Melanie Jacksonis a Senior Associate, Research, at Omera Partners, based in Queensland. She supports our partners with the research and market intelligence that sit behind every successful search. We spent a few minutes with Melanie to hear about her path into research and what she finds most rewarding in the work.

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What is your role at Omera Partners and what brought you to executive search?

“I am a Senior Associate in the Research team, predominantly supporting Joanna Taylor, Partner, Energy and Natural Resources, and Deep Zimmermann, Partner, Industrials. I provide market intelligence and research, identifying potential candidates and talent against each brief. I began my career in executive search in the technology sector in the United Kingdom, before returning to Australia and broadening into financial services. I have always been inquisitive about people, their career progression, their travels, their interests, and what makes them tick.”

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What does the research process involve, and how do you support the partners and practices you work with?

“I manage the full lifecycle of the search, what I often think of as the engine room of the process, all the background work that must happen before a shortlist ever reaches the client.  It starts with understanding the brief and then working alongside the partner to build a market map of potential candidates, assessing their fit and background. The foundation of that mapping is a combination of database research, sourcing and networking, and benchmarking, along with a degree of lateral thinking on behalf of the client, including options that sit slightly left of field. Our role is to filter, qualify, and determine potential candidates for the partner,assessing fit against the brief. There is also an element of instinct involved when it comes to reading people.”

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What do candidates, clients and colleagues experience when they work with you?

“I focus first on building rapport and trust with candidates, staying professional and listening carefully, so people feel comfortable opening up. I bring an exploratory and warm approach to those conversations. A sense of humour matters too; enjoying the exchange goes a long way, and I have a genuine interest in the individual. I think that comes through, and it matters, because this work is never just about filling a role.”

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What do you most enjoy about working at Omera Partners, and what are you most proud of in your work?

“I genuinely like a challenge, and I enjoy the variety that comes with different roles, getting to know each client and understanding their needs and the fit they are looking for. There is a real buzz in seeing an appointment through from beginning to end.What I am most proud of is juggling many roles at once, which is where research does its best work, without ever compromising the quality of what we deliver.”

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‍“To me, greatness is found where persistence, rigour and instinct meet.”

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What does life look like outside the office?

“Balance, if that is possible.”

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