MEET THE MAESTRO: Fractional Leader Australia

Reneke - Transformational Leader

At Maestro, we know there’s more to life than work. In fact, it’s the experiences, relationships and pursuits we have outside of work that can often give us an edge in what we do each day. We are kicking off an interview series called “Meet the Maestro” where we interview our Maestros and get an insight to who they really are and what makes them tick - beyond the CV.

Our Meet the Maestro this week is Reneke, a versatile and results-driven executive leader with over 25 years of experience across the global energy sector; both offshore and onshore. Reneke brings a rare blend of high IQ and EQ, deep technical expertise and a proven track record in leading transformation, culture change and operational excellence in complex industrial environments.

What sets Reneke apart is her ability to break down both technical and cultural challenges, inspire teams to find solutions they didn’t think possible and turn big-picture thinking into clear, actionable strategies. Her leadership consistently delivers real-world impact, whether through improved safety, reduced costs, better risk management or long-term sustainable value. Beyond the boardroom, Reneke is deeply committed to community engagement and creating more equitable, resilient and human-centred workplaces. 

1. Tell us about a career highlight to date… 

Redefining the operating model for an asset – but it’s not what we did but how we did it. Through inspiration, co-design (rapidly!) and strong implementation that was carried by the asset..

Introducing agile – proving that by trusting and inspiring the right small group of people you can achieve anything. And not having to ‘sell’ but the process and the outcome being so inspiring that the larger corporate adopted the methodology.

Earlier on – being the first to build a model that would match old performance and predict new ones. Proud moment but for me a validation of my intuition more than my skill! 

2. Talk us through an unusual career choice you’ve made along the way… 

 Leaving Shell International where I was on a good expat salary with great rotating international exposure – for a much smaller job in New Zealand. I just love NZ!

Some people were surprised when I left a large corporate for a smaller company. But it felt very natural for me – I lead with both EQ and IQ and common sense. This is much more feasible in smaller organisations that do not (yet) require inflexible and impersonal management systems.

3. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

 Everything. Vet, actress, astronaut, some sort of cool scientist in a white jacket and safety glasses, pottery artist, marine biologist, really anything STEAM. It still feels like I could do any of those things and be happy.

4. What are your passions outside of work and how do you make time for them? 

I have a strong drive to leave the world a better place than I found it. This shows up in mainly volunteering work – domestic violence work, fostering dogs back to health, setting up a school for gifted children, medical research for ALS, educational trusts, educational boards, all sorts. I choose carefully to not do too much – I can’t do all these things at once. So I support one cause at a time, for what feels like a natural amount of time.

This helps de-stress (giving is more powerful than any self care) but I do love a great concert and a good dance too! And I will admit to being a LEGO nerd…

5. If you could instantly master any skill or hobby, what would it be and why? 

Tough one. Can I say predicting lottery numbers?

Seriously, I’d love to.

6. What’s a personal value or belief that guides the way you live your life? 

Respect & inclusivity – whether I agree with them or not, I genuinely believing that everyone has something to add. And hearing someone else's point of view might lead to new insights, better solutions, or better communication. It's not about consensus or endless listening sessions - it's about staying open to being surprised by what others bring.

Curiosity - lifelong learning isn't a buzzword for me, it's oxygen. Also, fair warning: it means asking people to put up with my eternal questions!

Impact – curiosity and inclusivity often lead to alignment. This is awesome, but let's use that alignment to actually get stuff done that makes things better.

7. What’s a challenge you’ve overcome outside of work that shaped you? 

Having children with special needs (three of them). This forces you to think about expectations, to see things through their eyes, and to be creative in the support and schooling they need. It has made me more inclusive, patient, better at problem solving and standing up for (their!) rights.

8. What do you think your job will look like in 10 years time? 

No idea, and I like it that way. I want to keep an open mind to opportunities as they come along. Humans are awful at forecasting anyway! I would imagine the tools we use will be very different (hello AI!) in exciting new ways!

9. If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and what would you do?

For work: NZ – the pragmatic and friendly open-mindedness is unparalleled.

For holiday: South America – it’s the one continent I haven’t extensively travelled in, I love the blend of history and own culture, and Spanish is easy to learn.