PSC has more than 200 global employees all contributing to helping power a more sustainable world. Our employee spotlight segment offers a look at what our hardworking people are all about when they’re not serving our clients and each other at work. This spotlight is on Nicole Crawford, PSC’s Human Resources Generalist in the Asia Pacific Region.
Nicole: As a member of the People team, I support a range of HR initiatives for the APAC region. I work closely with my team to ensure alignment with PSC’s overall mission, strategy and company culture.
What’s the most interesting or most gratifying part of your job?
Nicole: The opportunity to grow and develop my career in the HR field.
What is something your co-workers would be surprised to learn about you?
Nicole: For those newer to PSC, I started at PSC as an administrative officer in 2016. I was given an opportunity in late 2019 to shift my career development and join the People team. Being a part of this team has afforded me some great learning opportunities and I’ve learned a lot from the team. I have also just completed a Certificate IV in Human Resources.
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
Nicole: I grew up in Mackay, QLD, and now live in Brisbane, QLD.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
Nicole: There are some beautiful countries out there. I loved Thailand, so maybe a tropical island somewhere.
Have you ever had a nickname? What was it?
Nicole: My grade three teacher dubbed me “McMuffin” since my last name was McMullen (before I was married). Funnily enough, my first job was at McDonald’s, so maybe he was a psychic!
What are your hobbies?
Nicole: I’ve always had very crafty hobbies, such as drawing and crocheting, but in the past 12 months I’ve started working with epoxy resin.
Do you collect anything?
Nicole’s impressive collection of minis.
Nicole: I collect mini (50ml) alcohol bottles with alcohol still in them. I even have a “mini” bar set up on my kitchen counter.
What’s the most valuable advice you’ve ever received?
Nicole: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
What are your proudest accomplishments?
Nicole: I would say it was passing my recent Certificate IV. I dropped out of high school after grade 11 and have not done any further education, instead, doing a lot of learning on the job and using my experience to further my career. I’m proud to have completed my Certificate IV in Human Resources, which has helped me gain the knowledge and practical skills to enable me to be more effective in my role and help advance my career. It took six months and around 10-15 hours per week hours after work to get it done, but it was worth it.
What is the quality you admire most in other people?
Nicole: Honesty or loyalty, both preferred.
What are you most looking forward to in the next five years?
Nicole: Continuing to develop my HR career.
Nicole and her husband swimming with elephants in Thailand.
What’s your favorite vacation spot?
Nicole: I really enjoyed Thailand, but would love to travel to a lot of other places before returning.
What’s your favorite indulgence?
Nicole: I would love to travel more.
Recent great read?
Nicole: I’m a lover of horror novels, James Herbert is my favorite author.
What’s a smell or sound you love? Why?
Nicole’s purring kitties.
Nicole: My cats meows. They just have cute little trills in their meows reserved just for my husband and me.
What smell or sound do you hate? Why?
Nicole: Anything repetitive like a ticking clock or dripping tap. It just seems to bug me.
What do you work toward in your free time?
Nicole: Relaxing!
If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Nicole: My guilty pleasure is honey soy chicken with chips and veggies.
Do you/have you done any volunteer or community service work? If yes, why/how is it important to you?
Nicole: I was involved in a beach clean-up a few years ago. The clean-up was to ensure the beach was safe for people to use without hurting themselves but also to keep the rubbish out of the ocean for our wildlife, and to raise awareness in the community. Rubbish has such a huge impact on our environment and wildlife, we need to keep our world clean.