Shendelle Oliver- Head of Events - IFMS
With her energy and vision, the future of Sodexo events is shaping up to be bold, creative, and full of life.
At Sodexo Australia, events are about much more than filling a calendar. They are the heartbeat of our villages, the BBQs that bring laughter after a long day, the Eat Street events that spark excitement, the wellness pop-ups that remind people to pause and care for themselves, and the cultural celebrations that make everyone feel at home no matter how far they are from family.
For Shendelle Oliver, our new Head of Events for Sodexo’s Rio Tinto Iron Ore (IFMS) contract, this is exactly what makes her role so rewarding. With over 20 years in the events industry, she’s seen how a single moment can bring people together, change someone’s outlook, or simply make a tough day brighter. Now, she’s excited to bring that passion, energy, and creativity to Sodexo, and she says she already feels right at home.
Since then, she has built a career around creating meaningful experiences. For six years, she ran the WA Mental Health Awards, a role that gave her a front-row seat to the power of events in sparking conversations, raising awareness, and building community. It was through this work that Sodexo first came onto her radar.
“In 2020, when Sodexo won the WA Mentally Healthy Workplace Award, it stood out to me. It showed me this is a company that truly values its people and their wellbeing. That spoke volumes to me. So, when the Head of Events role came up, I knew it was my chance to combine creativity, innovation and my passion for workplace wellbeing in a role where I could really make an impact. I wanted to be part of a company that doesn’t just say it cares, but shows it, and Sodexo does exactly that.”
Diving In
Stepping into such a large-scale contract could easily feel daunting, and Shendelle admits she did feel a little overwhelmed at first.
“The contract is massive, it’s exciting and a little daunting when you first look at it on paper. But once I went out to site, met the teams, and saw the spaces where we deliver our work, that feeling changed completely. The scale isn’t intimidating anymore - it’s inspiring. I see so much opportunity for growth, innovation and creativity here. That’s what excites me most, the chance to shape events that can have a real, lasting impact on people’s lives.”
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“Our goal is consistency and excitement. We want residents to see events as part of life here; something reliable, uplifting, and always a little surprising. No two events should ever feel the same. We want people to be delighted, to talk about what they’ve just experienced, and to look forward to what’s next.”
