A spotlight on the female leaders at HarvestHR

PROVIDING expertise on the economy, employment landscape and latest HR trends is what Maree Herath and Arzoo Thakur do.

Maree’s journey from being the daughter of the late Hayden Shell to a leader in Geelong’s business community reflects her passion for the region and its people.

After leaving Geelong in the 1980s, she returned with qualifications in science (B.Sci), business (B.Bus) and a global career in recruitment and HR.

In 2009, Maree founded Harvest Talent Recruitment and People Solutions, aiming to become the region’s most trusted end-to-end HR services firm.

Today, Harvest offers specialist recruitment, HR and people solutions, the ever-popular Geelong HR Roundtable and careers and outplacement. Maree’s dedication to the region earned her the Geelong Business Excellence Award for Business Leader of the Year, a proud reminder of her impact.

When not working, Maree enjoys travelling with her husband, exploring Victoria’s south-west coastline, and spending time with her young adult children.

A health and fitness enthusiast, she also boasts a recently acquired golf handicap.

Maree remains deeply engaged with the community, serving on several prominent committees including G21, the Committee for Geelong and the AICD Barwon South-West Forum.

Geelong is home to many passionate professionals, and Arzoo is a standout.

As a senior recruiter with a diversity lens, Arzoo thrives on connecting talent with opportunity and helping businesses find the right fit, while guiding job seekers to roles that align with their career aspirations.

With seven years of experience across industries spanning finance, real estate, engineering and telecommunications in Australia and New Zealand, Arzoo specialises in end-to-end recruitment, recruiting for diversity and recruitment process outsourcing for the region.

Beyond her work, Arzoo is dedicated to community engagement.

She’s currently participating in the Leaders for Geelong 2025 program, developing as a local leader, working on regional community projects, and gives back through volunteering.

A true people person, she enjoys meeting new people and exploring diverse cuisines, and is an avid fan of cricket, drawing inspiration from Virat Kohli’s leadership and resilience.

In Geelong, she has found both personal and professional fulfilment, making an impact through her work and community contributions.

For more information, head to harvesthr.com.au