Meet Peta Gamon, one of our Top 50 Public Sector Women

With nearly 20 years’ experience working across the government, private and not-for-profit sectors, Peta has carved a successful career path as both a communications professional and a people leader.

Currently Director, Corporate Communications at Roads and Maritime, Peta is known for her outcome focused leadership style, passion for building and maintaining high performing teams, and advocacy of women in the Transport sector.

We sat down with Peta to talk about why she was nominated, her career highlights and keeping a good work/life balance.

Tell us about your role and team at Transport

I work with a fantastic group of people. My team are predominantly communication, media and stakeholder engagement specialists. We work with our partners across the agency to engage with our customers, our communities, our people and our stakeholders to help tailor projects and services that deliver the best outcomes.

What excites you most about working for Transport and the Public Sector?

Without a doubt it is the amazing people I get to work with day in and day out. I love collaborating with passionate, like-minded people and progressive thinkers who want to make a difference to the communities and customers we serve.

I also think we are lucky to benefit from the diversity of roles across the sector. I have been in the Transport cluster for just over a decade (initially with Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation, then Transport for NSW and now Roads and Maritime) and I have never held the same role for more than about a year. The teams, the work, the challenges and opportunities continue to evolve.

What is your biggest career highlight to date?

There are too many highlights to pick one. Project Wave, Epping to Thornleigh Third Track and Kingsgrove to Revesby Quadruplication are among those that spring to mind, but a common thread certainly prevails - being thrown in the deep end to work on challenging and complex projects with great people and inspiring leaders.

What advice do you have for other women who are looking to progress their careers at Transport?

I’d give the same advice to both men and women and that is: do something you are passionate about. Work with good people and seek out leaders who will challenge, inspire and empower you. Look after those around you, be generous and back yourself.

My grandad always said do something you love and you will never work a day in your life. Pretty good advice if you ask me.

How do you ensure you keep a good work/life balance?

Maintaining a good work/life balance is a constant battle for me and something I frequently anguish about. I’m not sure I will ever feel like I have the balance right.

I have been mostly lucky to work for people who have supported me to work flexibly and have allowed me to put my family first. I could not have managed the roles I have been in without this support.

I am a passionate advocate of flexible working conditions and often challenge those around me on how we can better embed these into the agency to support and empower our people.

This year I started working a day a week at home and I have found this to be immensely valuable. My husband (who works in the private sector) does the same. Being able to drop off and pick up our kids twice a week between us has been a game changer for our family. The small things make such a difference. As a silver lining, the day I work from home is consistently the most productive of the week. As it is usually clear of meetings, I am able to use the day to focus on the more strategic pieces of work that cross my desk.

Flexible working conditions work. We need to keep pushing this agenda.

What does this recognition mean to you?

Receiving this award was a complete surprise to be honest. My immediate reaction was to think of the many other deserving leaders at Roads and Maritime, across the cluster and in the Public Service - so much talent out there.

That aside, it’s an honour to be acknowledged. What has been most special is the many messages from colleagues, friends and family sharing support and encouragement. It has also been great to reminisce with colleagues over the many hurdles jumped this past decade or so.

I am also humbled that my incredibly busy team took the time to write a submission in the first place. I have a great team.

Tell us a fun fact that people may not know about you

I mostly dream in German. I lived in Germany after school for a year and at some point I started dreaming in German, I guess my brain never fully switched back.

Read our chat with our other inspirational Top 50 Public Sector Women: Jane Richardson and Becky Wood, Susannah Le Bron and Samantha Abeydeera.

With nearly 20 years’ experience working across the government, private and not-for-profit sectors, Peta has carved a successful career path as both a communications professional and a people leader.

Currently Director, Corporate Communications at Roads and Maritime, Peta is known for her outcome focused leadership style, passion for building and maintaining high performing teams, and advocacy of women in the Transport sector.

We sat down with Peta to talk about why she was nominated, her career highlights and keeping a good work/life balance.

Tell us about your role and team at Transport

I work with a fantastic group of people. My team are predominantly communication, media and stakeholder engagement specialists. We work with our partners across the agency to engage with our customers, our communities, our people and our stakeholders to help tailor projects and services that deliver the best outcomes.

What excites you most about working for Transport and the Public Sector?

Without a doubt it is the amazing people I get to work with day in and day out. I love collaborating with passionate, like-minded people and progressive thinkers who want to make a difference to the communities and customers we serve.

I also think we are lucky to benefit from the diversity of roles across the sector. I have been in the Transport cluster for just over a decade (initially with Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation, then Transport for NSW and now Roads and Maritime) and I have never held the same role for more than about a year. The teams, the work, the challenges and opportunities continue to evolve.

What is your biggest career highlight to date?

There are too many highlights to pick one. Project Wave, Epping to Thornleigh Third Track and Kingsgrove to Revesby Quadruplication are among those that spring to mind, but a common thread certainly prevails - being thrown in the deep end to work on challenging and complex projects with great people and inspiring leaders.

What advice do you have for other women who are looking to progress their careers at Transport?

I’d give the same advice to both men and women and that is: do something you are passionate about. Work with good people and seek out leaders who will challenge, inspire and empower you. Look after those around you, be generous and back yourself.

My grandad always said do something you love and you will never work a day in your life. Pretty good advice if you ask me.

How do you ensure you keep a good work/life balance?

Maintaining a good work/life balance is a constant battle for me and something I frequently anguish about. I’m not sure I will ever feel like I have the balance right.

I have been mostly lucky to work for people who have supported me to work flexibly and have allowed me to put my family first. I could not have managed the roles I have been in without this support.

I am a passionate advocate of flexible working conditions and often challenge those around me on how we can better embed these into the agency to support and empower our people.

This year I started working a day a week at home and I have found this to be immensely valuable. My husband (who works in the private sector) does the same. Being able to drop off and pick up our kids twice a week between us has been a game changer for our family. The small things make such a difference. As a silver lining, the day I work from home is consistently the most productive of the week. As it is usually clear of meetings, I am able to use the day to focus on the more strategic pieces of work that cross my desk.

Flexible working conditions work. We need to keep pushing this agenda.

What does this recognition mean to you?

Receiving this award was a complete surprise to be honest. My immediate reaction was to think of the many other deserving leaders at Roads and Maritime, across the cluster and in the Public Service - so much talent out there.

That aside, it’s an honour to be acknowledged. What has been most special is the many messages from colleagues, friends and family sharing support and encouragement. It has also been great to reminisce with colleagues over the many hurdles jumped this past decade or so.

I am also humbled that my incredibly busy team took the time to write a submission in the first place. I have a great team.

Tell us a fun fact that people may not know about you

I mostly dream in German. I lived in Germany after school for a year and at some point I started dreaming in German, I guess my brain never fully switched back.

Read our chat with our other inspirational Top 50 Public Sector Women: Jane Richardson and Becky Wood, Susannah Le Bron and Samantha Abeydeera.

Page last updated: 02 Aug 2018, 09:04 AM