Haydn Burke

Global Procurement & Operations Analyst, Farmers Business Network, Vancouver, Canada
Master of Business in Management with Honours (First Class)
Bachelor of Business in Management and Commercial Law

Working in supply chain management is extremely rewarding and satisfying, says business alumnus Haydn Burke who is now a global procurement and operations analyst for the Farmers Business Network in Vancouver, Canada.

“Being part of a systemic network that delivers supplies to families and businesses is gratifying. The duties I undertake in my role include researching products and services, evaluating vendors for quality, price and lead times. I use analytical tools to highlight and visualise data and provide insights, trends and opportunities to the business. The most enjoyable part about my career is being able to use new and innovative software.

“Supply chains have typically been working away in the background with little attention, but due to the global COVID19 pandemic, they have become the new hot word and have drawn more awareness. This is great for supply chain management because organisations will allocate more resources and jobs.”

Bridging the knowledge gap
Haydn initially came to AUT to do a Bachelor of Business; a qualification he completed in 2012.

“When I was 18, I worked for a local transport company and really enjoyed it. However, I quickly realised there was a big gap in my knowledge of how a business operates. I needed to bridge that knowledge gap and, after researching different universities, I decided AUT was going to be the best learning environment for me.

“The highlights of my time at AUT would be the amazing people I met and lifetime friends made. I really enjoyed the professors and the lecturers. I found them to be knowledgeable and inspiring, and they helped me realise my goals and guide me towards achieving them. My final highlight would be the class content. It helped to develop my understanding of business concepts and theory, which has shaped my working and professional life.”

However this wasn’t the end of Haydn’s connection with AUT. He returned to AUT a few years later to take on postgraduate study, and completed his Master of Business in Management in 2020.

“Getting my master’s degree from AUT is the achievement I’m most proud of. I had worked full-time to pay the bills while studying part time. Any free time was taken up by study time, and in the end it was well worth it. The research skills I learned during my master’s were very valuable and I use these methods in my current rob. ”

Advice for other students
Haydn has some great advice for other students who are only at the beginning of their university journey.

“My advice for future AUT students is that education is the key to success. Be inquisitive, ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there because ‘fortune favours the brave’.”