Catalina heads south: building a people-first HR presence in Melbourne

After more than a decade supporting clients across Australia, Catalina Consultants has officially opened a Melbourne office. 

The move is a natural next step: one driven by growing demand, longstanding client relationships in Victoria and the opportunity to bring Catalina’s people-first consulting model to a new audience.

“It’s something we’ve been quietly working towards for a while,” says Merilyn Speiser, Catalina’s Founder and Managing Principal. 

“We already had a strong client base in Melbourne, and post-COVID, we saw a shift – head offices might be based anywhere, but businesses still want a trusted HR presence on the ground. So it was the right time to commit.”

Enter Rachel Bloom, Catalina’s new Melbourne Principal: an experienced HR leader with deep roots in professional services and a proven track record across sectors.

Why Melbourne, and why now?

Catalina’s new southern base isn’t just about geography, it’s also about connection.

“We’ve always believed in human-centred HR. That means being close to the people and businesses we support,” says Merilyn. “The opportunity came at the right time, and the right person came with it.”

Rachel was introduced to Catalina through a shared connection, and Merilyn says she could sense her alignment with the business’s values instantly. 

“It felt like a shortcut,” says Merilyn. “Rachel brought the network, the commercial mindset, and the values that matter to us.”

Rachel says that the connection was mutual. “From the first conversation, I could see the culture was something special,” she says. “This was clearly a team that walked the talk.” 

“They’re certified a Great Place to Work for a reason.”

Meet Rachel Bloom

Rachel’s background spans banking, accounting, medical and education – both in-house and consulting. She’s led teams, built businesses and brings something Catalina values highly: real commercial instinct.

“There are a lot of great HR professionals out there,” says Merilyn, “but not all of them are wired to work closely with SMEs. Rachel gets it. She’s got the experience, the credibility and the human touch that clients respond to.”

As Principal of the Melbourne office, Rachel’s role is to grow the team, support local clients, and bring Catalina’s model to life in a new market.

Rachel also holds postgraduate coaching qualifications – something Merilyn calls “another string to the bow”. Merilyn also believes it will provide clients with a new lens for guiding through complexity and change.

“It’s the perfect blend,” she says. “I still get to do the consulting and coaching I love, but I also get to build something – shape a team, grow the business and help more companies get the HR support they deserve.”

What’s different about Melbourne?

While Catalina has always worked across Australia, having a physical presence in Melbourne unlocks new possibilities, Rachel says.

“Melbourne is a relationship-driven market,” she explains. “Clients want to know who they’re working with. They want trust before engagement. That suits me perfectly, because I genuinely enjoy those connections.” 

“I’ve had more coffees in the last six weeks than I can count!”

Already, Rachel has connected with new clients from sectors including accounting, wealth management, education and manufacturing. 

For Catalina, that diversity represents the opportunity to take tried and tested HR practices and models into all new territory.

“We’ve historically had a strong focus on professional services,” says Merilyn. “But Melbourne opens the door to creative industries, national businesses with head offices in Victoria and sectors where HR hasn’t always had the tailored support we offer.”

What comes next?

Catalina’s Melbourne office will grow steadily, with plans to build a small, close-knit team of three to four staff over the next 12 months. The CBD presence mirrors Catalina’s Sydney setup, creating a seamless national experience for business.

For Rachel, however, success won’t just be measured by business growth (although she expects that will happen fast). Instead, it will also be about building trust within the Melbourne market.

“It’s about showing up for clients, delivering on what we promise and creating a place where the team loves to work.”

“That’s what Catalina has done so well for 13 years, and that’s what I want to build here.”

Want to know more?

If you’re looking for Melbourne-based HR support, Catalina Consultants is now local. 

Get in touch with Rachel now to find out how we can help.