When Fiona Murfitt finished her economics degree in the early 1990s, the job market was tight, so she decided to set off for Europe. "I did a nine-year stint in marketing and sales roles," Murfitt says. "They loved Aussies, so I got opportunities I wouldn't have had here."

Her sales and marketing career began with a small advertising start-up but she eventually landed a sales and marketing position in a large telecommunications company. "I needed to understand what the client wanted, then put a deal together to sell a telecommunications product to them," she says.

The hours were long, in part because the role had a strong social aspect. "It was one of those work hard, play hard roles," she says. "There was a lot of socialising but you had to understand your product in order to match it to the client's organisation."

Murfitt especially enjoyed the people contact. "Sales and marketing is the heartbeat of an organisation," she says. "I enjoyed building relationships."

But when her brother-in-law was killed in a workplace accident that could have been prevented, Murfitt began to rethink her career. "The tragedy made me realise I could put my work skills to better use," she says. "I needed to connect with something that delivered more than just a service."

As she'd always been interested in change management, Murfitt pursued qualifications in occupational health and safety, as well as a master's degree in risk management at Swinburne University of Technology.

After graduating, she began working for an oil and gas company on its change program.

"Call it serendipitous but it was the same company where my brother-in-law was killed. In fact, it was on a project that would have made a difference to his safety."

Eventually, Murfitt moved to DuPont Sustainable Solutions, where she's the business director for Australia and New Zealand.

"Like in marketing and sales, I still need to be driven, confident and focused to be successful," she says. "The difference is I have a more personal connection with what I'm working on and with."

Murfitt spends her days helping organisations become safer, more efficient and more profitable.

"I'm still in a boardroom wearing a suit sometimes but sometimes I'm on a rail track wearing an orange vest," she says.

Most of her clients are large businesses in high-risk areas such as heavy transport, resources and construction. "They are likely to have operations that if you don't get it right, there are huge financial implications, people die or you blow things up," she says.

"The biggest challenge is helping others to build a belief for a company that safety is important. When you get it right, it's no coincidence that safer projects are more efficient and profitable."

There's plenty more to be done. "In Australia we still have people being injured, permanently disabled or even killed at work," Murfitt says. "I'm about trying to help clients develop a passion around a safe, efficient work environment and getting to a place where they believe it without experiencing a tragedy on the way."

Then:
Salary: $200,000-plus.
Work-life balance: "I worked really hard but I played hard. The focus was on climbing the ladder and work but it was also a very social job."
Hours: 60 hours-plus a week.

Now:
Salary: Six figures. "Money was not the driver."
Work-life balance: "Still my biggest challenge. I have a family now so it's about balancing quality time with my family, travel and my commitment to my job."
Hours: 60 hours-plus a week. "I usually work from 7.30am 'til 6.30 or 7pm. I'm away at least two days per week."
Miss: "To be honest, I don't miss a lot about it — the people elements [which I loved] are in this job anyway."
Challenges: "Getting the dynamics and balance right between what is right for people, the company and our clients."