Meet Your Employment Relations Team

QHA’s Employment Relations Department (“ERD”) is a dedicated and consummate industrial relations and human resources team. Specialists in agreement making and employer advocacy in the hospitality industry, the ERD is setting a high standard for expertise and professionalism in the rapidly evolving and complex employment relations arena.

The team consists of:

Joanna Minchinton
Employment Relations Manager

Joanna Minchinton joined the QHA team in the position of Employment Relations Manager in August 2008 and brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in industrial relations and human resource management to QHA members.

Prior to joining QHA, Joanna held the position of Workplace Relations and Legal Department Manager with the Queensland Branch of the Australian Medical Association ("AMA Queensland") for five and a half years, and assisted members with a range of workplace issues and medical board registration matters. Prior to AMA Queensland, Joanna held industrial relations positions with AMA New South Wales and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Queensland.

Over the past 14 years, Joanna has worked for membership-based organisations assisting members with their telephone queries on Award and legislation interpretations, right through to providing formal representation in jurisdictions such as the Queensland and Australian Industrial Relations Commission (now Fair Work Australia) and the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland. Joanna is also an experienced trainer having delivered education programs on topics including WH&S, policy and procedure development, ER and general business principles.

In addition, Joanna sits on the Griffith University Advisory Board for the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing.

Joanna holds a Bachelor of Commerce (IR and HRM double major) and a Graduate Diploma in Employment Law, and is mid way through the MBA (Executive Program) with RMIT University in Melbourne.

Memberships include:

• Certified Professional, AHRI
• Industrial Relations Society of Queensland:
  • Management Committee 08/09 and 09/10
  • Vice President 10/11
• Hospitality Training Association.

 

Robyn Gardiner Senior Employment Relations Advisor

Robyn Gardiner joined the QHA team in the position of Senior Employment Relations Advisor in April 2010.

Prior to joining QHA, Robyn held a number of senior Human Resources and Industrial Relations positions in the health and community sectors assisting and advising internal stakeholders with a variety of HR and IR issues including Award and legislation interpretation, Enterprise Bargaining negotiations, union negotiations, investigations, and performance management. Robyn is also an experienced trainer and facilitator having delivered education programs on topics including workplace health and safety, harassment, anti-discrimination, and enterprise bargaining.

Robyn has also held the positions of sessional lecturer and tutor at the Queensland University of Technology.

Robyn holds a Bachelor of Business with Distinction (HR) and a Master of Business Research (HR) from the Queensland University of Technology.

Memberships include:

• Certified Professional, AHRI
• Industrial Relations Society of Queensland

 

Janelle Hingston Employment Relations Officer

Janelle joined the Employment Relations team in February 2009 as an Employment Relations Officer.

Prior to commencing with QHA, Janelle held a generalist HR role within the media industry in Brisbane.

The Employment Relations Officers are first points of contact for members seeking assistance with their employment relations queries, which include award conditions of employment, wages, workplace legislation and its application to hospitality, and termination and discipline queries.

Janelle has completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resource Management), and is currently studying for a Graduate Certificate in Industrial Relations.

 

Caroline Eriksen Employment Relations Officer

Caroline joined the QHA team in the position of Employment Relations Officer in June 2010.

Prior to joining QHA, Caroline worked for an employer association in the horticulture industry as an Industrial Relations and Human Resource Advisor. Caroline has also worked in a generalist Human Resource role in the retail sector.

Caroline Holds a Bachelor of Business dual major in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management and a Diploma in Risk Management. Caroline is also a qualified Workplace Health and Safety Officer (WHSO).

The Employment Relations Officers are first points of contact for members seeking assistance with their employment relations queries, including Award terms and conditions such as long service leave, wages, and other entitlements.

Skevie Sotiris Employment Relations Officer (Office Days: Monday and Tuesday)

Skevie joined QHA’s Employment Relations Department in December 2008 in the casual position of Employment Relations Assistant. In 2010 Skevie was promoted to the role of Employment Relations Officer.

Skevie works on a casual basis and spends the remainder of her week at Griffith University where she is completing a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business (Industrial Relations) dual degree.

Throughout her Uni studies Skevie has worked for membership organisations in similar roles, including at AMA Queensland where she worked with Joanna Minchinton, and comes to QHA with a strong customer focus and experience interpreting Awards.

The Employment Relations Officers are first points of contact for members seeking assistance with their employment relations queries, including Award terms and conditions such as long service leave, wages, and other entitlements. Skevie can also assist members seeking more information about Award coverage and application.