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Back to SearchFor some people, moving to a foreign country is an exciting adventure, but for others it’s their only option to survive. For Nivine Baz, it was the latter. After 33 years of building a life in Lebanon, Nivine had to leave it all behind – her birth country, family, friends and a successful career – and move to Australia because her husband’s country Syria was at war. In May 2018, after more than 24-hours of flying, Nivine arrived in Melbourne, Australia from Beirut, Lebanon, along with her Syrian-born husband. We spoke to Nivine to learn more about her career journey before and after arriving in Australia, and the support she gained from the CareerSeekers program.
Life in Lebanon
Nivine graduated from Lebanese University in Beirut with a Bachelor Degree in Languages and Translation. After three years of working in a technical translation agency, Nivine decided to explore her creative side. Shifting careers, Nivine secured a role as Creative Copywriter at international advertising agency M&C Saatchi.
“This was my dream job. I loved coming up with ideas and translating them into conceptual copy and campaigns,” says Nivine.
Based in the Beirut office, Nivine built her skills and knowledge over six years, and was then promoted to a senior position at the agency, winning industry awards along the way. Shortly before moving to Melbourne Nivine was offered a role as Associate Creative Director.
Leaving it all behind
With her future prosperity in mind, Nivine’s parents-in-law had applied for a humanitarian visa on her and her husband’s behalf; this happened well before they got married. Much to her surprise, one day she and her husband received a phone call from the embassy asking them to attend an interview. A few weeks later, visas were granted and they had only one month to leave the country, bound for Australia.
Hello Australia
Nivine understood the key to thriving in Australia was securing a job and re-starting her career. With qualifications in copywriting and advertising, nine years’ experience and fluency in English, she had a lot to offer. However, Nivine applied for more than 100 different jobs without hearing back from one. Then Nivine came across CareerSeekers, a non-profit organisation that supports Australia’s humanitarian entrants find and continue professional careers. She attended a one-week job readiness workshop with CareerSeekers and four months later she secured an internship with GHD as a consultant in the Communications and Community Engagement team based in our Melbourne office.
Nivine’s first day with GHD in April 2019 was both exciting and daunting. Working in Australia was very different to Nivine’s previous experience, but she was excited to develop her career.
“I couldn’t believe that my manager was sitting right next to me and I only needed to call her name to speak to her. In Lebanon, I had to make an appointment to discuss anything with my manager.”
Nivine’s career tips
- Change is healthy, “Think of it as a mind and soul detox!”
- The only truly unique thing about your situation is what you choose to do about it
- Resilience, resilience and more resilience
A happy ending
Following her internship at GHD, Nivine was offered an ongoing role. And this wasn’t the only good news she received – she also found out she was pregnant.
“I was a little nervous when telling my manager I was pregnant, especially as I’d just received a new contract role – but my manager was just as excited by the news as me,” she says.
Nivine’s manager, Suzanne Waddell, Technical Director, Engagement, Communications and Communities, Victoria, GHD, can see even more exciting career opportunities ahead for Nivine.
“In a short period of time Nivine has become a highly valued member of our team. Nivine brings unique skills and experiences, which is helping to diversify our offering into brand strategy and campaigns. We look forward to seeing Nivine shine in her Australian career when she returns from her time away welcoming her baby girl into the world. We are all excited for Nivine and we can’t wait to meet her daughter,” says Suzanne.
During the past eight months, Nivine has worked on several major projects in Victoria including the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain, the West Gate Tunnel project and North East Link Project.
Nivine is also part of the Creative Studio in the Communication and Community Engagement team where she puts her copywriting skills to work by translating highly complex technical concepts and information into simple, accessible and creative content.
Nivine and her husband will welcome their first child to their family in Australia this December and she plans to return to GHD in July 2020.
“I might not have migrated by choice, but I will work hard and succeed by choice. And today Australia isn’t just a country to me, but a home that I choose, cherish and love.”
As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, GHD was one of the first companies in Australia to partner with non-profit organisation CareerSeekers, which creates employment opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees, many of whom held professional careers in their country of origin. Since the program started, we have welcomed 35 CareerSeekers program participants across our offices in Australia.
GHD’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is embodied within our strategy and includes: championing gender equality, cultural diversity, LGBTI inclusion, adapting work practices to capture the benefits of generational diversity, reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as flexible working arrangements for our people
