We will remember them
On the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute’s silence is observed to remember the soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the First and Second World Wars. On this date in 1918 the guns of the First World War stopped firing and the war was officially declared over.
At PeopleIN we honour the men and women who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we hold dear and we’re also proud to have a number of ex-service men and women working across our Group.
We asked Tony Ricketts (Techforce General Manager, South Australia), David Sapparth (Chief Operating Office of our project management business Project Partners) and PeopleIN Head of Technology, Matt Lecchi about their military careers and what the 11th of November means to them:
Why did you join the military?
- Tony - I was in cadets at school before I joined the Australian Regular Army at 15 as an apprentice carpenter. Later, I went to The Royal Australian Engineers as a combat engineer and served for six years.
- David - I joined as I didn’t see myself working a desk job, was always up for adventure and I wanted a free degree. I was an Army Officer who served in engineers and intelligence.
- Matt – I wanted to get out of my hometown and travel. The added appeal of working in a technical trade and gaining real world experience also drew me in. I was in the Signals Corps which provide communication support to broad segments of the Army.
As someone who served, what does Remembrance Day mean to you?
- Tony - It's to remember the sacrifices not only of the soldiers but their families, their communities and to remember the futility of so many lives lost in war. My grandfather also served on the battlefields of France in the Battle of Fromelles and suffered horrendous injuries. It's an honour to serve and represent your country.
- David - Remembrance Day is a chance for me to remember all the people I have worked with across Australia and around the world during my service. It’s also a chance to pause and reflect how fortunate my life has been unlike others I have worked with. (It’s also my youngest daughter’s birthday!)
- Matt - Growing up it was a way to honour and reflect on the sacrifices made since WWI. However I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007, so it now hits closer to home when thinking about the sacrifice and loss throughout that campaign.
How did this time set you up for your career after leaving the military?
- Tony - It taught me self-sufficiency, how to work in a team, take instructions and how to “serve” others but also to lead from the front when required.
- David - I learnt and experienced a lot during my time in the service. Focusing on leadership, an ongoing professional pride, resilience to deal with constant change and the ability to be work effectively with ambiguity have helped me succeed in my current career.
- Matt - It’s easy as a young bloke to take the experience for granted but the training equips you to deal with adversity, stressful environments, and to handle pressure. Today I look back and appreciate my time in the Army and the foundation it provided to hone resilience and grit which (not surprisingly) is now a growing learning and development area for people across multiple industries.
Recent posts
PeopleIN is championing an initiative that would support the Australian Government in expanding ADF recruitment eligibility to Pacific Islanders - strengthening defence ties and workforce capability. Our proposal has been submitted and we are actively engaging in discussions across multiple levels of government to explore the feasibility of this initiative. We have provided a strategic blueprint and pathway case study that outlines how this expansion could be implemented effectively. Drawing on our expertise as Australia’s largest employment provider under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, we offer a sustainable recruitment model built on proven processes and sovereign capability. KEY COMPONENTS OF OUR STRATEGY - Co-designing recruitment pathways with Pacific governments to secure their support. - Benchmarking against 5-Eyes nations to implement best-practice solutions and mitigate risks. - Launching a Pilot Program with PNG, targeting long-term benefits for both countries. - Drawing on global military recruitment expertise, including British Gurkha and ADF remote testing models. How it works - Pacific Islanders would serve in combat and non-combat roles (engineering, logistics, mechanical trades, etc.). - Service terms could be four years, with an option to return home with new skills or continue serving with a pathway to citizenship. - After service, they would then return home with new skills and experience that contribute to local economic development. - Recruitment standards would be calibrated for optimal enlistment rates, ensuring readiness across all three ADF services. In developing this recruiting strategy, PeopleIN has also extensively considered and developed plans to mitigate risks, including: - Fast-tracking medical, psychological, and security screening to eliminate known ADF recruitment bottlenecks. - Maximising enrolment through targeted marketing and engagement. - Ensuring cultural support and preventing ‘brain drain’ for a sustainable pipeline. Next steps We’ve delivered our recommendations to the JSCFADT (Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trad) inquiry and Australian Government’s pre-budget submission, urging a 2025 business case and implementation plan in partnership with Defence and industry stakeholders. PeopleIN is not just advising - we’re building the framework to make this happen.
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND - JOEL KASS
“It was just going to be a little job for a couple of months, when I first came back from overseas”. 14 years ago Karlee Berg began her career with Tribe Workforce Solutions as an Administration Assistant. Today, after performing every role in between (and often more than one at once!), she’s now the General Manager. “I trained as a beauty therapist and I'd been working overseas, as the day spa manager on cruise ships. It’s a hectic lifestyle and I was pretty burnt out when I got home and needed a break,” Karlee said. “I think I'd only been back in the country for a month and a friend, who was working with AWX (another of PeopleIN’s brands), said the directors had started this new business, focused on the hospitality sector. They didn’t have admin or account staff, just a general manager, and people from AWX were just jumping in to help where they could.
Five years after commencing his recruitment career with PeopleIN’s labour solutions business AWX, today Johan Thomas is an Account Manager with an enviable record of success. From international student, to junior recruiter, to today being an essential part of AWX’s Melbourne team, Johan says it’s the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others which has motivated his professional growth. "The most enjoyable part of my job is helping people” Johan said.
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Amy Chapman
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Joel FitzgibbonFormer Minister for Defence and
AUKUS Forum ChairHon. Joel Fitzgibbon GAICD joined us to answer three questions about relationship building in the Indo-Pacific, recruitment to support the growth of defence infrastructure in northern Australia and the opportunities presented by the AUKUS Agreement to Australian business.Watch it here
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Simon BlackBrownlow MedallistIn this 3IN3 Brisbane Lions triple premiership player and 2002 Brownlow Medallist Simon Black describes how being a key part of a hugely successful sporting franchise equipped him with the skills and experience to achieve post playing success as a businessman and investor.Watch it here