Levelling playing field
Legacy boss has proud history of supporting those in need
A TEACHER by trade, Townsville Legacy chief executive Nicole Hayes has held a number of positions in the education, corporate and not- forprofit sectors.
After growing up in Townsville, Nicole moved to Brisbane and Melbourne for 12 years before returning in 1998.
She married Dolan Hayes, a mar- keting director, at the age of 23. The couple have two adult children.
Their families knew each other from a young age and they both went to the same primary school.
They rekindled their friendship during their university days.
Nicole took over the reins of Legacy in February last year and said her position was a culmination of all her past experiences.
“I think that everyone has their own story and they just need to understand that everyone else has their own story as well,” she said.
“There has to be that perception of viewing things in very different ways.
“You have to always take other people’s opinions into account – that whole learning from others and appreciating what others are going through and not making a judgment.”
Nicole’s CV includes working for the Education Department, the Townsville Hospital, AECOM, Ronald McDonald House and James Cook University, where she managed the engagement program for low socioeconomic and indigenous students.
“I think the world can be very egocentric, but sometimes just looking at it from another angle and understanding why other people make different choices ... they might need support because of a different opportunity that they might not have got that you have,” she said. “It’s not an even playing field, and you need to support people if they need it.”
Nicole said it was her position teaching ill children at the Townsville Hospital that gave her the foundation skills for managing a charity.
“It’s about the whole being of a person, and that connecting with services and other external providers and supports that support … it’s something that made me understand it’s not a one silo approach to things, you need to be able to look at the bigger picture,” she said.