{"id":181709,"date":"2026-03-07T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=181709"},"modified":"2026-04-08T21:52:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T11:52:04","slug":"leading-with-heart-and-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/women-in-business\/leading-with-heart-and-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading with heart and purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"

ROBYN Hayles developed some of her key leadership skills in one of the most demanding environments imaginable \u2013 the high-stakes and complex world of paediatric nursing. A role that required emotional intelligence, resilience and decisive action.<\/p>\n

Today, as the head of Meli, Geelong’s largest community services organisation, those early lessons in empathy, communication and care continue to guide her leadership.<\/p>\n

Robyn became Meli’s chief executive in July 2025, bringing more than two decades of senior executive and CEO experience across the health and community services sector.<\/p>\n

She now leads a team of more than 900 staff across offices and kindergartens throughout the Barwon and Wimmera South West regions with confidence, purpose and a sharp focus on community.<\/p>\n

“Leadership is not just about a job title \u2013 it’s about influence, impact and action,” Robyn said. “Sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest impact.<\/p>\n

“I’ve learnt just as much from my days as a paediatric nurse as I have while managing 6,000 staff and a $600 million budget.”<\/p>\n

For Robyn, one of the greatest rewards of leading a non-profit organisation such as Meli is seeing firsthand the difference community services can make.<\/p>\n

“Working with staff who have the most amazing skills and a direct positive impact on individuals and families in our community is incredibly rewarding,” she said.<\/p>\n

“There is flexibility to lead the organisation to adapt and respond to community need, which isn’t always available in other sectors.<\/p>\n

“It is so meaningful to see the direct impact of our work, to hear and share those stories, and to drive improvements for communities \u2013 particularly children, young people and families.”<\/p>\n

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Robyn is candid about the challenges that women continue to face in the workplace.<\/p>\n

“Women are still not seen or treated as equal in many businesses, sectors or careers,” she said. “Pay and opportunities, unfortunately, remain unequal.”<\/p>\n

She believes that increasing the number of women in leadership strengthens organisations and helps open doors for others.<\/p>\n

“One of the great advantages of having women in leadership is the support, mentoring and development opportunities we can offer the next generation of leaders,” she said.<\/p>\n

Her advice to young women with leadership aspirations is simple: build your support network.<\/p>\n

“You need a cheerleader \u2013 someone who celebrates your progress and reminds you of your strength,” Robyn said. “You need a truth-teller \u2013 that one person who will tell you the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it.<\/p>\n

“And you need a reality buddy \u2013 someone who supports your thinking and helps you think through every aspect of your vision and plan.”<\/p>\n

As this year’s International Women’s Day comes with a pledge to ‘Balance the Scales’, Robyn sees that commitment reflected daily across Meli’s kindergartens, family services and support programs.<\/p>\n

“Meli’s vision of a fair, safe and inclusive community where everyone can thrive aligns in so many ways with that promise,” she said.<\/p>\n

Discover more about Meli’s services at meli.org.au<\/a> and explore career opportunities at meli.org.au\/careers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ROBYN Hayles developed some of her key leadership skills in one of the most demanding environments imaginable \u2013 the high-stakes and complex world of paediatric nursing. A role that required emotional intelligence, resilience and decisive action. Today, as the head of Meli, Geelong’s largest community services organisation, those early lessons in empathy, communication and care […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":156,"featured_media":182210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-181709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-women-in-business"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLeading with heart and purpose - Surf Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Community services leadership in Geelong is redefined by Meli CEO Robyn Hayles. 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