclaim IT; by night, she is a freelance editor.

Whether talking to candidates about their careers or to authors about their books, she knows that no one knows your story and experience better than you. She is a great listener and does her best to help those she works with get to where they want to be, always striving to operate with kindness and integrity.

When she is not at work, she is probably playing the drums, playing games, or looking for new food places to try (recommendations are always welcome!).

Glenn Chaffey

Managing Director
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Glenn believes people are at the centre of recruitment. So, he puts great effort into cultivating lasting relationships with business, IT and recruitment specialists across all industry sectors.

As one of the two founding members of Exclaim IT, Glenn has watched the business grow to more than ten times its original size. Over the past 15 years, his internal training and mentoring program has ensured our people are set up for success.

Glenn and Paul’s vision for Exclaim IT was to create a business that made a difference in peoples lives. The sort of place people would look forward to coming into every day, if only because they knew they had a team on their side. One of Glenn’s proudest achievements is passing that vision on and seeing it grow within people.

Of course, even a great workplace is still a place of work. As a Business Director, Glenn knows that life outside your profession is something to savour! He gets away as often as he can to explore our natural world and go camping with family and friends.

Paul Dunn

Director of Strategic Partnerships
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Paul began his recruitment career in the UK over 20 years ago. Before finding a calling, he tried his hand at many endeavours, from hairdressing to labouring and apple picking. After realising his niche, he quickly became the co-founder of a fast-growing technology recruitment company in England.

But Paul had his sights set on sunnier shores and sold his successful venture in the UK to come to Australia. Shortly after arriving in Brisbane, he co-founded Exclaim IT with Glenn Chaffey.

With Glenn focused on corporate services, Paul handles strategic oversight. His core focus areas are business development and client relationship management. He also works closely with Andrew Johnson to fulfil our clients’ executive search needs.

Paul enjoys working with other business leaders and helping them achieve their goals. He has a refreshingly open approach to service delivery and always gives honest advice when asked for his opinion.

Not the kind of person to take things at face value, Paul seeks to understand all he can about any situation. The industry has changed monumentally since the early 2000s. By remaining curious, Paul now has a holistic view of the IT landscape and insight he can share with others.

As a result of his work ethic and dedication, Paul has grown throughout his career. But it’s his ability to prioritise and take care of his family while running a business that he sees as his most outstanding achievement.

In the evenings and on weekends, Paul loves to take his dogs, Cleo and Gizmo, for a walk to the local park. Occasionally, he ups the ante and runs a marathon with his wife.

Andrew Johnson

Chief Operating Officer
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When Andrew joined the team in 2015, he brought a unique working history and diverse capabilities. In his early career, Andrew was a Captain in the Australian Army. He went on to work within many sectors, from marine to construction.

Today, Andrew has spent more than 15 years in recruitment, 20 years within human resources and over a decade in executive management. His diverse industry connections and extensive experience enable him to provide exceptional and knowledgeable service to our clients.

Outside his professional qualifications, Andrew loves to meet new people. He genuinely enjoys talking to candidates about their career plans and clients about the talent they need to drive their business forward.

When he’s not managing operations, creating a report, getting stuck in with the team or cooking up his speciality, a pancake breakfast, you’ll find Andrew in the outdoors. He likes to go on adventures with his wife and two daughters, travelling, jet skiing and BBQing up a feast.

Kiana Wong 黄寶恩

People and Culture Coordinator

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Kiana is Exclaim IT’s key cultural ambassador. While completing a Bachelor of Business and Psychological Science, she works full time as our people and culture representative and employee services coordinator.

Taking learnings from her studies and experience as a Senior Engagement Specialist on the Exclaim IT Government Team, Kiana shapes the employee experience from end to end. She’s responsible for internal recruitment, onboarding, training, professional development and retention activities for our team.

When Kiana’s not in the office on Adelaide Street, it’s a safe bet you’ll find her out and about in Brisbane ordering a bubble tea. However, there are a few things she enjoys as much as a matcha latte, like trying a new restaurant or dance class. So, ask her to show you her moves.

Melanie Lister

Senior Finance Officer

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Melanie started her career in tourism and travel in Portugal, where she developed her fondness for coffee. In her search for the best coffee globally, she found herself in Australia. And, while the coffee may not be why Melanie stays, the lifestyle remains a key selling point.

Not a stranger to change, Melanie not only moved across the world but continues to evolve her skills throughout her career. She transitioned from travel into accounts management five years ago. Today, she’s steadily working towards her Diploma in Accounting.

Melanie started at Exclaim IT as the Finance and Payroll officer. She moved quickly into a senior position. As our go-to for accounting, payroll and invoicing questions, Melanie is patient and knowledgeable. Our contractors appreciate her attention to detail and reliability.

While Melanie’s three children and husband light up her life, it’s Bowie, her beautiful Golden Retriever, that’s always at the door when she gets home.

Dana Abdelqader

Finance Officer

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Hailing from Jordan, Dana brings along with her valuable experience in the finance and accounting fields, having worked for several organizations across different countries including Jordan, Kuwait and South Korea. Dana’s passion for finance led her to earn a Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping from Monarch Institute here in Australia. This certification has expanded her knowledge and skills in finance and accounting which allowed her to stay up to date with industry trends and regulations. When she’s not working, Dana loves to spend quality time with her family. She enjoys sewing, making handicrafts, cooking and baking – the latter are hobbies we’re very grateful for in the office as she often spoils us with her baked treats! Her warm and friendly nature isn’t something that’s reserved for home or in the office though – she extends this to everyone she comes into contact with, including our clients and contractors.

Olya Belyaeva

Senior Administration and Compliance Officer – Government 

Olya has extensive experience across not-for-profit, economic consulting, finance, and recruitment industries.

She finds great satisfaction in providing administrative support to our government team and keeping everything on track.

Jess Chapman

Administration Officer – Government

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Jess was born, raised and graduated from university in New Zealand, where she gained a degree in Psychology, before venturing across the ditch to pursue new experiences in Australia. She comes from a humble family of 9 and is the eldest of 7 children so she has always been surrounded by people which is where she became fascinated by the way people process and function in day-to-day life. For Jess, this new chapter of her story where she has stepped into the world of recruitment has created an opportunity for her to explore these interests whilst also utilising her degree to help people in a way she had never considered before Exclaim!

As soon as she joined Exclaim, she made an instant positive impact not only with her high calibre work but also with her kind and infectiously joyful nature that is felt by everyone in her presence. Before a big day of formatting CVs, position descriptions, handling submissions and everything in between, she starts her day by training at the gym and ends it in her happy place – by spending time with her friends, family and partner.

Paula Whitehouse

Commercial Administration / WHS Advisor & MHFA Officer

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Paula has over 35 years of administrative experience in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

She brings this wealth of experience with her to the back-end operations of Exclaim IT.

In her current role, Paula manages workplace health and safety compliance and commercial administration. Put simply, she ensures we’re safe and organised!

Paula has completed a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety and Mental Health First Aid Certificate. These qualifications, along with a Diploma of Social Science, enable her to support us to meet our strategic goals and build a healthy culture.

When she’s not studying up a storm, Paula is often at the gym or out and about in nature, getting crafty or catching up with family and friends.

Catherine Towns

Contractor Care Specialist
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Catherine is a Contractor Care Specialist focussed on supporting our Exclaim IT Contractors while they are on placement within our Client organisations. She brings to this role her wealth of experience as an IT Recruiter and over 20 years within the Recruitment Industry.

As a Contractor Care Specialist, Catherine takes the time to get to know Contractors and their individual needs and to ensure that they feel supported and valued.  She understands that Contractors are an integral part of the IT industry and is keen to ensure that they have a positive experience while they are representing Exclaim IT.  Catherine’s honesty and dedication to providing the best possible service have earned her a reputation as a trusted and approachable Contractor Care Specialist.

Originally from New Zealand, Catherine has been living in Brisbane with her husband and two children for five years. She enjoys exploring the region’s many attractions, beaches, and local hiking trails.  Catherine’s recent adventures include a fun Wine Tasting trip to Adelaide with a group of friends and a challenging, four-day hike on the Three Capes Track in Tasmania, she’s now dreaming up her next adventure and is always open to suggestions!

Tealia Taprell

Engagement Specialist – Commercial

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Meet Tealia, the newest addition to Exclaim IT’s Commercial team. With expertise in Talent Acquisition from the dental and engineering consultancy sectors, she has a unique perspective on recruiting top talent. Driven by a passion for people and delivering exceptional results, Tealia strives to build high-performing teams that make a difference.

Tealia is a fun-loving person with lots of interests outside of work including going to the gym to stay fit, cooking yummy food for her friends, and going jet skiing with her partner. She’s always full of energy and brings a lot of excitement to every gathering she attends!

Naomi Wright

Engagement Specialist – Commercial

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Having worked in Talent Acquisition and Human Resource roles across the technology industry for both startups and tech giants, this Brisbane native understands how hiring good talent leads to organisational success. Naomi is passionate about both people and the delivery of results. As an Engagement Specialist, she is dedicated to pairing clients with great candidates. When Naomi is not working, she loves to exercise outdoors, either hiking a national park or jogging along one of the Brisbane River walks. She is also a lover of country music which stems from her North Queensland roots.

Jinal Patel

Connections Partner – Government

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Jinal, the latest addition to the Exclaim IT team, exudes a bundle of contagious positivity and dynamic energy that uplifts the workplace. Her technical expertise and interpersonal skills are rare, thanks to her Masters’ degree in IT and Business Administration. She is enthusiastic about learning and developing her career in recruitment.

Jinal takes pride in her Indian heritage and is dedicated to promoting change and breaking stereotypes. Her talent for building meaningful relationships extends beyond the professional realm. She enjoys exploring new cultures and destinations, swimming, dancing, and painting. She had childhood aspirations of becoming an artist or a pro wrestler, which are skills she actively incorporates into her current pursuits (well maybe not the wrestling side of things!).

Angeline Richards

Connections Partner – Government
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Angeline was born in Brisbane but grew up travelling with her family and attending various international schools across Asia including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia so it is no wonder she loves being able to connect with people of all different backgrounds and cultures. Once she arrived back in Australia, she kicked off her recruitment journey in the Healthcare sector and has now found her niche where her roots are here in Brisbane within the IT sector. Angie’s a people person and can’t wait to share a laugh with her clients in the process of helping them find solutions. Outside of work, Angie likes to keep busy with art projects that include revamping old furniture, playing video games, as well as keeping fit by playing netball – so you know she’s there if you need!

Matt Cotton

Team Leader – Commercial

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Matt is an experienced Recruitment leader with 20 years’ experience across multiple sectors, industries, and countries! The vast majority of this time has been spent within niche recruitment markets, including extensive experience in the Technology sector where he has gained knowledge across multiple areas but with a real passion for Cyber Security. Before moving to Brisbane, Matt lead the Cyber Practice and Infrastructure team for a well-known multinational Recruitment business in Dublin. 

A recent arrival in Brisbane, Matt and his young family are settled and loving the Queensland lifestyle…although it took a while to adjust to the weather!!

As well as being a very passionate Tech recruiter, he also has a passion for Neuroinclusion and driving awareness of how businesses in the Cyber/Tech Space, can and should do more to attract, retain and support Neurodiverse talent. Matt has spoken and produced content on this topic several times and continues to try and impact this space.

A passionate believer of what we do is relationship driven and not transactional, you may often find him exploring the Brisbane Café scene meeting up, chatting, and getting to know Cyber & Tech professionals across Brisbane.

Outside of work, his 2 young kids keep him busy! Although when time allows, he is a fan of Triathlons to stay fit and active, loves the outdoors, big fishing fan, can’t wait for England to visit for the Ashes and excited to keep exploring everything Queensland has to offer!

Austin Whayman

Engagement Specialist 

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Austin joined our Commercial Team as an Engagement Specialist in late 2022, having already worked in customer service focussed roles for 7 years. Whilst he is just starting his recruitment journey, Austin is keen to learn all he can in pursuit of assisting his candidates in achieving their tech and digital career goals.

When Austin isn’t discovering more about talent acquisition and the IT industry, he is passionate about all things sports! He is especially interested in basketball, which he is on a weekly podcast for. On the weekends, you’ll likely find him at the beach, analysing the crypto/NFT market or watching sports with friends.

Juliet Bustard

Engagement Specialist – Government

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Working as part of the Canberra Team, Juliet joined the Exclaim crew in 2022. As an Engagement Specialist, she is committed to working closely with her candidates to understand what it is they are looking for in their next engagement and always striving to positively contribute to their careers. With a strong background in customer service, Juliet has a friendly, warm and caring nature that shines through in all of her interactions. 

On the weekends, you’ll find Juliet curled up with her dogs reading a good book (please feel free to pass on any recommended reading – always appreciated)!

Jayden Fielding-Smith

Engagement Specialist – Commercial

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Jayden recently joined our Commercial Team as an Engagement Specialist in training. While he is relatively new to recruitment, Jayden is ready to build his skill set.

He looks forward to connecting with our candidates to help them find their next opportunity in tech and digital.

Susan Stewart

Finance and Corporate Services Officer

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Susan has a warm and welcoming nature and an unrivalled efficiency. These qualities make her well-suited to her office administration career. Over the years, she’s worked in payroll, health and safety, human resources, project management and office management.

At Exclaim IT, Susan primarily supports the finance function. While not involved in compliance, she has a Workplace Health and Safety Cert IV. This qualification enables her to see the benefits of creating a healthy workplace. So, Susan quickly put her hand up to be our Wellbeing Program Coordinator. Of course, everyone appreciates the person who organises the in-house masseuse!

Our Wellbeing Program is action-packed, but Susan goes the extra mile. She often brings in delicious homemade lemon and blueberry friands and other coveted treats that rarely last until morning tea. She does all this to make our office a nice place to work even though her weeks are busy, especially when she makes the commute from her home in the Gold Coast hinterland. Most days, Susie works from home.

On weekends, Susan likes to potter around in beautiful hinterland surroundings. She gardens, visits local markets, crafts, and cooks at a more leisurely pace.

Nate Shaw

Engagement Specialist – Government

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Nate recently joined our Government Team as an Engagement Specialist in Australia’s federal capital. Proud to be Canberra born and bred, he looks forward to connecting with outstanding local candidates to help them further their careers.

While Nate may be just starting his journey in recruitment, he brings an enthusiastic energy, willingness to learn and drive to help others that will undoubtedly see him achieve great success in our industry.

When he’s not learning more about our government clients and the types of people they need on their teams, you’ll find him at the University of Canberra, studying a Bachelor of Politics and International Relations part-time.

On the weekends, Nate likes to watch movies (anything Star Wars rates highly), read (he recommends Atomic Habits by James Clear and Dune by Frank Herbert) and play Dungeons & Dragons with friends.

Melanie Cooke

Brand and Customer Experience Manager

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Melanie is an experienced service designer and degree-qualified marketing and communications specialist. At Exclaim IT, she strives to create transformative human-centred experiences by researching customer needs, mapping journeys and optimising our toolset and processes.

When Melanie started at Exclaim IT, the business already had an exceptional professional standing after 15 years of effective relationship building and service delivery. So, she focuses on leveraging Exclaim IT’s brand reputation.

Melanie’s love of words is an unkept secret. But, while some words roll off the tongue a little easier than others, it’s not their individual qualities that impress her. Instead, she likes how they dance across a page or float in the air imbued with intention. At the basis of her affinity for words is their ability to convey meaning.

In rare cases, the more nonsensical the tale, the more we learn, and Dr Seuss’s fantastical and tongue-twistical books provide the best advice. The best of all? ‘If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.’ Melanie finds fun in every day of the week. On weekends, she likes to bodyboard, discover new books and go on spontaneous adventures with her family.

Mariana Costa

Connections Partner – Government

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As a highly qualified and experienced organisational psychologist, Mariana brings a unique perspective to our team. Having studied occupational behaviour and working conditions closely, she has good insight into what candidates might want from a role.

For most of her life, Mariana lived and worked in Brazil. Then, in 2017, she came to study in Perth, opening up a whole world of opportunities in a new country.

When Mariana started on the Government Team, the team in Canberra felt like they’d found a missing piece of the puzzle. Mariana is open-hearted, inclusive and doesn’t sweat the small stuff. But, she’s also industrious, tenacious and willing to put in the effort it takes to look after our candidates.

For Mariana, life is simple. And that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t face similar challenges to the rest of us. Instead, it means that sometimes humans complicate the uncomplicated, and she tries her best to keep coming back to basics. Mariana enjoys simple pleasures like walking through the countryside or listening to music, and having a chimarrão (Mate tea) on the balcony whenever she can.

Maddie Bradner

Connections Partner – Commercial

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Finding the right candidate is a feeling as much as a skill. Maddie’s intuition for knowing when someone will be a good fit is second to none. In addition to her instinct, Maddie is quick and determined. No matter the role, she goes all in to find the right candidate which is a skill built for two years in the Engagement Specialist role and one she will cultivate as a Connections Partner. While Maddie is always attentive to the job at hand, she’s also good for a laugh! Her quick observation skills lead to some funny moments in the office. What’s more, her cheerful nature allows her to get straight to the heart of a candidate’s needs. Maddie may be one of the newer members of our Commercial Team, but she has a maturity that comes from seeking knowledge. Before starting at Exclaim IT, Maddie completed a Bachelor of Business Management and a Bachelor of Communication. Since starting here, she has flourished during our internal training and become APSCO certified. On a personal note, Maddie loves fiction and happily reads two books a week. On the weekends, she enjoys a good road trip or getting dressed up for the races.

Kim Tran

Engagement Specialist – Government

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While Kim’s relatively new to tech and digital recruitment, she has over three years of customer service experience. What’s more, she’s spirited, energetic, witty, and a quick learner, all qualities her team admire.

As an Engagement Specialist, Kim seeks to understand and engage with our candidates so that she can find them the right job. She also works closely with our Connections Partners to understand our clients’ needs and ensure candidates will be a good fit.

While it’s not a function of her current role, Kim is interested in how organisations interact with and motivate their employees. She has a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) and a Bachelor of Business from QUT. Her studies give her a perspective on the human drivers of job searching.

On the weekends, Kim likes to search op shops and vintage stores for adorable cardigans and cat-related knick-knacks.

Ephraim Lemusu

Connections Partner – Commercial

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Ephraim is a passionate and multi-skilled consultant who specialises in commercial IT recruitment.

With a diverse background in sales, marketing, and customer service, Ephraim engages easily with people from all walks of life. But, unquestionably, his greatest strengths are reliability, communication and genuine care for his clients and candidates.

Like many of us, he has a few hidden talents too. While it doesn’t usually come up during the recruitment process, Ephraim has a well-tuned creative side and an interest in graphic and interface design. Though not formally trained, his eye for creative detail is quite impressive.

Ephraim stays fit and active in his spare time by hitting the bag at the gym. When the weather permits (and in Queensland, it often does), you’ll find him venturing along the coast, a nod to his Samoan heritage.