Jan Mottram

Chief People Officer, Vodafone Qatar

Being in Human Resources, you can imagine that Jan has seen a few C.V's in her 30 year career. In fact, if she had to take a wild guess, she'd say that she's had a hand in the employment of over 5000 people!

It's no surprise that Jan's own credentials are very impressive. Jan was born in the U.K. educated in England and Wales and graduated from Bristol University in 1974 with a B.Sc in Microbiology.

Jan says one of the reasons she was put on this earth is to experience life in all its richness. She has worked in all kinds of industries like I.T., Financial Services, Manufacturing, and has worked for all kinds of companies, from start-ups to larger more established ones.

Jan's also done some serious globetrotting. In 1992 she moved to Vodafone New Zealand (formally Bell South) where she held the position of HR director. In 2002 she was awarded ‘HR Person of the Year' by the professional HR body in New Zealand, the HRINZ.

Three years later she found herself in Vodafone Ireland as Human Resources Director and Chairman, but this year she decided to say goodbye to the rain and join the Qatar team. Now she is enjoying the warm weather with her husband Ron, and the challenge of scouting out the right people to build the best brand in the country.

For fun she likes to travel with Ron and isn't afraid to tackle some more unusual experiences. Like the time she found herself on a cattle ranch the size of Fiji in the middle of the Australian outback. But Jan is all about balance, so when she's not getting lost in the wilderness with cowboys, she likes to do a bit of quiet reading.

Her favourite quote: Give me the courage to change the things I can, the patience to accept the things I can't - and the wisdom to know the difference!