Profile
In a single year, Sarah Thompson helped steer the people integration of six newly acquired trades businesses into BGIS, with further acquisition activity already underway. Formerly an HR business partner, she now serves as P&C projects and transitions lead, taking on due diligence, transition and integration work spanning multiple modern awards and enterprise agreements. She reviews workforce structures, employment terms, industrial arrangements and people risk while supporting leaders to move new employees into consistent, compliant HR frameworks. Thompson frames the integration as both a business and a people outcome. The move supported workforce growth, reduced employee relations risk, enabled business continuity and helped newly integrated teams move through significant change in a structured, people-centred way. She carried out that integration while supporting a geographically dispersed trades workforce of nearly 800 employees, as the business grew rapidly through acquisitions and absorbed large-scale internal restructuring. Sensitive matters such as investigations, grievances, performance concerns and conduct issues run alongside tight timeframes and constant ambiguity. Thompson keeps her footing through disciplined prioritisation, early and clear communication and scalable solutions that reduce pressure over time. As she puts it, “Resilience in HR is not just about enduring pressure; it is about staying grounded, making sound judgements and continuing to support outcomes that are fair, compliant and human.” What has enabled her to operate at this level so early is an ability to move confidently between the strategic and the operational, translating complex people risk into practical actions leaders can apply in real time. A continuous improvement instinct runs through the work. Over the past year, she designed and implemented leadership training focused on employment law across Australia and New Zealand and co-created a self-service HR request platform that gives leaders access to guidance while improving reporting and workforce insights. Thompson credits much of her progress to mentorship, particularly from Sarah Novelli, executive director for people and culture at BGIS, who pushed her to lift her strategic thinking while staying close to the realities of a large frontline workforce. Her route into the profession began in New Zealand with a Bachelor of Business majoring in HR management, employment relations and management, followed by a recruitment stint. After moving to Australia, she worked across learning and development, people advisory and HR business partnering. Curiosity and a readiness to learn from more experienced peers define Thompson’s approach, which she extends beyond BGIS through participation in the Property Council of Australia People and Culture Committee and Facilities Management Association of Australia events. Recognition as one of HRD’s Rising Stars for 2026 has reinforced Thompson’s confidence that practical, people-centred HR can deliver real impact in complex operations. It has sharpened her ambition to keep building capability in workforce strategy, employee and industrial relations, and large-scale change. As she puts it, “It has encouraged me to keep backing myself, taking on challenging work and continuing to grow as a people leader.”
Level 36, 680 World Square, George St, Sydney, NSW 2000
02 9137 3377
sarah.thompson@apac.bgis.com
linkedin.com/in/sarahthompsonhr
bgis.com
Sarah Thompson
P&C Projects and Transitions Lead BGIS
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Home
Bio
Milestones
2018–2022
2022–2026
Present
2025
2025–Present
Began her career in recruitment before progressing into learning and development, people advisory, and HR business partner roles across New Zealand and Australia
2018–2022
2022–2026: HR Business Partner at BGIS
2025: Excellence Awardee – Australian HR Rising Star of the Year
2022–2026
P&C Projects and Transitions Lead at BGIS
HRD’s Rising Star
Present
Pepper Money Adviser of the Year - Excellence Award
Honoured as one of NZA’s Elite Women
800th client helped in May 2025
2025
19 clients assisted per month year-to-date, up from 14 in FY2025
Monthly settlements increased by approximately $2m
2025–Present
Milestones
“At this stage in my career, I’m not trying to impress clients with technical language. I’m focused on helping them make better decisions”
William Chan,
Modern Vision Planning, Sterling Mutuals Inc.
“A message is only as strong as the receiver’s ability to understand it. Good intent isn’t enough if the client can’t clearly see the benefits and trade-offs”
William Chan,
Modern Vision Planning, Sterling Mutuals Inc.
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