“The success of your business is not about your product or service. It’s about your people.”
– Richard Branson
About Us
Harry Maxwell is a team of experienced executives. We are also passive market search specialists who focus on sourcing executives that are not actively looking for their next leadership role.
When you engage Harry Maxwell, you are choosing a better and different recruitment experience, including support for the executive journey post the appointment with a range of coaching, onboarding, and consultancy services to empower the executive team to thrive into the future.
Harry Maxwell can access a universe of executives, professionals and un-tapped senior leaders through extensive research, professional connections, networks, and industry referrals.
We are often tasked with making the impossible possible, with challenges like coaching and mentoring the best candidates to make career changes, including senior leaders that are yet to move into an executive role.
Our clients rely on our networks, extensive industry sector knowledge, credibility, reputation, and significantly, our ability to cement the interest of highly qualified but initially reluctant passive market candidates.
Our Directors have real-world executive experience as Principal, CEO and Managing Director of many public and private institutions, and their hands-on approach and expert insights support leadership development within your organisation.
Core Industries
Resources
Exploration, extraction, and production across mining and energy.
Construction
Resources, civil, infrastructure and renewables.
Education
Junior, Middle and High School Executive Teams
Health and Medical
Occupational health, medical and safety.
Services
Search
Harry Maxwell is best placed to source senior executives and talented leaders across Australia. Our approach is fresh, people-focused and grounded in our values. We do not rely on a known list of candidates, but instead use a blend of technology, headhunting, and human judgement to prescribe the best fit.
Personality profiling of shortlisted candidates includes an assessment of motivators, behaviours, and emotional intelligence. This is complimented by rigorous behavioural interviewing conducted by our Directors.
Our robust search methodology is complimented by sophisticated reporting which provides insights and market data relating to the search project, market perception of your business’ brand, and real-time salary mapping of candidates.
Coach
Harry Maxwell is committed to the best outcomes for the organisations with which we partner.
We have coaches with executive level experience available to deliver a truly innovative coaching and on-boarding service specifically designed for professionals and executives.
ONBOARDING PROGRAMS
This 3-month program is designed to complement and support any existing on-boarding and induction processes you may have in place, with one-on-one private and confidential coaching and mentoring of your new employee. Designed to support them through the critical first 3 months, here are some of the benefits our clients have seen from more than 450 new employees that have participated in the program since 2013.
- Improved retention and significant savings on costs associated with turnover.
- Your new leader positively endorsing your school and the fantastic first impression.
- Your new leader becoming competent quickly and effectively managing their relationships within the workplace.
ONGOING MENTORING PROGRAMS
Structured specifically for new CEO’s and Executive Leadership Teams, our Executive Coaches deliver a range of one-on-one, and team based coaching and mentoring programs.
Senior leaders learn how to improve their leadership and develop strategies to have caring and respectful courageous conversations, which empower them to effectively confront poor behaviour.
New CEO’s learn how to create board reports, annual reports, strategic and master plans, as well as developing skills to effectively manage the CEO – Chair relationship.
Consult
Harry Maxwell offers a range of consultancy-based solutions and services to support the board and executive team. Reach out for a conversation with one of our Directors to discuss how we can help.
- Internal Agency Service (Recruitment).
- Organisational structure audits.
- Strategy development and implementation.
- CEO, Principal and Board reviews.
- Culture and capability audits.
- Mediation services.
- Succession planning.
Community
Harry Maxwell is proud to partner with Opportunity International Australia.
Since 2014, we have been acting as Ambassadors for Opportunity International raising money in both Perth and Sydney by organising corporate fundraising events and making regular donations. Every time Harry Maxwell makes a placement with your organisation, we make another donation - you hire one and we help one!
Opportunity is an international aid and development organisation that is ending poverty in developing countries – one family and one community at a time. By providing small loans and other support services to families in need, Opportunity helps them grow their own businesses and generate sustainable incomes so they can lift themselves out of poverty with dignity – creating a new future for generations to come. As businesses grow and employ others, 98% of loans are repaid and recycled, creating a ripple effect that reaches more and more people over time.
Opportunity International Australia supports microfinance, health, education and safety programs in Bangladesh, India and Indonesia.
Harry Maxwell’s corporate donations to Opportunity International Australia has supported:
- 1566 women in Indonesia to receive small loans, which they’ve used to start and grow businesses, in turn generating income that provides food, shelter, education and hope for their families.
- In total, roughly 7830 people have benefited from our support so far.
- 98% of these small loans are repaid, meaning our impact is continuously multiplied and extended.
Shawn Murphy (Managing Director) shares the motivation behind Harry Maxwell’s support for Opportunity International Australia.
“Our purpose at Harry Maxwell is simply to help people to secure their family’s future. This applies to candidates finding the right job to put food on the table, and business owners trying to acquire the right talent to enable them to prosper and employ more people. Our support for Opportunity International which enables women in poverty to secure their family’s future, is a natural extension of our purpose. The fact that 98% of these small loans are repaid enables us to help break the cycle of poverty. We believe we are extremely lucky to live in Australia, and we are grateful to Opportunity International for the work they do to help others in need”.
Success Stories - Recent Highlights
- Secured a new School Principal for an Anglican Girls School in Perth following a national search.
- Sourced, supplied and mobilised 15 people in 15 days for a mine site decommission project including an EGM, Senior Site Executives, Supervisors, HSE and Paramedics.
- Executive, leadership and professional placements for global Original Equipment Manufacturer.
- Senior Project Manager sourced from the Hague, Netherlands and relocated to Perth to deliver a Bulk Fertiliser Plant in Kwinana.
- Placed 40 executive, professional, technical, leadership and project roles for ASX listed construction company in 12-month period.
- Director Regional Supply APAC from Monterrey, Mexico to Perth for global mining services company.
- Managing Director Hospitals from London to manage 3 Hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for leading global health and medical organisation.
- 144 technical, leadership and operational professionals focused on the Ichthys Project Darwin.
- Program Manager to oversight Submarine Rescue System project for Commonwealth Defence Project.
User Stories
Jonathan Burgess
Recruiting a new Principal is a major undertaking for any school board. At Perth College this role had only been advertised once previously in a little over 20 years. We considered the traditional education recruiters and the more conventional process before being recommended to engage with Harry Maxwell. They were very professional, hands-on and highly collaborative throughout the process. They ran an effective campaign within Australia and internationally, interviewing a large number of candidates and providing a very strong short-list from which we were able to select an outstanding new Principal for our treasured school. The process also involved the critical science of behavioural and cognitive assessments, together with traditional screening, interviewing and presentations. We’ve received positive feedback from numerous candidates, our community and our School Council on the robust, diligent, professional and highly communicative service provided by Shawn and his team. As such, we have great pleasure in recommending Harry Maxwell for their executive recruitment services within the education sector.
Chair
Perth College Council
Peggy Mahy
As an experienced school leader and recent candidate for a Principal role being led by Harry Maxwell, I was instantly struck by the difference in Shawn’s approach. From the outset he was polite, timely and encouraging, and when appropriate, candid and transparent in discussing the opportunities and challenges inherent within the particular role. The Harry Maxwell approach was refreshing because it was strongly informed by the ‘role brief’ and by disparate indicators available through use of technology and targeted search criteria. It did not rely on prior judgement or a predetermined preference for one candidate over another. This meant that they were able to bring an open mind to the search, exploring the sector and its demands, having open conversations with many candidates before settling, with the Board, on its short list. Through this process I was informed of the process progress regularly, guided respectfully as to the progress of my own application and included in a range of psychometric tasks in a timely and constructive way. Shawn’s honesty and professionalism stood out throughout all my contact with him, and this is why I would recommend Harry Maxwell to school Boards should they be seeking a new Principal, or school leaders seeking to appoint senior roles - especially those that are hard to fill or requiring business acumen.
Principal and Education Executive
Melbourne
Nathan Hayes
CBH engaged Harry Maxwell to conduct executive search assignments for several important roles. In addition to Project Engineers and Construction Specialists, CBH had a specific requirement for a Senior Project Manager to deliver a significant high-profile project. The scope of the role was extensive encompassing front end design, internal and external approvals, budget control and management of construction through to commissioning and handover. Harry Maxwell identified a strong shortlist from a global search with the successful candidate engaged from Europe and relocated to Perth. Their ability to understand CBH’s requirements and find the best candidate for the role was impressive, and their communication with both CBH and the candidates was first class.
Head of Project Delivery
CBH
Steve Harvey
Fullerton utilise the services of Harry Maxwell for critical roles for more than 6 years. The service is excellent, on time, and candidate sourcing is always very proactive. We have also engaged them for a successful international executive search which was completed despite the very difficult brief, and an important national management role they filled quickly through their networks. Would highly recommend!!
CEO
Fullerton Health Australia
Stephen Smith
I have been dealing with Harry Maxwell for 12 months, and I have been very impressed with the services provided by his organisation. It is rare for me to write such letters of commendation but I have been so constantly impressed that I felt compelled to write this. Over the span of my career I have engaged professionally with a considerable number of executive search firms, many of these being highly regarded in their field internationally. Without a doubt the professionalism and service exhibited by Harry Maxwell has surpassed these. In future recruitment processes that I will run, particularly for senior staff and key placements, there is only one firm that I would approach
Managing Director, Specialist Services
Virgin Care, London
Amanda Mundy
Thankyou for reaching out to me and your ongoing support through my recent recruitment and placement into my new National Management role. The service and support that Harry Maxwell have offered has been so very much appreciated, and made the decision and transition seamless. I am most impressed with the follow-up and support, and also the excellent opportunity to receive the professional coaching that has been included as part of the first 3 months of placement. This coaching has been highly valuable to me and my employer, providing focus, and executive coaching support, which has been not only helpful but inspirational. Thank you again
National Network Delivery Director
Benestar
Steven. B.
Many recruitment companies seem quite similar. Harry Maxwell are one of the standout search firms that breaks the mould and offers a clearly differentiated, value-added process. Harry Maxwell’s approach to Executive Recruitment excels in its detailed scientific approach and in thorough, honest communication. It became obvious throughout the recruitment process, that they are not only focused on immediate goals but also really values long-term professional relationships.
CEO
South Australia
Deon Baddock.
Harry Maxwell has been engaged to deliver ongoing recruitment services to Decmil for roles in our operational and corporate teams . With a strong understanding of our business requirements, Shawn and the team have delivered excellent value through quality hires, strong relationships and networking opportunities with other organisations. Shawn’s network is large, enabling the delivery of quality outcomes, with excellent aftercare following placements. Harry Maxwell is a professional, proactive and value add business and I highly recommend engaging them for any recruitment needs.