Maria Chamberlain
Year 3 - 1997

The heart and soul of the business

  • Name: Maria Chamberlain
  • Role: Area Manager
  • Location: South Australia
  • Joined Officeworks: 1997

I started in 1997 at the Keswick store as a trainee manager. I was then given the opportunity to take on the role of store business manager to open the new Prospect store. I also worked as a multi-site store manager across three other stores in South Australia before becoming area manager for the region.

I love being a part of Officeworks because the business has such an innovative approach to change, and has always enabled every team member to contribute and make a difference.

I have so many fantastic memories across the past 23 years, from the high of opening the Prospect store as a store business manager and seeing a brand new team flourish, to joining parents at a Mother’s Day morning tea at the Ronald McDonald house, which supports children's cancer accommodation, and presenting a donation we had raised to assist with new bedding.

It’s been such a journey across the years and a lot has changed. I’ve seen Officeworks grow from a unique business that many thought would be a challenge to sustain, into a mature confident business that has a heart and soul that resonates with our customers and our team.