South Australian Business News

Farewell to Rob Pearce after 26 years

Anthony Caldwell
Wednesday, December 14th 2022

It’s not too often you hear about more than two decades of service to an organisation these days. For people of Rob Pearce’s generation, this is considered loyalty and dedication to a role. 

This week, Rob, Workplace Advisor and one of the longest-serving members of the South Australian Business Chamber team retires from his post on the Business Advice Hotline after a spectacular 26-year term.

Rob started at the South Australian Business Chamber in February 1996. A very different time for business in South Australia, a time Rob describes as much simpler. An era so far from pandemics, modern awards, and enterprise agreements, all things that occupy the time of the advice line today. 

Rob has spent every day of his 26 years at the South Australian Business Chamber supporting our members. In fact, we estimate Rob has taken more than one hundred thousand calls through the advice line during his time.

Member, Robyn Lee, CEO of Soniclean says We wish Rob all the best for the future. Rob’s service was a valued consistency in the unpredictability of our business journey. His willingness to show up in service for SA businesses with 100% commitment and experience will be missed”.

It’s clear Rob has played an enormous role in supporting businesses over the last 26 years, but it’s hard to imagine a time when his support was more pivotal to the business community than during the COVID pandemic. 

It was like everything we knew about workplace business advice got chucked out the window and we had to learn everything again”.

I was really happy to be able to provide advice for businesses when they needed it most, even though when at times, rules and regulations were changing multiple times a day”.

On a personal note, it would have to have been one of my most challenging times. I didn’t like working from home. I missed the social nature of coming to work and interacting with my colleagues,” said Rob.

Rob tells us his best times at the South Australian Business Chamber have been with the many hundreds of people who have come and gone during his tenure. Noting social occasions like Friday after-work drinks, Christmas celebrations and social club gatherings as his favourite times to have a yarn and a laugh.

The team at the South Australian Business Chamber will miss the man. Rob is a kind gentleman that says hello to everyone who walks into the office. Usually, as the first to arrive every day, he’s always armed with a sub-par dad joke’ and a warm hello for everyone who walks past his desk. 

Kathryn, Rob’s manager, at a farewell speech during a small celebration on Tuesday said Rob has never had a bad day on the hotline. He is one of the most professional, approachable, and friendly advisors we have had. He is well known amongst our members as the voice of our Business Advice Hotline, and we always get fantastic feedback following an interaction”.

After 26 years of hard work, we say farewell to Rob. His dedication to business in our state, loyalty to our members, sound advice and solid work ethic are a testament to a great man who will be sorely missed. 

Rob was farewelled formally at an all-staff gathering on Tuesday and will work his last day at the South Australian Business Chamber this Friday. 

Rob will be succeeded on the Business Advice Hotline by his highly capable colleagues Grace Forgione and Peeyush Jain, with support from our expert Workplace Relations Consultants Kathryn Rees and Lisa Casella. 

Author

Anthony Caldwell

Manager, Marketing, Media, Communications
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