Hi, I'm Chris!
I am a passionate advocate for people seeking purpose-driven and fulfilling careers.
Over the past 22 years, I’ve navigated an unconventional career path that has taken me from the public sector to recruitment to studying nutrition and then founding my own executive search and leadership advisory firm. I’ve experienced the uncertainty, the pivots, and the challenges that come with finding a fulfilling career—and I’m passionate about helping others do the same.
I want to share my journey with you: from my early influences, through my time in the public sector, to my leap into recruitment and the founding of Meritos, and finally, why I’m here today.
My goal is to show that it’s possible to create a career that energises you and supports your life outside of work. Let’s dive in!
Early influences
My journey begins with two remarkable women—my mother and my grandmother—who raised me.
Some of my earliest memories are of accompanying my Mum to pick up my Nan from her night shifts at Paul's Milk Factory. Mum would wake us early and we'd drive to collect her, and Nan would always have treats for my brother and me. When we got home, we’d say goodbye to Mum as she headed off to work, and Nan would walk us to school. She’d be there again in the afternoon to pick us up (I assume she managed to rest during the day!). Once Mum returned home, we’d all have dinner together before driving Nan back to work.
They worked incredibly hard, often in basic jobs, but what they gave us was far greater—love, stability, and the lesson that it doesn’t matter what you do, you should work hard at it. They showed me that if you want anything in life, you have to work for it, but also that work should fit around your other priorities—whether that’s your family, friends, or personal interests.
The start of my public service career
When I finished school, I was unsure about what career path to take. It felt like everyone around me had a clear direction, while I felt lost. I knew one thing—I didn’t want to rush into a decision and risk heading down the wrong path. Influenced by the values my family instilled in me, I decided to work instead of study and began my career with a temporary contract at a large public sector organisation.
My career accelerated quickly, and by the time I found 23, I found myself in a senior role, managing teams and large programs of work.
What I learned during this period was the value of mentorship. I was fortunate to have two senior executive women see potential in me and guide my development. They helped me navigate leadership challenges and supported me as I discovered my strengths and areas for improvement. This mentorship was invaluable as I learned what it meant to be a leader and what kind of impact I wanted to have.
A career pivot into recruitment
Despite my success in the public sector, I reached a point where I questioned if it was where I wanted to spend the next 40 years of my career. Looking at the senior executives I reported to, I wasn’t sure that their path was the one I wanted for myself. I felt a strong desire to explore something more commercial and to see if my communication skills could translate into a business context.
By chance, after moving to Sydney, I met with a recruiter to discuss further roles in the public service. During that conversation, I pitched the idea of working in recruitment instead, and two weeks later, I found myself in an entry-level recruitment role. It was a major culture shock—moving from a senior position to starting from the bottom—but it was a recurring theme in my career: I’m not afraid to start over. I believe sometimes you have to step off the ledge to find growth and new opportunities.
While working in recruitment, I completed a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Nutrition. This was a period of intense learning and growth for me. Upon finishing my degree, I faced a choice: continue in recruitment or pursue a career in nutrition.
Ultimately, I chose to stay in recruitment and take the next step in my journey—founding my own company, Meritos.
Why I'm here today
Meritos was born out of my desire to create a space where I could control my own future, work with clients I believed in, and, most importantly, focus on improving the candidate experience. I wanted to spend more time coaching candidates through their career journeys, something I couldn’t fully do in other organisations. Over the past five years, I’ve grown Meritos into an executive search and leadership advisory firm based in Sydney, dedicated to helping individuals and organisations thrive.
Today, my mission is to demystify the career journey for others. Having sat through thousands of interviews, I know what a successful career path and interview process look like. I remember how lost I felt early in my career, with no clear guidance on writing applications, CVs, or navigating interviews. This is why I’m passionate about teaching others the foundations of presenting themselves effectively, standing out in a competitive job market, and building a career that not only aligns with their natural talents but also fuels their life outside of work.
I’m also working towards a degree in psychology with a personal career goal of becoming an organisational psychologist in the future. This next step will allow me to deepen my impact, using my skills and knowledge to support people in creating fulfilling, balanced careers and thriving workplaces.