Business Chamber connection opens up opportunity
Researcher and statistician Wilma Molano decided to bring her family to New Zealand for a better life.
The Filipina woman had looked into several countries before settling on Wellington, then said goodbye to her husband and two children and moved here in search of work and a place to live.
In Manilla Wilma had been a researcher for the Philippine Government’s Department of Science and Technology. Armed with a degree in statistics to Masters level, she is a statistician by profession.
She arrived in New Zealand with a work to residency visa through the skilled migrant category but had no job lined up.
To expand her networks and meet people she took part in a number of seminars run by the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce.
That led to her profile being uploaded on to the Chamber of Commerce’s website, where organisations or companies visit if they are in need of specific skillsets.
It just so happened BERL was looking for a research economist at the time. Its chief executive Amanda Lynn had visited the website on advice from Grow Wellington and had viewed Wilma’s profile.
“We needed to grow our company, we had started to advertise through Seek primarily to tap into the international market, but we hadn’t found anyone,” says Amanda.
“Wilma looked as if she’d be a good fit for our organisation, her qualifications were very sound, her research history sound, we googled her and her publications came up and they looked good, so we decided to meet with her.”
A full recruitment process followed before Wilma was offered the job.
A year on Wilma says it’s a perfect role for her: “I do a lot of data management, I analyse data and that is perfect for me because I just love to work with numbers. It is very exciting work”.
Her latest project for the New Zealand Fire Service is on alcohol and fire, which is to assist in identifying strategies that would minimise the risk associated with alcohol consumption.
BERL hasn’t just given Wilma the perfect job, the company has also been supportive in helping her settle in to her new home.
“We have lots of team building exercises which have been very beneficial in getting to know the people at BERL and my surroundings, and I even found a place to rent through Amanda,” says Wilma.
“My family is here now too, they arrived in January, but before they came here Amanda and the team would ask how they were. That one statement meant a lot.”
For BERL, Amanda says it’s part of its culture to provide that supportive environment regardless of where an employee is from.
“We make sure all staff are a part of everything we do and that we have an open relationship with them. For us it’s about what you’d do for someone because they’re connected to you, and you offer them support.”
Now Wilma’s family are here too, they often come together for BERL’s family occasions and games nights. In fact their sons recently enjoyed a chess challenge at a team games night; though it is still a secret as to who won!
Though her husband, also a researcher but a chemical engineer by profession, is still looking for work Wilma is happy with her decision to move here.
“I had visited several different countries looking for a country where my family could settle and have a better life. The primary reason I came here is for my children, I wanted to find a place where they could live happily and raise their own families, other than the Philippines.”
“My son loves wearing black, so he fits right in in Wellington, my daughter just loves the place and for me it really has become my home away from home.”
