When Ursula Duff arrived in Australia more than a decade ago, she wasn’t really thinking about a career in health and safety. Now a Health, Safety, and Environment Consultant at networking and telecommunications company, Ericsson, she can step back and acknowledge that after ten and a half years at the company, she is on the right career path and has found one that allows her authentic self to shine.
After moving to Australia from England, Ursula landed a job in the education sector and wondered what might be next for her career. At the time, neither a role in Health and Safety nor joining a company like Ericsson was on her radar.
After hearing about the incredible people-centred culture through some acquaintances, Ursula’s interest was certainly piqued:
“I had no experience and very little knowledge of the Telco industry. But talking regularly with both of these colleagues, I soon gained a greater understanding, and my desire to join Ericsson increased.”
When a position to join Ericsson’s Health, Safety, and Environment area became available, Ursula knew exactly where she wanted to be.
What does workplace flexibility mean to you?
On the massive National Broadband Network Corporation project (NBN Co), Ursula made her start as a field manager in Health and Safety. But the constant need to be away at different site locations presented a challenge when Ursula gave birth to her daughter.
Ericsson’s flexibility and ability to work with their employees ensured she could find the time to dedicate to being a new parent and to recalibrate her career path. Ursula was able to step in a new direction that took her into the Compliance side of Ericsson’s operations:
“When I first joined Ericsson, I managed the NBN Co project from end-to-end, including a significant amount of fieldwork. I then had my daughter, and enjoyed a period of time on maternity leave. When I returned to work, I was also able to negotiate a change in my role so I could spend more time with her. Both roles have given me enormous exposure to the Health and Safety and Environment space as a whole.”
And the ability to interact with field workers, support them in their work, and understand their requirements gives her an outstanding balance and allows her to build on her own time in the field:
“It means you need to actively listen to how the work is being done, remembering they are the experts in their field – literally! – and we are there to support them.”
Explore how Ericsson can help you discover the perfect work-life balance with their inclusive benefits and policies.
How teamwork makes a thriving workplace
The culture at Ericsson, across all the divisions Ursula has worked in or collaborated with, is the core of her longevity and her willingness to commit her career future to the company.
“In my ten and a half years at Ericsson, there have been so many changes. However, the strength of the culture from the top down ensures all the staff can truly believe Health and Safety is a top priority at Ericsson. It isn’t just buzz talk; it’s what the management truly believes in, and it’s demonstrated through leadership interactions on-site, safety shares, and sitting in at every major incident review board to ensure lessons are learned and shared.”
For Ursula, this value reaches beyond the parameters of compliance and health and safety concerns. It’s about putting people and their well-being first to ensure that Health, Safety, and Compliance issues are not mere box-ticking exercises but are embedded in everyday operations:
“Ericsson has a fantastic Wellbeing Check program, which entails an annual proactive conversation that leaders have with their teams to ensure that they have all they need to thrive, both for their safety and well-being.”
These checks and commitments are central to ensuring Health and Safety because those aims are reflective of a healthy workplace culture:
“Wellbeing means we believe we are well and when we feel physically healthy, emotionally balanced and resilient, financially in control, and socially connected to our communities and networks. When we are well, we are more likely to thrive and be our best both at work and in our personal lives. Holistic well-being is when all areas of our personal well-being—physical, emotional, financial, and social—are balanced.”
The result? Everyone is doing their best work, fulfilled and content in where they are, with the people they are working with, and what they are doing!
Plans to stay
Even after more than ten years at Ericsson, Ursula is keen to highlight that there are still plenty more opportunities to learn, lead, and grow ahead of her, acknowledging that she still feels in her career’s infancy.
She’s also keen to highlight that as a company, Ericsson feels like a place where there are no limits, and she’s looking forward to a future with them that will continue to support the evolution of her career in alignment with her life outside of work:
“The concept of success has changed over the years with the various projects and teams I’ve worked on. The length of time I’ve been at Ericsson demonstrates my success in executing my role. I have and will continue to enjoy the cultural change that comes when I and the entire workforce gain a better understanding of Health and Safety. This allows me and my team to work on best practices to always move forward.”
For Ursula, “moving forward is a success,” and that mindset will likely keep her and Ericsson connected for years to come.
