Growing up across various European countries, Manueline Desbouvries developed a deep appreciation for communication’s power in bridging communities.
This early exposure instilled in her a passion for understanding human behaviour and the critical role of communication. At 20, she emigrated to the UK and began her career in internal communications at the Cabinet Office of Her Majesty’s Government (HMG), honing her skills and understanding organisational change dynamics during the first hung parliament and coalition government the UK had ever seen. Her interest in behavioural sciences led her to specialise in employee engagement and change management. At Allied Irish Banks, she played a pivotal role in placing employees at the core of the bank’s recovery post-financial crisis. Within three years, engagement levels tripled, and her team won several awards for their positive results. Relocating to Sydney to start her family, Manueline joined Macquarie Bank’s technology division to drive technology adoption through human-centered change. She worked on large-scale implementations, including the roll-out of MS Teams and Zoom. Building on her success, Manueline transitioned to Macquarie Asset Management to develop its change management capability, essential for the business’s accelerated digital transformation. She focuses on supporting Product Owners to co-create with stakeholders and proactively consider the people-side of digital experiences. As a mum of two girls, aged 7 and 5, Manueline aspires to be a positive role model, demonstrating the importance of a growth mindset through continuous professional development and mentoring junior colleagues. She is also a keen runner completing a half-marathon each year.