Meet Adila Bajema

Her colleagues, however, would beg to differ. “Adila knows everything” is a common saying around Aspeq’s Lower Hutt office. For good reason, too. In her nearly three decades at the company, Adila has done just about every role and contributed to some of Aspeq’s greatest successes.

From Malaysia to New Zealand

Adila arrived in New Zealand from Malaysia in 1988 on a full Malaysian government scholarship to study at the University of Canterbury. Her plan was to get an education in political science, then move back home to work as a diplomat.

Diplomacy seemed a natural fit for Adila, who always played peacemaker among her three rambunctious younger siblings. Adila’s natural adaptability and curiosity also piqued her interest in a career experiencing different cultures.

She says, “I have a knack for adapting to things really quickly. I can go with the flow and change my style to different ways of doing things.”

But things didn’t quite go to plan. She met her Kiwi husband in University and decided to stay in New Zealand. Luckily, she found that the traits that attracted her to diplomacy were transferable to many different careers.

After graduating, she spent a few years working at Pak n Save as a price checker, before being promoted to the back office to oversee the store’s IT department.

“I had zero experience or training in IT, but I figured it out quickly enough,” laughs Adila, in a prime example of her adaptability.

After conquering that role, she was ready for another challenge. She sent her CV to a recruiter, who excitedly called her with the “perfect role” at an up-and-coming company called Aviation Services Limited, as Aspeq was then known. 

Handshake seals the deal

Adila was hired in 1996 after she impressed the then General Manager, Murray Smith, in an unconventional way: “Murray always joked that it was my strong, firm handshake that landed me the job,” she says.

While her handshake may have sealed the deal, it’s been her relentless positivity and adaptability that has made her so successful at Aspeq.

Adila began her career at Aspeq as a Customer Service Officer, supporting the delivery of examinations for a major new client the company had just won (and kept ever since): the NZ Transport Authority.

She gained insight into another part of the assessment process - writing the exam questions - in her next role as Examination Development Officer.

It was in her subsequent roles as Executive Assistant to the General Manager, and then CEO, that she experienced one of the highlights of her career.

“During the 2013 Aspeq Christmas break, the then-CEO put out a call for a six-month posting in the UK to assist with the roll-out of electronic exams to the UK Civil Aviation Authority.”

After a brief and encouraging consultation with her daughter and husband, Adila applied and got the role after going through an interview process.

“The contract was eight years in the making, and one of Aspeq’s biggest ever clients. It was hard work but so rewarding to be able to contribute to its success.”

After the whirlwind trip, Adila was quite looking forward to slotting into her old job at Aspeq - one she knew she could do very well.

“But Bruce [Hesterman, then CEO] recognised that I needed a new challenge and offered me the role of Quality Manager. My first reaction was, ‘are you sure you have the right person?’ but there was no question in his mind.”

Compliance and privacy eventually came into her purview, too. As a result, Adila is now responsible for a critical part of the business that upholds the rigorous standards for which Aspeq is globally trusted.

Room to grow

Reflecting on her career, Adila says that, ironically, it’s the constant change that’s kept her at the same place for nearly 30 years.

“I’ve done nearly every role at Aspeq, so it’s never stayed the same except for that it’s always been a really great place to work.”

She’s seen Aspeq more than quadruple in size, and become a fully-fledged IT company after moving from paper to digitally-administered exams

“Although we have more expertise and specialisation in the team now, the culture has always stayed the same. We work hard but we also play hard.”

Now that she’s been Manager of Quality and Compliance for a few years, colleagues have been asking Adila what role she has her sights on next, but she’s adamant that she’s found her happy place.

“This role has been the standout in my career. It’s a challenge and I’m learning new things every day - and getting to share that knowledge with other people.”

As one of the longest-serving members of Aspeq, Adila enjoys being a jack of all trades, but says that she’s also looking forward to taking her foot off the gas to make more time for the things she loves, which includes tramping behind her family (“I have the shortest legs!”), reading, listening to music and volunteering at her local old folks’ home.

But she’s not in any hurry to leave. “I love being here, it’s why I’ve lasted so long. I won’t be here forever, but while I am, I’m going to keep learning, trying new things, and giving it my all.”