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David Murtagh
Human Resource Manager
I started with Hyne back in January 1987 which seems a long time to work for one company, but throughout that time it has been challenging and rewarding.
My family has a timber background however growing up I always said I would never work for a timber company. How wrong I was! I left school and went to university to study architecture. During the Christmas break at the end of my first year I went to work for Hyne in Maryborough at the local sawmill. At the time my father, mother and grandfather all worked there.
I have been working for Hyne ever since! Why? I discovered that timber companies and in particular Hyne are not necessarily just about cutting wood and stacking timber, and I kind of liked having some money in my pocket instead of studying.
I finally got back to University, three times now in fact. In the 21 years I have worked for Hyne the company has supported my ongoing career development by funding and supporting two post-graduate certificates, in quality management and occupational health and safety, and currently I am enrolled in a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
I started with Hyne stacking timber at the Dry Mill in Maryborough and before long I was asked to write safety procedures. Within a couple of years I was given the responsibility for writing and implementing the hardwood division quality & safety management system. The great thing about Hyne is that there is always opportunity for career progression for those that want to achieve and see the company succeed. I moved to corporate office, still in Maryborough, in 1997 and soon took on responsibility for the company’s corporate quality management system, along with safety responsibilities. In 2002 I became the corporate safety and audit manager and was responsible for developing compliance audit programs and safety improvement initiatives across the company. During this time I got to travel regularly to all sites within the company meeting many fantastic people and seeing some of the best cities and towns on the east coast of Australia.
My life took at turn in 2006 when I relocated. Still with Hyne I took on the Regional HSE Manager’s role in Tumbarumba, a small town in NSW, where Hyne have built the largest softwood mill in Australia.
The call of Maryborough proved strong though and my family and I returned in 2008 where I have taken up the role of Corporate HR Manager. I am looking forward to this exciting challenge as I see this as an opportunity to continue to contribute and hopefully influence the continued success and growth of the organisation.
I have spent my entire working life with Hyne and in that time have married, had children created a home and continued to develop both personally and professionally. Hyne have supported me the whole way and continue to do so. I look forward to the next challenge and the continuation of my relationship with what I think is a great family company.