Louise Balkham
Wellington,Upper Hutt
Summary
I am a dedicated and hardworking individual with a zest for life, a passion for my job, and a constant commitment to caring for my family. Having relocated to Wellington from the UK in 2015, I am now on the path to New Zealand citizenship. I am committed to contributing to both my family and the community, while continuously developing my professional skills.
Career Aspirations:
With a proactive approach and a strong desire to achieve, I thrive in challenging situations and pride myself on my organized and punctual nature. I am confident, outgoing, and prioritize honesty, loyalty, and trust in all that I do. I am committed to contributing to the success of the wider team while embracing challenges and achieving results.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Office Administrator
Apiculture New Zealand
09.2021 - Current
- Manage administrative tasks, including accounting software (Xero) and travel booking (Serko).
- Maintain website platforms (WooCommerce, WordPress) and an organized electronic filing system.
- Handle phone calls, postal duties, and member support.
- Support the Apiculture New Zealand Board by arranging travel, taking minutes, and managing expenses.
- Coordinate the annual conference booth setup, networking with stakeholders, and government representatives.
- Ensure well-organized and efficient workflow within a friendly team environment.
- Interacted with customers by phone, email, or in-person to provide information
Business Support Administrator
Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL)
06.2021 - 08.2021
- Provided support to a team of 7, handling facility management, meetings, and detailed administration.
- Managed reception desk responsibilities, including phone calls, couriers, and visitor assistance.
- Arranged travel, taxis, and accommodation for staff.
- Coordinated catering for meetings and office events.
- Developed monthly reports.
- Fostered strong rapport with clients, vendors and stakeholders through consistent follow-up and communication.
Facilities Coordinator
Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL)
05.2018 - 06.2021
- Managed facilities for Thomson Reuters offices, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Oversaw maintenance contracts, vehicle leasing, and parking management.
- Handled courier management, post deliveries, and office supplies.
- Contributed to creating a safe office environment for returning staff.
- Served as point of contact for internal and external customers seeking support and information both in New Zealand and Australia.
- Built relationships with vendors and contractors to support timely and cost-effective services.
- Conducted regular facility inspections to identify repair needs or improvements.
- Prepared reports and schedules with accuracy.
Facilities Manager
Bayleys Real Estate
09.2017 - 07.2018
- Managed multi-tenanted properties, focusing on facilities, maintenance, and safety.
- Oversaw all aspects of equipment installation, maintenance, and repair for both internal and external services.
- Introduced tenant meetings for improved communication and issue resolution.
- Reviewed leases and management agreements to resolve ownership and building issues.
- Responded to building emergencies and managed repairs in particular during the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.
- Drove continuous improvement of processes and systems operation.
Facilities Contract Manager
New Zealand Post
09.2015 - 09.2016
- Managed national facilities contracts worth $20,000,000.
- Oversaw relationships with service providers, monitored budgets, and contracts' performance to detect non-compliance with terms and deficient returns and organize proactive resolutions.
- Supported sustainability projects for energy and waste management.
- Coordinated office events, seminars and meetings for staff and clients.
- Organized and updated databases, records and other information resources.
- Maintained primary relationship accountability for clients, overall servicing responsibility and client satisfaction to maximize profitability of client relationships.
- Negotiated and executed contracts on behalf of department.
Area Maintenance Manager
The Co-operative Group
11.2013 - 11.2015
- Prioritized and coordinated urgent repairs for 147 retail units, ensuring minimal impact on trading.
- Managed repairs following breakdowns, fire/flood damage, and theft to in-store assets.
- Covered a vast area of 3,961 square miles spanning Devon and Cornwall, UK.
- Acted as the main escalation point for 6 field-based Area Managers.
- Attended Store Manager Meetings, addressing day-to-day trading issues.
- Fostered client and contractor relationships through regular meetings, improving collaboration.
- Ensured compliance with Health & Safety legislation, reporting areas of concern and tracking improvements.
- Provided support during store re-fits, addressing defects from a facilities and financial perspective.
- Successfully managed crises, including serious fires, leading initial meetings and ensuring safety protocols.
Regional Facilities Manager
Workman LLP
04.2012 - 11.2013
- Managed a mixed portfolio of properties across the South West region.
- Conducted frequent detailed property inspections for maintenance and Health & Safety compliance.
- Arranged maintenance and repair contracts, liaising with contractors.
- Contributed to the re-structuring of procurement procedures for optimal client value.
- Maintained client-specific databases and updated information for client meetings.
- Utilized the SAFEContractor Scheme to ensure contractor Health & Safety compliance.
Facilities Manager
Lambert Smith Hampton
04.2007 - 04.2012
- Managed substantial portfolio of commercial properties for key clients.
- Oversaw maintenance, repair works, and risk assessments.
- Prepared service charge budgets and completed reconciliations in line with industry standards.
- Organized client and occupier meetings to address issues and ensure satisfaction.
- Monitored contractor performance and checked KPIs were being met.
- Managed multi-occupied building with a budget exceeding £650,000.
- Demonstrated leadership by mentoring junior staff and overseeing their development.
Property Administrator
Lambert Smith Hampton
11.2004 - 03.2007
- Managed client communication and contributed to property management.
- Collaborated with contractors for repairs across the Midlands and South East portfolio.
- Contributed to monthly meetings, preparing KPI reports and following up on actions.
- Maintained direct contact with customers and operations personnel to maintain positive relationships and exceed customer expectations.
Team Secretary
Lambert Smith Hampton
05.2004 - 11.2004
- Supported the residential and commercial department through administrative tasks.
- Managed postal duties, letter typing, reports, and general filing.
- Took minutes during client meetings and communicated with clients and contractors.
- Maintained daily report documents, memos and invoices.
- Maintained electronic filing systems and categorized documents.
- Managed phone and email correspondence and handled incoming and outgoing mail.
- Created and maintained detailed administrative processes and procedures to drive efficiency and accuracy.
- Volunteered to help with special projects of varying degrees of complexity.
Skills
- Administrative Support
- Event Coordination
- Stakeholder Communication
- Exceptional organised Skills
- Xero
- MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Customer Service
- Data Entry
- Written and Verbal Communication
- Problem Solving and Quick Decision-Making
- Facilities Management
- Property Inspections and Maintenance
- Health and Safety Compliance
- Client Relationship Management
- Team Collaboration
- Crisis Management and Problem Solving
Certification
British Institute for Facilities Management (BIFM) equivalent to FMANZ.
Understanding Facilities Management
Fire Safety Law & Fire Risk Assessment
Selecting and Controlling Contractors
A guide to Health & Safety Regulations, responsibilities and Risk Assessments.
ILM Level 3 Leadership & Management
Timeline
Office Administrator
Apiculture New Zealand
09.2021 - Current
Business Support Administrator
Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL)
06.2021 - 08.2021
Facilities Coordinator
Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL)
05.2018 - 06.2021
Facilities Manager
Bayleys Real Estate
09.2017 - 07.2018
Facilities Contract Manager
New Zealand Post
09.2015 - 09.2016
Area Maintenance Manager
The Co-operative Group
11.2013 - 11.2015
Regional Facilities Manager
Workman LLP
04.2012 - 11.2013
Facilities Manager
Lambert Smith Hampton
04.2007 - 04.2012
Property Administrator
Lambert Smith Hampton
11.2004 - 03.2007
Team Secretary
Lambert Smith Hampton
05.2004 - 11.2004
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