The other day, I (Emma) met a great guy for a coffee in my little township of Yass NSW – and while LinkedIn told me that Dr Tim Dyke was a vet with an impressive and diverse list of career roles I didn’t expect to meet such a wise, authentic and personable guy. We chatted easily and it has furthered my interest in using a coach – in Tim’s words coaching can help to clarify what you want to achieve through ‘exploring beliefs and strengths and uncovering roadblocks and fears’.
While Tim has a deep experience set across a number of veterinary and regulatory fields his quietly assured and reflective manner also left me feeling more inspired to make the most of my veterinary career! If you are interested in planning out the next steps in your career using a coach – I strongly recommend that you consider Tim for this all-important role.
Emma: Thanks for your time today Tim…. May I ask…:
- What are you working on / towards at the moment?
I am enjoying a new career move as an executive and business coach, as well as working as a consultant to the Australian government.
- What drives you?
In simple terms, I want to help people. I find that, irrespective of where I am working and what I am working on, I develop a passion for an organisation, its purpose and values, and its people, and give energy to each.
- What have been the major transitions in your path?
Looking over the last 30 or so years, I’d have to agree with a colleague who once said that I seem to re-invent myself every 5 to 10 years!
Following an internship at University of Sydney at Camden, I moved to University of Melbourne for a residency in equine medicine and surgery. While I enjoyed clinical work, I wanted to explore my interests in pharmacology, and became a Lecturer in Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and then a Lecturer in Equine Medicine and Surgery, with a particular interest in drug detection in racehorses, at a time when there was a divide between the analytical chemists and veterinarians. That led to me travelling overseas as a Merck Foundation Fellow in Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and a (second) residency and PhD at The Ohio State University. Following American Board exams and an Australian College Fellowship, I moved back to a position in the Australian government at the then NRA (now APVMA) – and moved up through that organisation to the position of Principal Scientist and then Program Manager, Regulatory Strategy and Compliance. It was during my time at the NRA / APVMA that I became more interested in leadership and ‘soft’ skills – more so than veterinary / research / technical skills. This led to an MBA and a move to senior executive roles. I then moved to the human health portfolio to the National Health and Medical Research Council and had a number of senior executive roles there culminating in being responsible for areas of research policy and strategic communications.
Eighteen months ago, I left the public service and asked myself what did I want to do next?
I did three things: returned to veterinary practice, joined AltusQ, a national business and executive coaching firm, and also did consultancy work for the Australian government.
Coaching others has been part of my entire career, and now I have indulged in learning more and focus on helping others ‘help’ themselves and grow.
- What has been a major highlight of your career?
A major highlight of my career has been to continue to adopt the skills and ‘thinking’ I developed as a veterinary student and veterinarian to new work in fields new to me – including regulatory science, corporate services, human research ethics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health, governance of human clinical trials, and national strategic policy frameworks.
I’ve been honoured to work with great people, to work nationally and internationally and to be presented with some ‘wicked’ problems to solve. Veterinary science has shown me how (biological or constructed) systems work, the importance of feedback loops, how skills in one area can be adapted to another area, and given me an appreciation of knowing the depths that are possible in any subject area (and the expertise needed to explore those depths) as well as the importance of being able to take a ‘systems’ view.
- What advice would you offer to younger veterinarians?
Maybe more than any other university training, a degree in veterinary science provides you with a strong skill set over and above a knowledge of animals, diseases, diagnostic techniques, treatments and public health. This skill set is yours to help open up many opportunities in many fields.
Know what your passion and purpose are, and keep reminding yourself of them.
Grab opportunities and run with them.
Challenge your fears and beliefs – they are only stories you tell yourself.
Trust your ‘gut’.
Always take opportunities to learn more.
… Emma: Thanks Tim … (ends)