Our History

Waite Group has been proudly operating in executive search and selection for over 60 years and was one of the first firms of its kind in Australia. Established in 1959 by John Waite, the business has served Australian and global clients across a wide array of industries in this time. Noel Waite AO took over the practice upon the death of John in 1968, and was at the helm of the business for decades as one of few women in the executive search and recruitment industry. Noel’s contributions to the industry, as well as her dedication to the promotion of women in business, led to her awarding of the Order of Australia in 1993, as well as in 2016 receiving an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, the Swinburne University of Technology. Peter Waite joined the business in 1983 and has served as Chief Executive of Waite Group across this period.

Waite Group has over 60 years’ experience in delivering high quality assignments to both Australian and global companies across executive search & selection, advertised recruitment and providing advisory work to boardrooms in board composition and selection.

Leadership

Peter Waite – Executive Chairman

Peter has a track record of success in Executive Search spanning more than 39 years. He served on the Board of InterSearch World Wide for 12 years, including 4 years as Chairman and 1 year as Chairman of the Standards & Quality Committee.

Peter has conducted assignments in Executive Search throughout Australia and has directed international appointments. He has recruited and counselled executives in a wide range of disciplines including education marketing, accounting, banking, finance and engineering for large corporations and small businesses. These assignments have included CEO and executive management as well as Non-Executive Directors for commercial and Not-for-Profit organisations.

He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and his background in marketing and human resources and vast networks has led to the expansion of the InterSearch Worldwide, both nationally and internationally. This expansion has led to the direction of Executive Search assignments within Australia and internationally for national corporations and government authorities.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Business Marketing from Monash University and an MBA from RMIT University.

Noel Waite AO – Founder

As founder of the Waite Group, Noel is a highly experienced company director and Chairman across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Her past directorships include the Public Transport Corporation of Victoria, the State Training Board in Victoria and Chairman of the Leukemia Foundation and the International Specialised Skills Institute.

Noel became the first woman President of the Australian Institute of Management and has been prolific in her work in Career Development for women and men executives throughout Australia. In 1993, she was elected as an Officer of the Order of Australia for “service to business and management, particularly for advancing the development of women in management”. In 2000, she published her first book on career development for women, ‘The Gold Within – Creative Careers for Women’.

In August 2016 Noel was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Swinburne University for her services to business and her promotion of women into Senior Executive and Non-Executive Director positions.

Noel is also an accomplished Artist and Portrait Painter.

Noel is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an honorary Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and, in 2006, was elected to the Australian Graduate School of Management Hall of Fame at Swinburne University. Noel was nominated as one of “Women of Swinburne” International Women’s Day (IWD) Event in March 2016 for her outstanding achievements and work as a member of the Swinburne Community.