Team Member Spotlight: Meet Andrea Roberts

Guest: Andrea Roberts – HR Business Partner
Date commenced in role: 2 January 2025

1. What’s the one Akyra value that resonates most with you, and why?
The Akyra value that resonates most with me is Partnership.
I genuinely enjoy working with people and building strong, collaborative relationships. Partnership reflects the way I like to support clients – by understanding their business, their challenges, and their goals, and then working alongside them as they grow.
In HR, partnership is about being a trusted extension of their team. I’m motivated by helping businesses stay compliant, strengthening their employer brand, and creating workplaces where people feel valued.

2. What’s something you’ve learned recently that’s helped you grow professionally or personally?
One thing I’ve learned recently that has helped me grow as a HR Business Partner is the importance of staying curious and continuously expanding my understanding of the businesses I support. HR isn’t just about policies or compliance – it’s about truly understanding how a business operates so I can offer advice that’s practical, strategic, and aligned with their goals.
Recently, I’ve been focusing on strengthening my understanding of the broader business context and asking better questions to understand the ‘why’ behind decisions. This will help me build stronger partnerships with leaders, anticipate issues earlier, and provide more proactive support. It reinforces how valuable it is to listen first, then guide.
On a personal level, I’ve also learned the value of slowing down and creating space to reflect. HR can be fastpaced and reactive, so taking time to pause helps to make clearer decisions and support clients more effectively.

3. What’s something people may be surprised to learn about you?
People are often surprised to learn that I’m a Nana to four. It’s a big and joyful part of my life, and as a very involved Nana they definitely keep me busy. They constantly remind me to stay openminded, embrace change, and not take life too seriously.

4. What do you appreciate most about the team you work with?
What I appreciate most about the team I work with is the genuine sense of support and collaboration we have.
We’re a solid team who openly talk through work matters, share ideas, and help each other find the best approach. Everyone pitches in when needed, and there’s a real awareness of how each person is tracking.
We constantly share knowledge, communicate well, and balance our workloads so things flow smoothly. There’s no ‘that’s not my job’ mentality and everyone helps with everything. It creates a positive, trusting environment where we can do great work and enjoy doing it together.

5. What are your interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I value time to relax and spending time with my favourite people. I love camping, fishing, and getting out on the paddleboard when the weather’s good. I have a very close family who get together all the time, so there’s usually something happening.

6. Quote from employee (something reflective?)
We live in a fastpaced world, it’s easy to forget that life is unpredictable and often shorter than we expect. Slow down, make time for the people and things you love, and appreciate the good that’s around you.

7. Manager’s comment (acknowledging strengths)
Andrea truly lives our value of partnership — she listens deeply, understands what people need, and brings a calm, thoughtful presence to every interaction. Her curiosity, warm approach, and willingness to jump in make her a trusted support for clients and a wonderful asset to our team.