I am humbled and honoured to write this article on Christian Berechree. He is the Operations Manager at HBNC.

He manages the "engine room". His role involves running administration, venue hire, IT and marketing, maintenance, and upkeep.  

“No two days the same,” he says. 

HBNC is growing with regards to services, and it is up to those like Christian to help support this growth. 

It is a heavy workload, but with a servant heart, he gets the job done. 

I had the chance to ask him some questions, and these were his answers. 

What made take you this role? 

I have always wanted to work for a purpose-driven organisation, using my skills and experience to support people and make a difference. When this role came up in 2020, I saw it as a unique chance to take my varied professional background and focus it in a new way.

I was working as a journalist and newspaper editor in the years leading up to taking this job, so it was a significant career change, but it felt very natural once I got started. I am a values-driven person, and my skill set and professional experience equipped me well for the role. 

How has your job benefited the community?

I would say my job benefits the community both directly and indirectly.

Directly – the work I do in promoting the organisation through marketing, media relations and social media helps the community know which services and events are available to them. It also builds HBNC’s reputation in the community, ensuring more people are aware of the great work we do.

Also, keeping our venue hire business running smoothly is a great benefit for the community, as it makes first-rate function rooms and hire spaces available at affordable prices, with all profits from venue hire being directly reinvested into our programs.

Indirectly, an organisation as large and complex as HBNC requires a lot of work behind the scenes. Something as seemingly simple as fixing a staff member’s computer problems, or making sure electricity bills are paid on time, helps keep the organisation running smoothly and ensures our frontline staff can keep doing the invaluable work they do for the community’s most vulnerable.

Why do you do it? What is your motivation?

Having been with HBNC for four years now, I can confidently say this organisation is making a real, genuine difference in the community. It is such a joy to work somewhere that has direct and immediate impacts on the lives of the people we serve.

As a marketer, having the opportunity to tell the stories of the work we do lights me up and keeps me going. Even the less “exciting” work, like workplace health and safety or maintenance, is all part of working towards our mission of creating connected communities. It is a true honour to be part of this great local organisation.

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Again, HBNC is a growing organisation. There is a dedicated team of people who are helping it grow – a team Christian is proud to be a part of.

Thank you, Christian, for this article.