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Organisational Development | Workforce Strategy | Change Leadership

Jude Mahony is a workforce strategist and organisational development expert with over two decades of experience leading large-scale transformation programs across mining, higher education, professional services, health and the public sector. Known for her pragmatic approach, strategic insight, and people-first mindset, Jude partners with leaders to turn complex workforce challenges into clear, actionable solutions.

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Career Snapshot

 

Optimal Resourcing

Founder & Principal Consultant | 2019 – Present

Leads tailored OD, workforce planning, change and capability projects across diverse sectors. Specialises in solving complex people and work design challenges, with recent engagements across mining, law, education, tech, health and services.

  • EPCM Resource Planning: Operational FTE resource utilisation + tracking; Workforce planning

  • Tier 2 Mining Co: Rail Sigs/Comms maintenance insourcing

  • Labour Hire Co + Scaffolding Services Co: Employee transfer after acquisition

  • Mining Services Co: Leadership + Team Development

  • Mining Consultancy: Workforce planning review

  • Integrated Facilities Management Co: Talent function transformation; talent, payroll & time/attendance technology implementations; high volume assessment centre design; visual information centre development; RPO evaluation; process optimisation.

 

Child & Adolescent Health Services
Program Manager Culture Transformation | 2025 - Current contract

Leads delivery of the organisation-wide culture program, bringing together consultation, diagnostics and practical planning to define actions, develop an agreed plan and support implementation through governance, leadership capability and measurement.

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Edith Cowan University

Workforce Strategy & OD Leader | 2024 – 2025 

Drives workforce planning, capability, EDIB strategy, reward, data analytics and organisational culture for a multi-campus university.


Rio Tinto

Senior Workforce & Resourcing Leader | 2012 – 2019

Held multiple transformation roles including global recruitment leadership, offshoring transitions, shared service model design and strategic workforce initiatives across APAC, India, US and Canada.


Additional roles: Strategic and operational HR leadership across United Group, Brierty, APMS, and as co-founder of Sound Personnel.

​Strategic Capabilities

  • Organisational Development & Design

  • Strategic Workforce Planning

  • Change Management & Transformation

  • Capability & Leadership Development

  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB)

  • Talent Strategy, Resourcing & Workforce Analytics

  • Operating Model & Service Delivery Design

  • Offshoring, Outsourcing & Shared Services Transition

Career Overview

Qualifications & Memberships
Graduate Certificate in Business (ECU)
Accredited facilitator:
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
Certified facilitator:
Competency, Behavioural, EQ & Motivators Profiling (TTI)
Member: Australian Institute of Management (FAIM), Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), RCSA
Licensed Employment Agent (DMIRS)

Publications

  • Offshoring or Not-Sure-ing (2022) – A practical handbook on global work transitions

  • How Matrix Organisations Work (2022) – A guide to navigating and implementing matrix structures

  • Thriving in Flux (2023) – Skills for navigating workforce change and tech disruption

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Explore Jude’s books and media

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