Fiona Piltz (Executive Committee Member)

Fiona Piltz - Head of Human Resources, Catholic Education, Diocese of Wagga Wagga

1. What is your work/passion/ side-hustle?

I have worked in the field of HR for over 15 years, in varying roles. I am passionate about HR and believe it is a must have in any organisation, but more than that, I love working with people. I have had the absolute privilege of working in great organisations, with fantastic mentors and amazing teams. No matter the workplace, I have been lucky to find people who are not only colleagues, but continue to be lifelong friends.

 As a HR practitioner having the opportunity to be not only a key influence but driver in the organisational culture that the organisation wants to create, is exciting.  Involving people and showing them that they are valued all whilst helping the organisation aspire to their vision is so rewarding, don’t get me wrong there are parts of HR that are tough, but what I hope people see from me is that no matter the circumstances everybody is treated equally and with humility and dignity, regardless of the situation.

2. Beyond the 9 to 5 – what do you live for

Beyond 9-5, I am a Mum to three beautiful children and a wife to a fabulously supportive husband!

I am passionate about my garden and I can often be found beer in hand pulling weeds or watering something at the end of a work day – it’s the best kind of downtime. 

3. How did you land in Wagga - Are you Wagga born and bred, grew up here moved away and returned, moved here later in life and stayed because you love it, or something else that landed you here?

I am a Goulburn girl born and bred. My Mum hails from Wagga, so we used to come back to Wagga to visit quite a bit. After school, I came to university to study HR at CSU in Wagga and from then spent some time in Cooma and Leeton, my husband and I thought it was time to set down some new roots, so we left Leeton and came to Wagga for the lifestyle and opportunities that this beautiful regional city has to offer. 

4. Woman (famous or not) you are most inspired by and why?

I have to say my Mum; she is very much our family matriarch. No matter the circumstances, whatever life has thrown at her, no matter what the four of us kids got up to, she has the most amazing resilience, and she just keeps on going with a smile on her face and the offer of a chat and a cup of tea. She is one of those people that just bring others together.

I also see and hear about women doing amazing things every day, I read their stories, hear them speak in the media, listen to a podcast, chat to them at school functions, have a conversation in the tea room at work and for each one of those stories they inspire me. What makes me smile and often stops me in my tracks is that so many women just go about their day, not thinking that they are doing anything ‘special’ or inspiring, but when you hear their story about what might be going on behind the scenes, and yet they still turned up to work, turned up for reading group at school, it shows me just how strong and resilient women can be.