MEGAN PIENAAR
Rolleston,New Zealand
Summary
I am a purpose-driven, dynamic HR leader with over 25 years’ experience in global organisations across diverse industries, including manufacturing, sales, financial services, and dairy. Known for being a cohesive, forward thinking, agile leader I bring creativity, joy and pragmatism to my work and excel at aligning people strategies with business goals for collectively good results. With a personal brand defined by integrity, emotional intelligence, optimism, collaboration, and tenacity, I thrive on building strong relationships and creating value for the people I work with, making things a little better every day.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Programme Manager – Apprenticeships & Traineeships
Fonterra
09.2022 - Current
- Contribute to the development of future talent pipelines into operations through the leadership and management of all engineering apprenticeship programmes across 23 manufacturing sites in New Zealand. I develop the business strategy, set and manage the programme budget, and all external vendor agreements and relationships. This role works in close consultation with senior stakeholders across operations to oversee the full employee lifecycle of apprentices.
- Developed programme brand and reputation internally and externally increasing annual applications by 30%, enhanced diversity through the appointment of an average of 9% greater gender and 25% greater ethnic diversity, sustained a 98% program completion rate and 80% internal programme engagement rating.
- Directed an $8 million annual budget inclusive of wages and vendor agreements.
- Partnered with the union representatives leading a workgroup focussed on improving apprentice experience and the conditions of the apprentice central employment agreement.
- Designed a 4-year internal apprentice learning pathway and team readiness assessment.
- Capability Partner – Global Engineering
- October 2024 – present
Capability Partner - Global Engineering
Fonterra Co-operative Group
10.2024 - 08.2025
- Partner with Fonterra's global engineering team to identify and develop the strategic capability levers to enable the attraction, retention and development of critical engineering capability, defining the foundation and differentiating capabilities for the function, capability solutions and implementation of key supporting projects.
- Establishment of the capability partnering role within the engineering function
- Development of an on-line engineering career pathways tool which will form the base structure and framework of this tool across the organisation
- Functional learning analysis, priority alignment and development of capability goals and strategy
- Facilitated and developed Technical Capability Team engagement plans, vision statement and team behaviours.
HR Business Partner, New Zealand Manufacturing (Clandeboye)
Fonterra
08.2017 - 08.2022
- Lead the people and culture work for two manufacturing sites in South Canterbury with a primary focus on the coaching of leaders in the delivery of the HR strategy. I provided strategic business partnering support to the site leadership team with a focus of employee engagement, talent and succession planning, leadership development, performance management, communication and union relations. This work included the establishment of IWS (Integrated Work Systems), particularly the leadership of the Organisation Pillar and integration into various change and improvement projects across sites.
- Established and led the organisation pillar, team, and systems for 4 IWS (Integrated Work System) plants which focussed on the development of leadership capability in HR systems
- Developed a bullying and harassment awareness and capability development programme targeted at front line leaders across the site
- Site leadership of the first pilot of the Leadership Essentials Programme in NZM
- Part of a multi-functional team leading the people pillar of the quality improvement programme for the Protein Plant, this work supported the site achievement of a productivity award in 2019
- Managed multiple restructuring and redeployment projects
- Designed and facilitated site leadership days
- RELOCATED TO NEW ZEALAND IN MAY 2016. CAREER PAUSE WHILE SETTLED FAMILY INTO NEW ENVIRONMENT.
Senior HR Business Partner
Hollard Insurance Company (South Africa)
06.2011 - 04.2016
- Lead the people function for the central services division of Hollard with a direct team of HR business partners. This role directed and managed the talent, training and development, team performance, remuneration, recruitment, organisational development, and change management activities for this business unit providing professional services (Actuarial, Finance, Risk, Internal Audit, Legal and Marketing) to this leading financial services organisation.
- Promoted to lead HR team for Shared Services after 2 years in a HRBP role
- 2014 Employee of the Year Award - recognised for my work in elevating the culture and engagement across my business unit. This work aligned business objectives, identity, capability, talent and recognition across teams and involved launch of an appreciation programme and learning programme across risk & governance functions.
HR Manager
Whirlpool South Africa (PTY) Ltd
02.2000 - 05.2011
- Manage HR Operations for a large manufacturing site with responsibility for a cross functional HR team focused on recruitment, payroll, employee relations, health and learning and development. In this role I was responsible for the relationship with the national union and industry bargaining units, workforce planning, the improvement of workplace culture and wellbeing working on a variety of projects to support operational continuity and employee wellbeing. I later transitioned into the Head Office, overseeing the sales division, forming part of the national leadership team.
HR Consultant
Whirlpool South Africa (PTY) Ltd
02.2000 - 04.2004
- Provide generalist HR support to all head office teams. This role had a special project focus on the implementation and development of new HR practices aligned to new employment legislation introduced within South Africa - Employment Equity Act and Skills and Development Act.
Education
Honours Degree - Industrial Psychology
University of Johannesburg
01.1998
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Communication
University of Johannesburg
01.1997
Skills
- Purpose-driven, values-aligned leadership orientation
- Deep knowledge and experience across HR systems including talent management, organisational development, employment relations systems and processes
- Deep expertise and practice in business partnering, facilitation, need analysis, functional leadership and the alignment of business and people strategy, with expertise in stakeholder engagement, communication and relationship management
- Integrating and collaborative approach, driven by improvement and learning with strength in simplifying the complex
- High emotional intelligence, resilience, and tenacity
Certification
- BAIN RAPID Decision Making - Facilitator Training (Fonterra, 2024)
- High Performing Teams - Facilitator Training (Fonterra, 2022)
- Mentoring Frontline Leaders (Fonterra, 2021)
- Bullying & Harassment Prevention and Response (Wave, 2020)
- HR Business Partnering Certificate (CEB, 2015)
- World Café Conversations (Melanie Kiley, 2013)
- Flawless Consulting – Peter Block (Symphonia, 2013)
- Effective Disciplinaries (Carrus Consulting, 2003)
Timeline
Capability Partner - Global Engineering
Fonterra Co-operative Group
10.2024 - 08.2025
Programme Manager – Apprenticeships & Traineeships
Fonterra
09.2022 - Current
HR Business Partner, New Zealand Manufacturing (Clandeboye)
Fonterra
08.2017 - 08.2022
Senior HR Business Partner
Hollard Insurance Company (South Africa)
06.2011 - 04.2016
HR Manager
Whirlpool South Africa (PTY) Ltd
02.2000 - 05.2011
HR Consultant
Whirlpool South Africa (PTY) Ltd
02.2000 - 04.2004
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Communication
University of Johannesburg
Honours Degree - Industrial Psychology
University of Johannesburg
Awards
2001: MD excellence award for management of the Employment Equity implementation project
2005: Employee Excellence Award for overall Top Performance
2006: Selected for Habitat for Humanity Woman’s Build in Kyrgyzstan (sponsored by Whirlpool)
2014: Hollard Employee of the Year Award
2017 - 2025: 36 Individual Fonterra Values Badges
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