How Danielle Baker is leading a holistic approach to employee wellbeing at the Port
In her newly created role as Health and Wellbeing Specialist, Danielle Baker is championing wellbeing for Port of Brisbane employees, supporting a wide range of people across various industries – from corporate roles, marine services, infrastructure, property development and more.
As a Manly West local and proud mum of two, Danielle is proud to work for an organisation that has a deep connection with her local community. Before joining the Port of Brisbane, Danielle worked in injury management for 13 years and more recently, workforce health and wellbeing programs. Passionate about sustainability and collaboration, she’s excited to continue contributing both individually and as part of a team to promote a healthier, more resilient community.
Redefining health and wellbeing in the Port industry
When most people think of working at a port, cargo ships, industrial operations, and hard hats are often the first things that spring to mind.
"There are so many preconceived ideas of what it might mean to work in a port,” said Danielle.
“But what makes my role so interesting is the diversity of roles I get to support, along with the alignment of employee health and wellbeing to business strategy. For me this has been both surprising and incredibly positive.”
Danielle brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role and is excited about working in an organisation with progressive mindset and passion for health and wellbeing.
“We have an ambitious goal to achieve a net-positive contribution to employee health and wellbeing by 2030 – which ultimately means the Port gives more to employee health than the job demands. It’s about contributing to holistic health, as well as managing risks to prevent harm.”
The opportunity to lead the development of the Port’s first formal Health and Wellbeing strategy is incredibly exciting for Danielle, as she sees existing initiatives as the foundation for future success and emphasises that the Port’s vision can only be realised if employees are healthy, thriving, and supported.
“It’s a privilege to continue this work and support such a vital vision.”
Prioritising a positive working environment through flexibility
Having joined the Port earlier this year, Danielle said flexibility was a key factor when deciding where her next role would be, saying the option is integral to her work life balance.
“With two school-aged kids involved in all sorts of sports and activities, life is certainly chaotic with routines changing every week,” said Danielle.
“For me, it’s about finding a way to juggle my home commitments alongside work responsibilities. I always put in 100% at work, but with flexible working I can also be a present mum.”
Danielle loves that the Port understands and supports people’s needs.
“Without this, my kids and I would have to say ‘no’ to so much more than we say ‘yes’ to,” said Danielle.
“After experiencing this style of working in my last job and now here at the Port, I am incredibly grateful that this style of work arrangement is an option. It would be a big compromise to return to working in a less flexible environment.”
Embracing a structure that encourages collaboration
Another aspect of working at the Port that Danielle finds fulfilling is the flat organisational structure, which fosters an environment of open communication at all levels.
"Not a day goes by where I’m not speaking to someone from the executive leadership team," said Danielle.
"Whether it's for work or just casually chatting while making coffee, having them so accessible is invaluable.
“This structure allows for an easier flow of ideas and feedback. Being able to speak to leaders regularly and understand their perspectives and awareness of our people and what we do is hugely beneficial," Danielle added.
"It’s especially helpful in my role where I’m often promoting initiatives – the leadership team’s genuine involvement makes a huge difference in the success of those efforts."