John Harrison
Perth,WA
Summary
Strategic-thinking individual experienced in turning low-performing organizations into excellent operational and financial performers. Offering engaging and proven leadership with demonstrated expertise improving customer relationships. Dynamic Director oversees every facet of production with strong project management and decision-making skills. Brings comprehensive knowledge of security planning and technical operations in a human centred organization. Skilled at coordinating production plans and personnel resources to complete work under tight deadlines.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
Serco
2021.12 - Current
- Strategic management of 1525 bed private correctional facility
- Manage P&L of $95 million per annum
- Design and implement significant change management strategy to improve human experience, operational outcomes and profitability
Director
Egeria International Pty Ltd
2016.01 - Current
- Principal Consultant working with a range of multi-national companies and government agencies
- Management of major prison procurement evaluation for NSW Justice
- Managing Director of start-up services company 'Goshawk Services Pty Ltd' to progress economic viability of the Indian Ocean Territories, this includes inroads into the aviation, aged care and medicinal cannabis fields.
Director
Corrective Services, NSW
2017.06 - 2021.12
- Executive leadership for up to eleven correctional facilities
- Oversaw annual operational budget of $400 million
- Developed and implemented commissioning methodologies for multiples sites
- Work with Custodial Operations and other areas to successfully implement and realise their requirements around new prisons
- Develop and maintain operational budgets for the Prison Bed program
- Lead and develop the Commissioning team.
Regional Manager
Serco
2011.08 - 2016.12
- Safe management of high risk, security, logistics and human services operations in a remote setting
- Working with the Executive team to develop and implement a three year strategic change plan designed to define cost and service delivery structures whilst maintaining contractual and operational compliance in a demanding contractual setting
- Development and implementation of Staffing and Roster Optimisation project across Serco Immigration sites
- Lead community consultation across all stakeholders on Christmas Island to provide confidence in our operations and develop capacity building initiatives such as the Christmas Island Marathon and Ocean Swim event tourism activities
- Ensuring the trust of the Serco Board and Asia Pacific Executive by demonstrating sound planning, completion of successful multiple high risk security operations and superior customer relations outcomes
- Managed up to 4100 people in care and 500 staff including all OH&S, training, transport, welfare and accommodation matters
- Managed high volume arrival and departure rates of up to 1000 clients per week from a remote site
- Oversaw the logistic and Facilities Management support to a staff and client population of up to 4600 people in a remote site
- Reduced catering costs from $26 to $12 per day per client whilst maintaining contractual and HACCCP compliance
- Implemented fundamental workforce redesign and tailored the business to meet P&L objectives
- Reduced staff costs by $2,000,000 per annum
- Development of specialist programs including the Unaccompanied Minor Structured Program which successfully supported up to 60 young people who arrived without family support and prepared them for community release
- Command of critical events including offshore transfers and capsize recovery operations.
General Manager
Queensland and South Australian Corrective Services
2002.10 - 2011.07
- The leadership and management of contemporary high security correctional facilities with a focus on the delivery of services to Indigenous, Youth and Female offenders
- Notable achievements included: The management of the Townsville Correctional Complex change strategy for the Qld Government following the 2004 Lewis Report
- The development and implementation of strategic plans designed to define the role of Corrective Services in North Queensland and achieve key Ministerial outcomes as well as manage new cost structures
- The project management of the commissioning of Maryborough and Townsville Correctional Centres
- Oversight of prison industries including management of the laundry contract for all North Queensland Hospitals
- Development of through care models to work with community based offenders, in particular those with high support needs
- The development of the Indigenous Strategy in North Qld including the Oral History Language Lab, Community of Origin Database, Cultural Focus Unit
- Working with partners to secure grants and service delivery arrangements for the development of the Sierra Program for Young Offenders
- This program continues to run in South Australia and was the subject of a BBC documentary
- Management of the Post Release Opportunity partnership between DCS and BHP Billiton in South Australia
- Overseeing community involvement and capacity building via remote work camps and disaster recovery programs
- Management of 300 staff including all HR, Training, OH&S functions
- Management of operational and commissioning budgets up to $400 million
- Achievement of cultural transformation objectives.
General Manager
Port Hedland Immigration Processing Centre, Australasian Correctional Management Pty Ltd.
2001.01 - 2002.10
- Similar functions to the above
- The leadership and management of a 1200 bed Immigration Detention facility
- Coordination and conduct of large scale overseas air transfer operations.
Contract Administrator
Airey Ryan and Hill Consulting Engineers
2000.01 - 2000.12
- Manage Structural Design component for major engineering projects
- Undertake basic design
- Superintend major engineering contracts on behalf of clients.
Officer
Australian Army
1987.07 - 1999.12
- Regimental appointments with Engineering units, Townsville & Brisbane
- Instructor Demolitions & Mine Warfare, School of Military Engineering, Sydney
- Operations Officer, Defence Centre, Perth
- Operations Officer (Ops-1), HQ 6th Brigade, Brisbane
- Officer Commanding, 1 Squadron, The Pilbara Regiment
- Officer Commanding, 13th Field Squadron, Perth
- High Risk Search Adviser for support to the Sydney Olympics.
Education
Executive Leadership Program - Public Sector Leadership
NSW Public Sector Commission
Sydney, NSW05.2021
Certificate IV Security And Risk Management - Risk Management
Paragon Training
Perth, WA04.2016
12 Unit Executive Development Program - Security Studies
Murdoch University
Perth, WA12.2011
Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety Management - WH&S
National Safety Council of Australia
Adelaide, SA05.1992
Graduate Diploma in Security Operations - Counter Terrorism
Australian Army
Sydney, NSW07.1991
Graduate Diploma in Applied Engineering - Engineering
School of Military Engineering
Sydney, NSW07.1989
Graduate of the Royal Military College - Leadership
Royal Military College
Canberra, ACT12.1988
Graduate Certificate in Management - Leadership
Royal Military College
Canberra, ACT12.1988
Skills
- I have been fortunate to work in a variety of challenging senior roles across a span of sectors from Justice, Engineering, Defence and Immigration. Have enjoyed a level of mobility and managed a number of sensitive high profile and high risk operations.
- Strategic Planning
- Verbal and written communication
- People Management
- Operations Management
- Project Management
- Team Management
- Strategies and goals
- Creativity and Innovation
Career Highlights
- Director of Operational Commissioning, CSNSW
- Race Director - Christmas Island Marathon
- Director of successful community development and services start-up company 'Goshawk Services Pty Ltd'
- Safe management of high volume, high tempo, Christmas Island operations without critical incident for over three years.
- Serco Global Pulse Award for Leadership 2012
- Operational Service Medal-Border Protection
- Australia Day Award for implementation of Sierra Program for Young Offenders in South Australia
- Successful commissioning of numerous correctional and immigration facilities
Timeline
Director
Serco
2021.12 - Current
Director
Corrective Services, NSW
2017.06 - 2021.12
Director
Egeria International Pty Ltd
2016.01 - Current
Regional Manager
Serco
2011.08 - 2016.12
General Manager
Queensland and South Australian Corrective Services
2002.10 - 2011.07
General Manager
Port Hedland Immigration Processing Centre, Australasian Correctional Management Pty Ltd.
2001.01 - 2002.10
Contract Administrator
Airey Ryan and Hill Consulting Engineers
2000.01 - 2000.12
Officer
Australian Army
1987.07 - 1999.12
Executive Leadership Program - Public Sector Leadership
NSW Public Sector Commission
Certificate IV Security And Risk Management - Risk Management
Paragon Training
12 Unit Executive Development Program - Security Studies
Murdoch University
Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety Management - WH&S
National Safety Council of Australia
Graduate Diploma in Security Operations - Counter Terrorism
Australian Army
Graduate Diploma in Applied Engineering - Engineering
School of Military Engineering
Graduate of the Royal Military College - Leadership
Royal Military College
Graduate Certificate in Management - Leadership
Royal Military College
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