Glen Brennan

Senior Manager, Community Finance & Development
Community & Corporate Responsibility
Melbourne, Victoria

In 2005, Glen Brennan was awarded the NAB Indigenous MBA Scholarship for his achievements in the business and sporting arenas. He is credited with helping to increase the number of Indigenous athletes from a handful to a total of 12 and four of those were medallist at the Sydney Olympics – a feat he achieved through focusing on grassroots participation within Indigenous communities.

Glen said: “this is the best MBA in Australia. I’m grateful to the National Australia Bank for providing the Scholarship and to the Melbourne Business School for challenging my learning experience”.

On completion of this Scholarship, Glen began his career with NAB, developing and leading the award winning Microenterprise Loans program. Glen now manages NAB’s Indigenous Program.

Nathan Ahboo

Business Development Manager
Protection MLC Sales
Brisbane, Queensland

Nathan Ahboo has a knack of making hard work sound easy. Thirteen years of perseverance at NAB has paid off with the young Torres Strait Islander now appointed Business Development Manager Protection with the bank’s wealth management area, MLC.

Nathan commenced his career with NAB when he was offered a position in the bank’s Trainees Banker Program, gaining experience in Lending Services, Business Banking and Personal Banking.

Since graduation from the trainee program, Nathan has worked in consumer lending and most recently as a Senior Manager Financial Planning with NAB Private Wealth.

He also completed a Batchelor of Business in Banking and Finance and an Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning through NAB’s Study Assistance Program.

“Completing my studies while working was hard, but well worth the reward. Being in a large organisation like NAB, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career.”

“I encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have completed their undergraduate or masters’ degree, particularly if you have the ambition to succeed in the banking and finance industry to apply.”

Adam Fletcher

Auditor
Melbourne, Victoria

I commenced work .with NAB in 2009 as part of the Graduate Program. I moved down from my home town of Newcastle NSW to commence my role in February.

The Graduate Program at the time did not have rotations (as it does now) and I commenced work within Internal Audit. My role requires me to have good written and verbal communication and analytical skills to undertake reviews of business processes and controls operating across the NAB group

I completed my studies at the University of Newcastle in 2008, with a double degree in Business and Economics. I majored in Management, Marketing (Bus) and Money, Banking, Trade and Finance (Econ). I supplemented my educational credentials by participating in extra-curricular activities that allowed me to apply skills developed at University (e.g. a cost/benefit analysis for a private college, market research for a community club)

Anthony Lew-Fatt

Associate
Business Banking
Darwin, Northern Territory

Anthony Lew-Fatt was the first person to complete an Indigenous Traineeship in Finance at NAB. The Business Banking initiative is aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people interested in a business banking career, who have not completed an undergraduate qualification.

Anthony’s training began on the job as a teller in personal banking learning how to open bank accounts and count money. He has the full support of NAB staff, Indigenous mentors, but more importantly, he is very committed to succeeding in banking and has encouragement and support of his family.

‘Mum is really proud. In fact all my family feel the same way. They said this is a fantastic opportunity and I’m glad I took their advice.’

“Anthony says that working in Business Banking has changed his outlook on money – and what it can do. ‘I didn’t have a strong view about money before joining NAB, but now I’ve seen that money can make an amazing difference to people’s lives, if used properly.”

My ultimate goal is to continue my career with NAB helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people use money to improve their lives.

I strongly encourage other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for a full-time traineeship when opportunities are advertised at NAB.

Nathan Tyson

Manager, Community Finance & Development
Community & Corporate Responsibility
Sydney, New South Wales

I started with NAB in September 2009 as a Manager in the area of Community Finance and Development. My role includes the development and expansion of the Indigenous Money Mentor (IMM) Network – a national program linked to NAB’s Reconciliation Action Plan that is designed to improve levels of financial literacy and financial inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In my role I need to utilise my legal background, experience in the community sector and excellent communication skills, for example in negotiating funding agreements with community organisations and managing a diverse rang of stakeholder relationships.

After completion of my university studies I worked for a number of government agencies including the NSW Ombudsman, Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), NSW Anti-Discrimination Board and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Completed a Graduate Certificate in Management and experience in a number of voluntary roles with community organisations also provided skills that I am able to utilise in my current role with NAB.

Darryl Monaghan

Indigenous Employment Manager
Community & Corporate Responsibility
Melbourne, Victoria

I commenced with NAB in October 2008 as the Indigenous Employment Manager. I am responsible for developing and implementing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment initiatives through out Australia.

In my role, I need good communication and analytical skills to undertake and lead operational and strategic activities to ensure the development, implementation and success of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and training programs across NAB

I have worked in the mining, hospitality, retail industries and completed a full-time traineeship with Australia Post in their Human Resources area. This then help shape my career working predominantly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, training and policy space. I completed a Diploma in Contract Management and have continued to develop my skills through working in organisations such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI), State and Federal Government organisations, such as the Department of Social Security (now Centrelink), Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations, NSW Office of Fair Trading, and lived and worked in QLD, NSW and now Victoria.

If you are serious about banking and want to work for a leading major financial services organisation, then I encourage those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for advertised positions or register for job alerts to find out when roles become available.

Cameron Finn

NAB Lending Services Centre
Rhodes, New South Wales

In 2008 former Doonside Technology High School student Cameron Finn didn’t expect to find himself working in the offices of one of the ‘big four’ banks.

Cameron completed his year 11 and 12 studies while taking part in NAB’s School Based Traineeship Program (SBT) with NAB’s Lending Services Centre where during his traineeship he was a valued team member, according to his Team Leader.

“It was really easy to fit in with everyone in the workplace, particularly because it’s such a multicultural environment, so I felt comfortable to go into the office and learn and do my job and become another member of the team, Cameron said.”

Since completing the SBT program in December 2010, Cameron is continuing his career in Lending Services and continued further training by completing a Certificate III in Financial Services.

Emily Collins

Customer Adviser
NAB Moree Branch
New South Wales

Emily commenced with NAB in 2008 as part of the School Based Traineeship Program.

Whilst undertaking year 11 and 12 with Moree High School, Emily gained both business skills and on the job training. Emily says that “Through support and mentoring from fellow NAB staff members, I have developed good customer communication skills and am more confident.”

Upon completion of her School Based Traineeship, Emily accepted a permanent position with the NAB Moree Branch and undertook further training by completing a Certificate III in Financial Services.

Jodie Chandler

Customer Adviser
NAB Healesville Branch
Victoria

For Indigenous woman Jodie Chandler, applying for a job as a bank teller at her local NAB branch in Healesville, north east of Melbourne turned into a 23 year career. It was when Jodie had just finished her schooling that the job ad caught her eye in the newspaper.

“I thought it was a job that I’d be interested in doing. Little did I realise then, it was a job that would turn into a long term career. Over time, I’ve moved into different roles in the bank. I’ve had support through different stages of life including the birth of my two children, which is great.”

I encourage any Indigenous young people at school thinking about working at NAB, that a traineeship can be a great place to start. It’s good to see NAB’s school based traineeships provide an opportunity to gain a qualification, great experience and a steady income, while working in a branch and finishing school.

Being in a large organisation like NAB there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career. So I’d encourage you to have a go. Do good work and aim high, because the sky is the limit.