Drew is interviewed by a member of the Lifestyle Solutions and Possability communications team.
LSP Together
You started your career as a social worker. What made you choose this career direction?
Drew Beswick
Well, I studied economics first at Uni. And when I was studying that was pretty much the same time my mum was doing her social work training. She'd been a support teacher at a Special School in Hobart and she decided to go back to Uni to become a social worker. She had her study groups at home, and I was exposed to that thinking and thought, that's actually something that I'm really interested in. So, that's why I did social work.
LSP Together
When you think of your early career as a social worker, what are the highlights that come to mind?
Drew Beswick
Well I had the opportunity to work overseas, which was really fun. And I've lived and worked in London, for the early part of my career. So I got exposed to really great ideas, really good ways of practicing. I was really fortunate to work with BRIEF therapy practice while I was there and be supervised really well, and had opportunities you just wouldn't expect to get early in your career. Those things really formed my early experience.
LSP Together
Drew
So initially I was doing assessments for court. So helping the courts decide on issues around custody for children, or where there might be child protection matters, but also running intervention and counselling services for new immigrants to London. This involved a group of young people who'd fled from Kosovo during the war there as unaccompanied minors, and supporting them through their settlement and in the relationships with their families.
LSP Together
Does that early career experience influence you in any way in your current role as CEO?
Drew Beswick
Yes, I think so. I was interested early on in my career in knowing what the theory was, and then looking at practical ways that you could implement change with people. Very much about enabling people to make decisions in their own lives and having autonomy over their own decisions. That's something I've tried to take forward with me, to enable people to do what they want to do, and give them the tools to make their own decisions, their own choices.
LSP Together
You've been in leadership roles from quite a young age, do you have any sort of tips for aspiring leaders from what you've learned on the journey?
Drew Beswick
I think you've just got to back yourself.
I think there's probably many people who could be great leaders who choose not to be. Because you are a bit exposed, you have to put yourself out there. But I think if you get back to your core beliefs as to why you want to be a leader, and if that's to make a difference, then I think you've just got to focus on those motivations. There will always be good things and bad things that come in leadership positions, and everyone will have an opinion about what you do. And that's fine. But I think it's really important to be clear about why you want to do it.
LSP Together
Beyond the workplace, what's your favourite thing to do to chill out and relax?
Drew Beswick
Oh, many things! I do enjoy sports, mainly running and cycling. I do a lot running in the bush, trail running is my thing. I like going out for a whole day, running and being out in the mountains really is probably where I'm happiest.
LSP Together
You do like to challenge yourself, what's the most difficult challenge that you've completed?
Drew Beswick
So this year, I did a 100 mile (160km) trail race in Brisbane, the Spartan World Championships. And that was really difficult, like really, really difficult. It made me plumb depths of my personality that I don't think I've discovered before, late in the night after having been going for nearly 20 hours. So that was pretty tough. And the last 20 kms were just torturous. They really were.
LSP Together
I can imagine! And what keeps you going at those times?
Drew Beswick
I think I got to a point in that race, where I'd got to 80 kms and I was like, 'well, I'm almost halfway, I might as well just keep going'. And then the further you get along, the more committed you are, so I just couldn't pull out. I mean, even if I had broken my leg, I think I would have crawled to the line after going that far.
LSP Together
Ouch! That's a huge achievement and one that is painful even just thinking about it.
So now to the really important questions - are you a cat or a dog person?
Drew Beswick
Dog!
LSP Together
Tell us about your dog.
Drew Beswick
So we've got one left, we had two dogs up until recently, both Miniature Schnauzers, which are very, very charismatic dogs.
So the one that we've got left is about 12 years old – Nandi. She's the quieter of the two and likes lots of cuddles.
Kabous was the boy dog and a little bit older. He was cut from some mold that nobody knows about. Like he would bang and crash into everything. He was hyperactive from the day we got him. He had a personality bigger than anything. Even at 15 years old, he used to come hurtling down the hallway to me, and then put on the skids, slide and smash into things and knock things over. He was just very boisterous. And then he passed away really suddenly, just out of the blue, and that was very sad.
So the house is pretty quiet without him now. But our other dog, Nandi, she's sort of starting to find a different space now. It's probably a good time for her to get some of her own attention.
LSP Together
And to finish up on another vitally important question – are you a Coke or Pepsi person?
Drew Beswick
Definitely Pepsi, Pepsi Max. I keep a stash in the office fridge. I guess I would drink 1 a day, or 2 to help me get through a long work day. And I’ve been having a few of those lately!
LSP Together
Thanks Drew for your time in chatting with LSP Together.