Episode Details

What can HR and business leaders learn from paramedics who make life-and-death decisions every day?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Ross Aitken, Clinical Operations Manager at Northern Rescue, and Mark Quin, Secretary of the New Zealand Ambulance Association.

Together they explore leadership under pressure, resilience, decision-making in high-stakes environments, and what a truly constructive employer-union relationship looks like in practice.

Drawing on decades of experience in emergency services, Ross and Mark share practical insights on staying calm in crisis, valuing highly skilled workforces, and creating partnerships that deliver better outcomes for organisations, employees, and the communities they serve.

What You'll Learn

• How paramedics make decisions in high-pressure situations

• Practical lessons leaders can apply when navigating workplace crises

• Why adaptability and course-correction are critical leadership skills

• The importance of trust in employer-union relationships

• How regular communication prevents conflict and builds partnership