The Third Act: Reinvention, Relocation, and Finding Purpose Again with Alison Haig-Davies

This week I’m joined by Alison Haig-Davies… a woman who has reinvented herself more than once, often by necessity, sometimes by choice, and always with courage.

Alison spent over 30 years in senior HR leadership roles in the City before stepping off the corporate ladder to build a portfolio career as a non-executive director, coach, and mentor. Just as that new chapter was taking shape, life threw her a curveball: a relocation to Sydney for her partner’s job. No network. No reputation. No safety net. And she had to rebuild everything from the ground up.

In this conversation, Alison shares:

• Why her biggest pivots came during periods of enforced pause
• How “micro purpose” can be more powerful than chasing a grand mission
• What a portfolio career actually looks like in practice
• How she landed her first NED roles (and why starting small matters)
• What companies miss when supporting people in mid-to-later careers
• Why rejection is inevitable during reinvention
• How to stay brave, persistent, and grounded when a chapter ends and another begins

Alison’s story is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. She shows that your career can have multiple acts… and that sometimes the most unexpected turns open the most meaningful doors.

If you know anyone in Australia who Alison should connect with, please do make the introduction — she’s actively building her network and passionate about supporting others through transition.

A brilliant, warm conversation with someone who proves that careers don’t end at 40, 50, 60, or 70… they simply evolve.

If you want to connect with me or anyone from Careers Unpacked you can do so at [email protected]