Intro
It’s been five years since Palaq Anand joined the Maxum team and we’re celebrating this incredible milestone. We caught up with Palaq to have a chat about her journey at Maxum and to talk through some of the highlights:
Tell us a little bit about yourself
You can’t tell where I am from based on my accent as I was born and raised in India, studied, and worked in the USA before calling Australia home.
Recently I lived in Melbourne before moving to Brisbane and I absolutely love the outdoor lifestyle, sunshine, and proximity to some of the most beautiful beaches.
I love a warm getaway every now and then, with my daughter and husband and feel lucky to now call myself a Queenslander.
Tell us a little bit about your journey at Maxum Foods
When I started working for Maxum Foods, I developed the Quality Management System for our manufacturing site in Laverton, VIC while helping the Sales team meet customer requirements answering any QA related queries.
Over the last 5 years my role has evolved as the business has grown and now I work closely with the Sales team on Edible Food division side of the business.
I love Maxum’s mantra of “making life easy” for our partners.
What do you actually do at Maxum?
In my role I work closely with the Sales team on the new product approval process, helping with QA documentation requests, import permits and any other QA related queries for all the products we buy domestically and internationally.
Maxum maintain a robust approved supplier program which entails keeping all supplier QA certificates and product specifications on file, so they are readily available for our customers.
I also work closely with our customers in providing technical support and act as a liaison between our customers, suppliers and contract manufacturers.
What’s the one thing that has changed the most during your time at Maxum Foods?
Business growth comes with a lot of changes and in the last 5 years the business has grown and developed a lot. We have a bigger team and bigger customer base compared to when I first started.
It goes without saying that a lot of systems and processes have evolved with our growing business needs. I am proud to be a part a business that has the potential to continue growing.
Nicknames: What do they call you in the office?
Everyone calls me “P” ! It’s short and sweet and I love it.
What is the best ‘work perk’ at Maxum Foods?
The social aspect. I have made some lovely friends in the last 5 years. Also all the team building activities make it easy to celebrate the wins and we get to make some wonderful memories together.
Do you have a favourite story from the last five years that you would like to share?
Last year the full Maxum team got together in Noosa post covid. It was like a big family reunion full of fun activities.
Our team building activity had us on the banks of the Noosa River where we had to build a boat made out of cardboard. In small teams, it took us almost 2 hours to build our boats but the race in the river only lasted about 45 seconds in the water. Everyone was cheering and screaming for their team to win.
There are a lot of stories from that trip but lets just say ‘what happens in Noosa, stays in Noosa!’
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I’ve been given is – Things don’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. It is the simple things in life that can bring the most happiness even if they are not perfect.
What do you get up to when you’re not at work?
Outside of work I enjoy going for a jog or a bike ride with family and friends along the Brisbane river.
I have always enjoyed learning a new art or craft and have recently delved into the world of pottery. I am pursuing my second pottery course and love making little bowls, mugs and plates that end up as presents for family and friends.
Congratulations on 5 years P! We are looking forward to many more years with you on the team.
