Fujitsu takes steps to workplace inclusivity with new staff

Fujitsu has appointed Katherine (Kathy) Cakarnis as its Vice President (Customer Industry Engagement) Australia and New Zealand. Fujitsu has also appointed Nicole Forrester to the newly created role of Head of Office of Purpose, Australia and New Zealand.

Cakarnis is responsible for sales and customer service management and will also lead the consulting and alliances teams. Forrester is responsible for driving transformative change across sustainability, diversity and inclusion, as well as Fujitsu’s corporate social responsibility programs.

Cakarnis brings 20 years of experience in sales, delivery, management and executive positions to her new role, having outsourced clients for IBM Australia and New Zealand.

Forrester has more than 15 years of diverse leadership experience across the Asia–Pacific region. As director of intergovernmental and philanthropic partnerships at CSIRO, Forrester served as its inaugural representative in Washington, D.C. Forrester has also held various diplomatic and government roles in Australia and was an associate lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology’s Oodgeroo and Torres Strait Islander studies centre.

Both Cakarnis and Forrester will report to Graeme Beardsell, Chief Executive Officer of Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand, as part of the Fujitsu executive leadership program. Beardsell said the new appointments represent Fujitsu’s commitment to its customers in Australia and New Zealand.

“Kathy’s extensive experience in leading transformation for customers across Australia and New Zealand will provide new insights and benefits for Fujitsu’s customers in this region. Her ability to lead and mentor teams will also be beneficial to growing the skills of Fujitsu’s employees,” Beardsell said.

Cakarnis said she is looking forward to working with Fujitsu’s customers and supporting their transformation initiatives to deliver business benefits for customers across a range of industries in the region.

Beardsell noted that Fujitsu has set specific and challenging targets to become a sustainable, diverse and inclusive company, globally and in Australia and New Zealand.

“The work conducted by Nicole and her team will be pivotal in our ability to fulfil these ambitions. Nicole brings proven leadership in delivering inclusive cultural change through impact-driven strategy,” Beardsell said.

Forrester said she looks forward to helping Fujitsu continue to lead an approach to conducting business that focuses on sustainability, diversity, inclusion and corporate social responsibility for the benefit of all.

“The newly created office of purpose role is visionary and demonstrates Fujitsu’s leadership in the direction that companies must take to address long-term challenges in the new global business environment,” Forrester said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Sergey Nivens