Human Resources Management

Sean Wilson has a strong background in human resources, employment law, recruitment, workforce strategy and organisational leadership, combining more than 20 years of executive experience with hands-on HR and operational management.

He has overseen the recruitment, leadership and performance of thousands of employees across executive, professional and frontline roles. His experience covers the full HR lifecycle, including workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, remuneration, training and development, employee relations, performance management, workplace safety, restructuring, redundancies and termination.

Sean has led people and culture responsibilities at BetterHR, Zonda, Kolling Foundation, the Housing Industry Association and other organisations across private enterprise, government and not-for-profit sectors. He understands how workforce capability, leadership, employment compliance and organisational culture affect service delivery, commercial performance and long-term business resilience.

As a Board-appointed CEO and HR leader, Sean brings more than traditional HR functional expertise. He has held P&L accountability for portfolios exceeding $85 million and led organisations with more than 300 employees. He approaches hiring, workforce design and employee performance as core business decisions, aligning people strategy with operational requirements, financial realities and organisational objectives.

Proven Impact & Results

BetterHR: HR leadership, employment law and national advisory services

As CEO and HR Director at BetterHR for more than seven years, Sean managed the overall business, including a national team of HR and employment law advisers and consultants. He also served as Chief Technology & Product Officer for more than 10 years, leading the development of award-winning HR software and advisory services.

He worked directly with business owners and managers across multiple industries, providing practical HR guidance and demonstrating how employment law, workplace policies, management practices and employee performance could be handled effectively.

Sean developed and delivered HR education through blogs, talks, conferences and online webinars for partners and clients including Telstra, Telstra Health, ADP Payroll, industry associations and franchise groups.

BetterHR grew to more than 60,000 users and 300+ partners. Under his tenure, the business achieved a 100% compliance rating with zero insurance claims, including through the COVID-19 pandemic and its prolonged uncertainty. The business also received multiple HR and technology awards, including recognition for HR software and advisory services.

During his tenure, revenue and gross profit doubled, and share value increased by more than 150%.

Zonda Global and Zonda Care: Healthcare recruitment and workforce management

As CEO of Zonda Global and Zonda Care, Sean led a $20 million portfolio of businesses, including recruitment agencies supplying permanent and casual staff to healthcare and aged-care facilities across Australia, including government providers, as well as services supporting NDIS participants.

His responsibilities included workforce requirements, recruitment operations, team leadership, customer service, compliance and commercial performance. He worked in a workforce-intensive environment where staffing availability, worker suitability, service quality and regulatory obligations were critical to business outcomes.

He also led the businesses through operational and financial challenges, strengthening management discipline and focusing on sustainable service delivery and profitability.

Kolling Foundation: Organisational leadership in medical research

As CEO of Kolling Foundation, Sean held organisation-wide people management responsibilities for a healthcare research fundraising organisation working alongside NSW Health and the University of Sydney.

He helped establish a new team as part of the launch of the $100 million Kolling Building for Medical Research. The Foundation supported more than 200 doctors and scientists involved in medical research and worked with the Northern Sydney Local Health District, including Royal North Shore Hospital, Ryde Hospital, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital and the Kolling Institute.

The role required coordination across professional, clinical, research, fundraising and governance stakeholders in a purpose-led environment.

Housing Industry Association: National workforce and cultural transformation

As National General Manager Sales & Marketing at HIA, Sean led a national restructure across 23 offices and more than 200 employees in the relevant operating portfolio, within a wider organisation of more than 300 staff.

His responsibilities covered regional sales and service teams, more than 20 retail stores, Home Ideas Centres, publications, events, training and other member services. He led organisational changes to improve consistency, accountability, employee engagement and commercial performance.

The restructure helped reverse declining membership and revenue, contributing to more than 10,000 new members and a return to sustained growth. He also led cultural initiatives intended to improve employee retention, satisfaction and engagement, and established a national call centre in Sydney that improved member engagement and satisfaction year on year.

Sensis: National sales workforce and government capability

As National Sales Director at Sensis, Sean led the growth and transformation of a national sales organisation within a major advertising and information services business.

He established a dedicated national sales team to serve more than 5,000 government accounts, including Federal and ACT government departments, agencies, statutory authorities, embassies, consulates and parliamentarians.

His responsibilities included leadership, performance management, capability development and aligning teams with national commercial objectives.

Bettersource: Recruitment and workforce solutions

As Country Head for Bettersource, Sean led the APAC team of a workforce solutions business helping organisations address skills shortages, improve workforce flexibility and manage labour costs.

The business provided remote managed teams and fixed-fee local recruitment, supporting more than 100 businesses and over 1,000 placements. His responsibilities connected workforce strategy, recruitment delivery, team performance and customer requirements.

Government: Employment frameworks and organisational reform

In government, Sean served on HR-related boards and committees, including a Consultative Committee involved in introducing a competency-based pay system for NSW employees and structural reform committees supporting government amalgamations and technology transformations.

This experience broadened his understanding of workforce frameworks, public sector employment, organisational change and the relationship between people, systems and service delivery.

HR Compliance, Risk & Employment Law

Sean has extensive experience translating employment obligations into practical processes and advice for employers and managers.

At BetterHR, he led HR compliance and risk management for a national business supporting more than 60,000 users and 300+ partners. He delivered more than 100 HR talks covering best-practice HR management, the Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards and approaches to minimising risks such as costly penalties and employee claims.

His work included events and presentations for Telstra business forums, national industry conferences, franchise groups and partners including ADP Payroll, Xero and MYOB.

His approach connects legal compliance with practical management, employee performance and risk reduction.