At the centre of it all in CBD

CAIRNS CENTRAL BOSS CHRISTIE-LEE JACKSON FELL INTO THE RETAIL INDUSTRY AFTER STUDYING BUSINESS. NEVER LOOKING BACK, SHE NOW HEADS A TEAM OF 100 EMPLOYEES AT THE ONLY CBD RETAIL CENTRE IN FNQ

DEALING with heart attacks, managing evacuations and getting on the end of a mop during a monsoonal down pour is all in a day’s work for centre manager of Cairns Central shopping centre ChristieLee Jackson.

But it was not always the case for the New South Wales expatriate who began her working life helping the disadvantaged and long-term unemployed to get a job.

Growing up in Sydney, Ms Jackson moved to Port Macquarie on the NSW mid north coast where she met her husband of 20 years, Jamie Styles.

Taking some time out from her human resources role, Ms Jackson in 2007 fell into a job with ING real estate when a friend’s wife suggested the career change.

“She said ‘my admin manager is going on maternity leave, I need someone three days a week, what do you think?’” Ms Jackson remembers.

She filled the part-time role and then helped out in the marketing department before stepping into the role full-time when the outgoing employee didn’t return to work.

Six months later Ms Jack-

son was made assistant centre manager and another six months down the track she was appointed centre manager of the Port Macquarie shopping centre.

In 2010 Lendlease Group

acquired the ING portfolio and Ms Jackson found herself working for the multinational construction, property and infrastructure company.

Eleven years later Ms Jackson now finds herself at the helm of the only major retail centre in the Cairns CBD, a role which she has occupied for the last five and a half years.

In that time Ms Jackson has noticed a more directed focus on people as customers in a changing retail landscape.

“The focus on people is much more intense and there is a bigger focus on people as our customers in general,” she

said. “And obviously retail is evolving, so it is how we evolve with it.

“I love my job, as the role provides a challenge every day.

“No two days are ever the same and the different situations that arise can be quite varied – from the financial management of the business, ensuring we provide excellent customer service, to working with retailers to drive their sales and managing emergency situations.

“You have to think on your feet and the only thing you can plan is the time you actually arrive at work.

THE FOCUS ON PEOPLE IS MUCH MORE INTENSE AND THERE IS A BIGGER FOCUS ON PEOPLE AS OUR CUSTOMERS IN GENERAL CHRISTIE-LEE JACKSON