Our EastCoast HR Group’s team of HR recruitment, HR consultancy and Wagesmart payroll administration support have many years of experience in the industry. We are here to assist business owners, managers and jobseekers alike.
Our dedicated professionals provide labour hire services (including international labour hire), HR/IR consultancy services, staff training and development services and outsourced payroll services. To learn more about our services, please view the About Us page. For information regarding our management team and staff – their role in our company, experience, accreditations, certifications, and areas of specialisation – please keep reading.
Michalle Faulkner
EastCoast HR Group Managing Director
Michalle is our recruitment group’s Managing Director and a senior HR Management practitioner with more than 26 years’ experience gained partnering with a myriad of diverse industries nationally.
In addition to her business and HR Management experience, she has held dual qualifications as a Workplace Health and Safety Officer and now as a practicing Safety Advisor.
Michalle’s expertise lies in her ability to coach emerging and executive leaders to fulfil their leadership potential through the lens of her extensive HR experience in thriving businesses.
Michalle is also qualified as a Workplace Trainer & Assessor and Internal Auditor of Quality Systems including
AS/NZS 9001 and AS/NZS 4801 – OHS Management Systems and is an active Professional Member of the
Australian Human Resources Institute (CAHRI).
As well as providing clients with HR consulting services, Michalle is responsible for the team’s delivery of specialist
workforce solutions to a wide cross section of clients. She is also responsible for EastCoast’s general business
development and delivery on the strategic plan.
Michalle’s commitment to her profession was recognised in 2008 when she was awarded the Business Woman
of the Year Award and a Regional Finalist in the Institute of Managers and Leaders Awards.
A devoted wife and mother of a young family and a published author, Michalle still finds time to volunteer her
time and is a life member of the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network (SCBWN), a very active Business
Women’s Network with in excess of 200 members.
Mariya Shmandiy
Senior HR Consultant
With a strong background in Generalist HR Management, Mariya, has diverse industry experience across varied and reputable private and public sector organisations nationwide. She brings with her more than 10 years’ experience, specialising in Industrial Relations, Recruitment, Operations Management, Conflict Resolution and more. Mariya’s superpower is in bringing people together and applying a hands-on approach to ensure the people factor is always at the core of all that she does and by working towards finding win-win outcomes for all parties. Mariya understands the complexities of working with all kinds of businesses and is passionate in finding solutions and creating cohesive and positive working environments for both the employees and employers where they thrive to bring their absolute best professionally.
Penny Hill
WageSmart and Payroll Manager
Penny is our WageSmart and Payroll Manager, although originally based on the Sunshine Coast, Penny now works remotely from her home in South Australia. Penny has over 20+ years’ experience in Payroll including Award Interpretations across all Industries, Superannuation, Single Touch Payroll and experience in the use of various payroll software programs. Penny can offer you support in managing your payroll or performing a payroll audit to ensure your compliance. Penny is supported at home by her partner and their two cats Leo and Kitty Kat. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Penny returns to the Coast yearly for client visits and staff shenanigans.
Testimonial: “Penny is doing an absolutely wonderful job for me. She has given me her full attention as she does, but even more so during the Covid minefield. Penny has spent so much time trying to help me sort out Jobkeeper for each individual employee and she has gone way above the call of duty.
Penny, you are an absolute tower of strength and the epitome of a committed true professional” – Maria Faulder – Suite Three Hair.
Katrina Woods
Senior Recruitment Manager – Permanent Recruitment
Katrina Woods is a Senior Consultant for the Permanent Division of EastCoast Human Resource Group (ECHRG). Originally from Queensland, Katrina has brought her extensive Recruitment & Executive Search experience home after living in London, Hong Kong, and Sydney. She thrives at addressing people and leadership needs, with a strong commitment to professional development and fostering successful relationships. Passionate about wellbeing, diversity, and sustainability, Katrina thrives on building trust and connections. Outside of work, she enjoys walking on beaches or trails with friends and family, or volunteering for Bloomhill Cancer Care..
Carl Zvekan
Temporary Personnel and Labour Hire Agency Manager
Carl Zvekan is the EastCoast Human Resource Group (ECHRG) Temporary Personnel and Labour Hire Manager. Having relocated from Melbourne, Carl is bringing to the Sunshine Coast a passion for good weather, good people, and a desire to help the community with their career development and local business’s temporary recruitment needs.
Carl’s expertise in Recruitment spans 5 years of specialist experience, particularly in the temporary and casual recruitment space. Covering a wide spectrum of roles Carl’s background in behavioural sciences and Psychology coupled with his compassionate and transparent approach to recruitment ensures that both clients and candidates are treated with respect and their suitability for roles is assessed comprehensively. A firm believer that a person’s suitability for a role spans further than purely experience but potential as well. With this belief underpinning his recruitment process he has placed many candidates across Australia that have become the cornerstone of their respective organisation’s success.
Message from Carl
“I’m passionate about not only providing suitable candidates to businesses on the Sunshine Coast but ensuring all of my candidates and clients derive a mutual appreciation for both the success of the company and the candidates intention to grow, contribute, and subsequently draw personal and professional satisfaction from their employment. Every role I fill has been thoroughly understood and candidates are taken through a streamlined process to ensure that prior to any placements all requirements for a client and employee are understood and enacted. Furthermore, I believe that building strong relationships with local business’s is pivotal for fostering an environment of successful recruitment provisions and business best practice.”
Jodie McCarthy
HR Outsourcing Support
Jodie brings to East Coast HR Group extensive experience in administration, human resources and executive support. Relocating to the Sunshine Coast over 3 years ago, Jodie has embraced the Sunshine Coast lifestyle and community and is passionate about supporting local businesses and candidates with their HR recruitment and employment needs.
A highly professional individual, Jodie easily builds rapport with individuals and is committed to supporting the team at EastCoast HR provide effective solutions and outcomes to our valued clients and candidates. When not working, you will find Jodie at the beach, enjoying the company of friends and family.
