Our Chief Financial Officer, husband and dad of three, Geoff Smith, knows striking the balance between career and family life can be a real challenge at times, but it’s a balance he believes is critical to both succeed in today’s workplace and for happiness on the home front!
Since joining the Port in early 2023, as CFO Geoff has brought his deep expertise to oversee the day-to-day delivery of the Port’s finance responsibilities, while providing strategic advice and input into major projects that are transforming the future of the Port.
For Geoff, it’s all about getting to know your colleagues to understand what’s important to them; he believes when we achieve personally, we’re more likely to achieve professionally.
“To me, recognising the different priorities that individuals have within your team, beyond work, is really important – what a focus or interest for one person, may not be the same for another,” said Geoff.
“We’re all at different ages and stages of life. For me personally, that is what makes the workplace so diverse and interesting. Leading and being part of a team allows me to get to know the people around you and understanding them to help find a balance that supports both their personal and professional needs.
“In years gone by flexibility was regarded as taboo or a dirty word; if you weren’t in the office then you couldn’t be doing your job. Times are certainly changing and it’s important we don’t shy away from it but embrace it.”
Striking the right balance in all stages of career and family
As a husband and father, Geoff knows just how important it is to be there for his family – not just for them but also for himself.
“My wife and I recognise we have been very fortunate in our lives to consciously choose to have someone at home or at extra-curricular events as our kids were growing up. For a long time, and before I joined the Port, I probably missed out on more because flexibility from my employer at that time or in society more broadly didn’t exist as it does now.
“For me, a simple proof point of the step change compared to my career gone by is that I’m home for dinner with my family a lot more now than I ever was. As opposed to eating leftovers alone because I’ve worked late before logging back on; now I’m home, often cooking and sitting down to enjoy a meal with my family which is super important for me!”
When he’s not crunching numbers and working with our Finance team and wider business to deliver on the Port’s strategic targets, Geoff loves to hit the pavement and run – an athletic ability and passion shared with his son.
“I’ve always loved running and managed to pick it back up during covid and that’s when my son and I started training together regularly. He’s now a lot faster than me, which I put down to his long legs… but it’s something we love to do together along with now being there and watching him compete. I’m proud to say he has quickly become a better runner than I ever was (or hoped to be!). There is no higher priority for me than being present for our family and supporting them through the good times (and the bad).”
Walking the talk
As an executive leader, Geoff aims to lead by example.
“As employees, we all have to deliver on our roles and responsibilities – however in my mind this now requires “out of the box” thinking to be flexible about how the demands of our jobs are delivered. Flexibility certainly plays its part in helping to achieve a productive and energised team,” said Geoff.
“When you know what makes people tick – whether that’s family, camping, physical fitness, travel or whatever it may be – you build a fuller picture about the team around you.”
“That goes both ways of course. Giving the team insight into my world, like that running is a passion and family a highest priority for me, gives context and meaning when I’m offline to cheer kids on at a sporting event – it builds that picture for them in return.
“You never want to make anyone feel guilty for prioritising what’s important to them. Instead, it’s about having that mutual respect, trust and satisfaction that we’re collectively delivering on our work well whilst supporting success in our team’s personal lives as well.
“Achieving this is all the more reason to embrace flexibility in our workplace.”