An unexpected career: James Gallagher found his great opportunity at #teammaverick – are you ready for yours?
Born and bred in Dubbo, James Gallagher had never heard of Maverick Bio. The IT student had relocated to Canberra for his studies, but a reassessment of his goals led him back to his childhood home – and the company and career he least expected. Our Export Logistics Officer now directly contributes to saving and improving lives around the world. Read on as James shares why joining #teammaverick was the best move he’s made.
Success where you’d least expect it
Every time James Gallagher considers the global impact he and his team make at Maverick Bio, he feels a mixture of amazement and pride. Export logistics is a far cry from the IT career James had imagined for himself. But this down-to-earth, driven young professional had felt a calling to do more.
“I didn’t know anything about Maverick Bio – and I’m a Dubbo local,” James says. “I had a friend who worked here, and the more I learned about the business, the more intrigued I became. I kept thinking, ‘This can’t be a Dubbo business – it doesn’t sound like the kind of company you’d find in Dubbo at all!’ I was working in IT and ready for a change. So, when a position came up at Maverick, I applied.”
James had no experience in logistics before joining us as an Export Logistics Officer in 2021. But that was no deterrent – for James or for us at Maverick Bio.
“What appealed to me was that Maverick provided all the training. It didn’t matter that I didn’t have a background in this industry because they gave me all the support I needed. My training was really well-structured and based on achieving milestones. Maverick’s expectations were realistic, given I was from a non-logistics background. I had a manageable training schedule and access to the huge amount of knowledge in the business. I was set up to succeed, which made all the difference.”
It may have been the company and career he least expected, but James quickly discovered a team of real people, doing real work that matters. And today, he’s helping us take our Australian success story to the next level.
Real people achieving great things
As our Export Logistics Officer, James ensures the safe and efficient export of enhanced animal-derived biomaterials for life-saving medical procedures and vital health research. Our world-renowned products make a positive difference in human healthcare globally – an impact that drives James each day.
“Knowing our products have arrived on time is a great feeling. There is a huge amount of effort from across the business involved in the whole process. It’s great to see our hard work has the potential to make a real difference in someone’s life.”
James loves the variety of his role, which includes communicating with production teams, government departments and freight services. He also prepares export documents for domestic and international shipments, gets hands-on helping prepare shipments in the warehouse, and collaborates with our specialists across the business.
Most of all, James relishes working with this close-knit team of logistics experts, who strive to achieve great things together.
“We’re highly collaborative. You won’t find anyone at Maverick who doesn’t want to lend a hand when you need it.”
James also values the many opportunities to learn and grow within his role and beyond at Maverick Bio.
“The business is growing and changing, and with that comes new roles and opportunities. It’s a business that invests in its people; you’re not just another number. We all have a role in keeping the business going, and I know Maverick acknowledges that.”
Making a global impact from regional Australia
After the hustle and bustle of Canberra, moving back to Dubbo was a welcome lifestyle change for James.
“It’s easy to live in Dubbo. Everything is so accessible. You will never pay for parking and rarely ever get stuck in traffic. There is plenty to keep you occupied outside of work.”
But if you prefer a little more action? You can find that in Dubbo, too. In fact, James discovered an unlikely passion in his hometown: ultimate frisbee!
“I saw that a competition was starting up and thought, ‘Why not get involved?’ I love it! It’s been a great way to meet people, stay fit, and get involved in the community.”
Although James recently moved to Newcastle, he remains a valued member of #teammaverick and continues to work remotely in his export logistics role. And as we grow, we’re looking for more people to join our export logistics team. So, if you’d like to work with humble, everyday people making a global impact from regional NSW, we’d love to hear from you.
James’s advice to anyone considering the move to Maverick Bio:
- “You don’t need a background in logistics, but you do need good attention to detail and the ability to follow processes. Being a good communicator and collaborator is important, too. This isn’t a job you can do on your own; you need to rely on others and have faith in their abilities.”
- “Being in the logistics team puts you in a unique position. You’re involved in what’s happening right across the business. If you see room for improvement, Maverick will take your ideas on board. They nurture innovation.”
- “It doesn’t matter how prepared you are; there’s always the capacity for something to go wrong. You just need to work through it, learn from it, and move on. Maverick understands that we’re all human and mistakes happen. You just need to be willing to learn and remember that every problem has a solution.”