Leading From Within Chantel Michielin on Values, Resilience and Community

Chantel Michielin leads North Queensland Region 436 as Regional Manager for Bendigo Bank Home Hill & Ayr, guided by a belief that long-term success is built from the inside out. While technical skills have their place, Chantel says true leadership is grounded in three essential qualities: resilience, empathy and authenticity.

“Resilience is the engine that allows you to absorb shocks, learn from failure and persevere. It turns challenges into opportunities for growth,” Chantel said.

Empathy, she explains, can be equally vital, not only for customers, but for teams as well.

“A genuine understanding of your customers’ pain points is the bedrock of any great business,” she said.

“Internally, empathy fosters loyalty and collaboration. It’s something women leaders often bring naturally to the table.”

Authenticity ties it all together.

“In a crowded market, people connect with genuine leaders. Being authentic builds trust — it means leading in a way that’s true to your values, not someone else’s idea of what a leader should be.”

Chantel’s career in banking began with a passion for helping clients navigate their financial journeys. As she stepped into leadership, that focus expanded.

“What I truly love about my role is helping others build confidence, develop their capabilities and take ownership of their career growth,” she said.

“Contributing to someone else’s development is incredibly fulfilling.”

Born and raised in Ayr, Chantel describes herself as local “through and through.” After gaining valuable experience with NAB and spending several years living and working in Mount Isa, she made the heartfelt decision to return home 15 years ago. Today, she lives in Ayr with her husband and their three children, deeply connected to the community she has always called home.

“In 2011, we made the decision to move back home, and it felt like the perfect opportunity to bring the skills and experience I'd gained back to the community I care so much about, and I haven’t looked back since,” she said.

“Being able to contribute to the place I've always called home has been incredibly rewarding.”

In her day-to-day role, Chantel credits one non-negotiable habit as key to her success: protecting her “off switch”.

“In our always-on culture, the ability to disconnect is a superpower,” she said.

“I have a firm end-of-day ritual where I close my laptop and put my phone away for a designated period. Creating that boundary between work and personal life is essential for preventing burnout and fostering creativity. That protected time with family or hobbies is what recharges me for the next day.”

Chantel describes witnessing the growth of the Community Bank in Home Hill and Ayr as “an absolute privilege,” saying the journey has been nothing short of remarkable.

In the beginning, the foundation was built on a powerful idea that a local bank could be more than a provider of financial services; it could be “a cornerstone for community growth and resilience” and establishing trust and demonstrating genuine commitment to the people of Home Hill and Ayr were early priorities.

Over time, that vision has grown into a thriving local institution, yet for Chantel, success isn’t measured purely in financial terms, but in the tangible impact made across the region of local businesses expanding, community groups bringing projects to life, and families achieving their dream of homeownership.

One pivotal milestone was reaching the bank’s first major community investment target.

“Seeing the first significant sum of money go back into a local project was proof that our model was working,” she said.

“It was no longer just a concept; it was a tangible force for good right here in our community.”

Equally meaningful have been the individual success stories; a young farmer growing their operation, a sporting club upgrading its facilities, families building stability for the future. During floods, droughts and periods of economic uncertainty, the community’s unwavering support further reinforced what makes the model special.

“It highlights that we are truly in this together,” Chantel said.

Today, she believes the bank’s greatest achievement is how deeply it has become woven into the fabric of Home Hill and Ayr; “a testament to what can be achieved when a community decides to back itself.”

Looking ahead, Chantel remains focused on her current role, with aspirations to step into a more senior strategic position in the coming years, helping shape long-term direction and mentoring future leaders.

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