Meet the Team

Samuel O’Brien

Director

My work is anchored in a long-standing interest in performance. A background in Organisational Psychology and competitive sport has shaped how I view leadership, team dynamics, and sustained results.

I’m particularly interested in how behaviour, motivation, and environment influence performance within teams. In recruitment, that perspective translates into a focus on alignment, clarity, and understanding the broader impact an appointment will have.

Seeing individuals and teams perform at a high level is deeply fascinating to me. The right addition can change the trajectory of a team, and contributing to that shift sits at the centre of my why.

I specialise in technical, operational, and executive appointments, having delivered Director-level searches, senior leadership and organisational development roles, and partnered on a Board Chair search.

Over time, it became clear there was room for a firm grounded in performance and alignment. Waypoint was created to reflect that.

I work with clients as an advisor, not simply as a recruiter.

Mick Gardiner

Director

I am a Director of Waypoint Consulting, a specialist search firm advising organisations across the industrial and heavy industry sectors throughout Australia and the ANZ region. I partner directly with Boards, CEOs, and senior leadership teams on business- critical hiring decisions, delivering search assignments across leadership, commercial, sales, and operational roles — particularly in complex, project-driven environments where the quality of key hires directly impacts performance.

Previously recognised as the Number 1 Sales Recruiter nationally at Michael Page, I have a strong track record delivering senior appointments across technically demanding markets.

As a former Division I college tennis player at Ottawa University (Arizona), I bring a strong team-based philosophy to my work and understand how individual capability and cultural alignment influence organisational success. I hold a Bachelor of Business and a commercial background in sales.

I work alongside Director Sam O’Brien, whose background in organisational psychology complements the firm’s sector expertise.