Hearing about ABV from a friend in engineering, Geelong local Chris Maddock wasn’t sure that he would have the opportunity to share his skills through the organisation’s humanitarian programs.
It wasn’t until he had retired from his role as Business Manager for Christian College Geelong, that the right opportunity came along. “I saw an advertisement saying that there is a project in PNG, and I thought, oh well, I’ll put my resume in and see where we end up.”
Seven years and five projects later, and Chris hasn’t looked back. From projects in the Pacific to business coaching in the Pilbara, he has worked across rich cultures to support people in realising their business goals.
This work includes providing business coaching to two Martu men living in the Western Desert region of the Pilbara as part of ABV’s Martu Business Development Services program. ABV staff and volunteers work closely with program sponsors, Greatland Gold – owners of the Telfer mine.
“One of the Martu men I was speaking to recently is doing really well,” Chris says referring to his work in the Pilbara. “He’s got his business accredited and he’s started to get contracts with the mining company.
“This is something that he had given up on before we had started working together.”
“We’re in regular contact and throw ideas around: how can I package this, how do I price that?” he continues. “I’ve been able to develop cash-flow projections, a capacity statement and business plans, but it’s about me packaging these up and saying if you’re happy with it, use it. If not, let’s change it.”
“It's all driven by them, and I’d prefer it that way.”
This progress mightn’t happen overnight, but Chris said it’s built on a foundation of trust, and feedback between the facilitator and participants. “I have to give credit to ABV. They’re nurturing relationships, and finding (out) what both the community and individual participant's need.”
He adds that it boils down to respect. “No matter if we have different worldviews, if people are respected and feel listened to and valued, it goes a long way to be able to connect.”
“I’m a facilitator. Nothing more,” Chris says about his work. “I want it to be all about their story. People love to tell you what to do, and I’m not going to do that,” he adds.
“I might ask, have you thought about this as an option? What does this look like for you? It is the person who knows their business and what they want to achieve that must have the decision-making power.”
Wanting to share his skills as part of his Christian values, Chris says volunteering has enabled him to support others who may not have ready access to the training and coaching that he and his fellow volunteers provide.
“I’m not a doctor. I’m not a counsellor, but I look at how I can use the skills that I have to help people in different ways,” Chris says reflecting on his volunteering and charitable work more broadly. “The people that ABV introduces us to, don’t usually get the same exposure and access to the sorts of training that we offer.”
“Being able to share my skills in business management and provide coaching provides me with the greatest level of satisfaction.”
“I guess I'm at the age of doing a lot more reflecting, and when it comes to how you spend your time, what’s the one thing you can look back on and feel content and satisfied in,” Chris says, emphasising the extreme satisfaction he receives from helping at least one person achieve a life goal, let alone many people.
“If you have helped just one person, who would it have been, and why would you do it? Each person has their own “why” that drives them, even if they can’t easily articulate what it is, but they will know what it feels like when they get that deep seated sense of satisfaction,” Chris adds.
