Next up in our staff spotlight blog series, we’re shining the spotlight on Chris Merrilees, General Manager and Occupational Therapist at Strive. Since joining the team in 2013, Chris has played a key role in shaping Strive’s culture, direction, and commitment to helping people thrive through good work. With a strong background in mental health and a genuine passion for developing people, Chris brings a thoughtful, values‑led approach to leadership — one that’s grounded in connection, growth, and making a meaningful difference. We’re pleased to share a little more about what drives Chris, both professionally and beyond the office.
How long have you been with Strive, and what first made you want to be part of the team?
I joined Strive in 2013 after working as a Mental Health Occupational Therapist in the public system while living in Victoria. Not long after relocating to Brisbane, I was drawn to occupational rehabilitation as it really aligned with my strengths as an OT.
I’ve always enjoyed working with people from beginning to end — setting goals, developing a clear intervention plan, and coaching people along the way. I’m a strong believer in the health benefits of good work, and I find it incredibly rewarding to serve others and, in many cases, help give the gift of employment back to someone who may have felt lost, stuck or completely helpless at a point in time.
Having seen first-hand how debilitating mental illness can be during my time in acute mental health, the opportunity to influence, advocate and support people much further upstream — while they remain connected to work in some way, shape or form — really appealed to me.
What do you enjoy most about your role as General Manager?
I see myself as a custodian of the General Manager role at Strive, and it’s a real privilege to help steer the ship and support our people as we chart a path forward.
There are many aspects of the role that I enjoy, but what continues to be most rewarding is working with people. I love supporting our team at Strive to grow, develop and flourish, and helping them reach their potential. I also really value partnering with our customers — working alongside them to help their people and teams find a way forward, and to develop new solutions to the many people and system-related challenges of work.
Being able to contribute to Strive’s strategic direction and future growth is also something I find incredibly motivating.
What does a usual day look like for you… or is there no such thing as usual?
There generally isn’t a ‘usual’ day for me, which I think is fairly common in small-to-medium sized businesses where you tend to wear a few different hats. My weeks can look quite different, but they typically include a mix of HR and recruitment, business development ideas, leadership and mentoring 1:1s with my immediate team, operationalising strategic goals and initiatives, meeting with customers, working with my own clients, facilitating workshops, and contributing to various marketing initiatives.
I also do some periodic work with Australian Catholic University (ACU), supporting second-year Occupational Therapy students across mental health and occupational rehabilitation subjects, which I really enjoy.
What’s your favourite thing about working at Strive and with the team at Strive?
Without a doubt, it’s the people and the culture we’ve built at Strive.
Our recruitment philosophy is quite simple — we look for great people who are values-aligned and genuinely believe in our vision. We’re very selective about who we bring into the team, because finding people who are willing to buy in, go above and beyond, and who want to grow, learn and develop is incredibly important to us.
That shared commitment and passion for what we do is something I’m really proud of, and I hope it flows through to the experience our customers and clients have when working with Strive.
What’s something about your job that really motivates you or keeps you excited to come to work?
Like any role, there are days where everything feels in sync and running to plan, and others where it can feel like you’re spinning plates and doing your best not to drop any.
What really energises me is being able to help others grow and to share the knowledge, wisdom and experience I’ve accumulated over time. Having worked in acute mental health, I know just how debilitating mental illness can be, so being able to influence the health and wellbeing of others while people remain connected to work is a real privilege.
That might look like facilitating workshops, coaching leaders at all levels, or supporting our own team members to grow and flourish — all of which I find incredibly rewarding.
When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing or spending your time on?
Outside of work, I really value the opportunity to switch off, disconnect and get away whenever possible. I love travelling — whether that’s overseas, interstate, or even just a weekend getaway to the coast. The beach and the ocean have always been very grounding for me, so we try to get there whenever we can.
It’s also the little things that matter most. We have a toddler at home, with another little one due to arrive soon, so making time to play, head to the park, go for walks and enjoy small adventures together is really important. Having a young child is a great reminder to stay present and see the world through a much simpler lens.
I also enjoy getting to the gym, watching AFL and basketball, playing guitar, and I’m always up for a good book or podcast.
What’s one fun fact or something people might not know about you?
In a past life, while living in Victoria, I played basketball at a semi-professional level for a few years. One season, after finishing dead last the year before, our team went on to win a national championship.
It was one of those remarkable seasons where everything just seemed to click. The connection, culture and trust within the team and the broader club played a huge role in that success.
Sport has taught me many transferable lessons that I carry into my leadership and work today.
One quote from my old coach has always stuck with me is: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
✨ Staff Spotlight: Sarah Ferguson ✨