PENELOPE KARIYAWASAM

Current role as a Project Officer with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), responsible for helping deliver the work programme in the State Rezoning Team.

• Undertake project support tasks that span several Local Government Areas in the north district of Sydney, including Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai and North Sydney.
• Developed and deepened relationships with key stakeholders such as local councils, state agencies, developers and landowners through formal and informal governance frameworks.
• Built upon project delivery skills from previous roles which required dealing with competing timeframes and difficult stakeholders to ensure milestones and reporting remained on track.
• Engaged in both long and short-term project planning and formulated for on-time and high-quality deliverables.
• Facilitated successful project outcomes by maintaining open lines of communication among team members, stakeholders and senior management.
• Gathered and organised supporting materials for meetings, project updates and online publication and efficient filing of documents.

A recent project I worked on was a planning proposal to amend the Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015 to facilitate 78 high density residential dwellings at the Pymble Golf Club, which was a great opportunity to use my project and new planning skills to help supply diverse housing choices in a strategic location. The manager reviewing this proposal was very happy with the quality of the package.

Currently I have been attending TOD (Transport Orientated Development) Accelerated Precincts community online and in-person sessions across North Sydney. I have been proud to showcase the work of our team and Councils to supply much needed housing across Sydney in key transport locations.

It was invaluable to have the opportunity to engage with the community, answer questions, provide feed back and encourage conversation.

• High performing store in Western Sydney region for both sales and other K.P. I’s
• Achievement of exceptional customer service from team as evidenced by regular clientele and multi item sales.
• Managed budgets, cash control and store point of sale opening and closing procedures.
• Maintained proper product levels and inventory controls for merchandise to facilitate effective ordering and stock rotation for shrinkage control.
• Responsible for budgets, rosters, payroll, recruitment, training and mentoring of twenty five staff members and volunteers.
• Maximised sales by creating innovative visual merchandising displays and store layouts.
• Fostered positive work environment by cultivating strong relationships between team members through team- building activities and consistent recognition of individual achievements and ongoing mutual success.
• Close monitoring of all sales and K.P.I's so team is aware of daily results to remain on target.
• Managed daily operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store, maintaining a clean and safe environment for customers and employees.
• Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and volunteers whilst assessing performance.

• Managed a large format high volume and high yielding store with 15 staff members.
• Close monitoring of all sales and K.P.I's so team is aware of daily results to remain on target.
• Excellent customer service record due to our personalised service, repeat clientele through our loyalty programme, high average sale and compliments from our customers forwarded to head office.
• Managed inventory control, cash control, payroll, rosters, budgets and point of sale opening and closing procedures.
• Assisted with recruitment, training and mentoring of new staff and ongoing management of 15 casual and permanent-part time staff members.
• Set effective store schedules based on forecasted customer levels, individual employee knowledge, and service requirements.
• Promoted team collaboration, performance, and efficiency by fostering healthy environments focused on mutual and individual success.
• Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
• Followed planograms for store visual merchandising and adjusted for individual store layout.
• Hosted and organised various VIP events in-store for loyalty program customers and to welcome new clientele.

• Close monitoring of all sales and K.P.I's so team is aware of daily results to remain on target.
• Set effective store schedules based on forecasted customer levels, individual employee knowledge, and service requirements.
• Promoted team collaboration, performance, and efficiency by fostering healthy environments focused on mutual and individual success.
• Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
• Improved customer satisfaction through staff training in customer service and product knowledge.
• Maintained proper product levels and inventory controls for merchandise and organized backroom to facilitate effective ordering and stock rotation.
• Mentored new hires during their onboarding process, ensuring they were well-equipped to excel in their roles from day one.