Alison HernandezManaging Director APAC, RiseSmart

Alison is a passionate, insightful thought leader on all aspects of change and transformation, transition and inclusion, with deep expertise in career transition, ageing workforce and gender equality. Alison is known for the energy, humour and incisiveness she brings as a conference chair, presenter, panellist and facilitator.

Having begun her career in the US in hospitality and quality management, Alison joined the UK Human Resources sector in the mid-nineties, subsequently relocating to Australia and finding a natural place for her skills and strengths in the career transition (outplacement) industry. A highlight of this time was developing and leading the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games career transition program for 2500 people.

In 2004, Alison co-founded Sageco (now RiseSmart), then a niche consultancy in ageing workforce and mature-age transition. She directed a number of industry leading ageing workforce projects including the Federal Government Corporate Champions program. Having led Sageco for 13 years, achieving year-on-year growth and expanding solutions to include career and executive transition, Alison lead the company acquisition by Randstad in late 2016, to become part of the global RiseSmart brand.