Angela Budai is a successful campaigner who brings important skills to the FSO Board, including her ability to champion diversity, particularly the representation of women.

‘Tikkun Olam,’ a Hebrew phrase meaning ‘repairing the world,’ is the driving force behind everything Angela Budai puts her efforts and energy into. 

“I was brought up with this whole idea that individuals need to contribute to making the world a better place,” says Angela, one of the new Employee Representative Directors of the Future Skills Organisation (FSO). 

“So, I have always focused on making a difference in people’s lives by doing work that will improve society for those most in need and ensure equality of opportunity and access for the disadvantaged,” she adds. 

Angela is National Policy Officer at the Finance Sector Union of Australia and has over 20 years’ experience representing the interests of finance workers in small, medium and large organisations. 

ANGER, HOPE, ACTION 

Angela started as a regional organiser for NSW, before becoming NSW Director of Campaigning. In 2015 she joined the national office and in 2020 became the National Policy Officer, with responsibility for the development, co-ordination and implementation of high-profile industry-wide campaigns. Angela has negotiated terms and conditions of employment for thousands of finance workers across the country.  

She is particularly passionate about women's issues, where she does a lot of policy work. Among recent successes is the ‘Secure Jobs, Better Pay’ Bill reform package, which included a ban on pay secrecy clauses in employment contracts. The ban is primarily aimed at reducing gender-based pay differences which, in the finance industry, are as high as 30%, when bonuses and incentives are included. 

“There are three elements to a great campaign. First, it must be something people get angry about once they understand it. Second, you've got to have something that gives them hope that if they get involved in the campaign, they can change things and make it better. Third, give them something to do." 

Angela’s experience enables her to bring important skills to the FSO Board including her ability to champion diversity, particularly the representation of women.  

IMPORTANCE OF TRIPARTITE 

Angela has a breadth of understanding of the finance sector, and the roles and issues within it. This includes the impact of technology on banking, the opportunities created through remote working and the importance of access to training and skills development for workers in regional and rural locations.  

These aspects coupled with her understanding of operating in a tripartite setting with government, employer/industry and employees bring excellent insights to the Board. 

“The tripartite element is important as when we talk about skills gaps and future skills, we've got to make sure that the outcome is good quality jobs. What we can't be doing is creating jobs where no one has sick leave, where no one has flexibility or the ability to take time off when their kids are little. I think one of the things that I bring to the Board is to highlight issues like this.”   

GET INVOLVED EARLY 

“I am excited about what the FSO can do. We can't keep diagnosing the problem, what we need to do is think about our vision for the future. If we keep talking about the problem, it’s just going to get bigger and bigger until we don't know where to start. 

“We have the opportunity, we've got highly skilled people in this country, we’ve got a great education sector, we've got an opportunity to have a competitive advantage. We can be the best that there is.” 

And she encourages employers to get involved: “I think that if you want to have a say in defining future skills for the finance, technology and business sectors, this is a really good way to get involved from the ground up.  

“The FSO is the start of something and you don't want to leave it too late when everyone has already decided what it's going to look like. Come and get involved and be a part of creating a vision and strategy.” 

WORLD CUP REFEREE 

Angela's 'Tikkun Olam' philosophy extends outside work. She is an active volunteer at North Shore Temple Emanuel which serves the Sydney North Shore community and is a level 6 graded referee, representing NSW Touch Football at Australian Touch Football Association tournaments.  

She referees twice a week at the Northern Suburbs Touch Association and is aiming to get selected for the 2024 Touch World Cup, being held in the UK. 

“Just like my day job, being a referee is all about making sure that both teams play by the rules and that the stronger team doesn't take unfair advantage,” said Angela.

3 QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

What's the best advice you’ve been given?  

Find a job that you are passionate about and then you won’t work a day in your life. 

A simple thing that makes you happy?  

The smell of flowers in the springtime. 

What book are you reading currently?  

I have three on the go. The Voice to Parliament Handbook by Thomas Mayo and Kerry O'Brien because I have been doing quite a lot of campaigning for Yes23. Storytellers by Leigh Sales, a series of interviews with the cream of Australian journalists about their craft; and the second book from the ‘Flawed Series’ by Auryn Hadley and Kitty Cox, about teenage gamers. I also listen to ABC’s ‘Unravel’ podcast series.s.