Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, September 2024 – David Ploenges has been appointed as the Head of People and Culture Business Partnering at Downer. In this role, David will oversee HR strategic service solutions and growth for various internal client groups within the Social Infrastructure & Citizen Services business unit across Australia and New Zealand.
Career Journey: Prior to this promotion, David was the Head of People & Culture Business Partnering at Downer for approximately one year. During this time, he managed HR solutions for internal client groups including Strategy & Growth, Government & Integrated Facilities Management (IFM), and Health & Education sectors, as well as strategic oversight of a major $2 billion construction project for ADF sites.
Before joining Downer, David served as the Head of Human Resources – Government & Integrated Facilities Management at Downer for about one year and four months. He led HR service solutions for the Government & IFM business lines, supporting public and private sector clients with comprehensive facilities management services.
Prior to his tenure at Downer, David worked as a Consultant at shilo. for around one and a half years. He provided tailored HR solutions, leveraging his expertise to align with clients’ business objectives. Before shilo., he was the Human Resources Manager for Australia and New Zealand at Siemens on a fixed-term contract for about five months, reporting directly to the CEO and managing a team of four direct reports.
David’s earlier experience includes a role as the People, Capability, and Safety Director at Serco for approximately three years and eight months. He led health, safety, and HR advisory services across Asia-Pacific, reporting to the Chief HR Officer. He also served as the Director of Human Resources at Sodexo for about two years and five months, and as a Human Resources Business Partner for approximately two years and eight months, where he supported various operational and corporate functions.
Downer is a leading asset management and infrastructure services company operating across Australia and New Zealand. With a workforce of 32,000 employees and an annual turnover of $13 billion, Downer delivers essential services and solutions across multiple sectors, including transport, healthcare, and public infrastructure. The company is committed to enabling communities to thrive by providing innovative and effective solutions for their clients.
Read Also : Imagination in a Disrupted Age: Navigating the Future with Curiosity and Empathy
