Michelle Slevin | General Manager C&HG | Linfox Logistics

From an unexpected career pivot to leading large-scale supply chains, Michelle Slevin has built her career on adaptability, curiosity and a willingness to step outside her comfort zone. As General Manager for the Grocery Consumer portfolio, she leads complex, high-volume operations across multiple sites, driving safe, efficient and commercially strong outcomes while building inclusive teams and developing the next generation of operational leaders.

Role
General Manager, Consumer & Healthcare Group (C&HG), Linfox Logistics

What I do
I’m the General Manager for the Grocery portfolio, responsible for leading large-scale warehousing, transport and distribution operations across multiple sites and customers.

At a high level, I’m accountable for ensuring our operations run safely, efficiently and sustainably, while meeting customer expectations and delivering strong commercial outcomes. That means overseeing complex supply chains, managing large and diverse teams, and working closely with customers, unions, suppliers and senior leaders across the business.

Career journey
I didn’t start with a clear pathway into logistics or operations. When I left school, I wanted to become a hairdresser and eventually run my own business. After not securing an apprenticeship, I took a different path and began a clerical traineeship.

That decision became a defining moment. I discovered I enjoyed the structure and pace of administrative work and quickly recognised the value of the skills I was building. They were transferable, opened new opportunities, and created a pathway for longer-term career growth.

Key moments
A defining turning point in my career was joining Linfox as a Commercial Manager. This role gave me exposure to the operational side of the business and enabled me to step beyond a purely commercial remit into leadership.

I was supported by leaders who recognised my potential and encouraged me to take on new challenges, build capability and grow in confidence within an operational environment.

A typical day in my role
No two days are the same, but most involve a mix of:

  • Reviewing operational performance across sites, including safety, service, cost and people metrics
  • Connecting with site leaders to remove blockers, support decision-making and build capability
  • Engaging with customers on performance, growth opportunities and problem-solving
  • Working through commercial and strategic priorities, including contract variations, network changes and investment decisions
  • Coaching and supporting leaders, particularly through change, complexity and people-related challenges

A significant part of my role is balancing short-term operational priorities with longer-term strategy. I spend a lot of time supporting teams through change—whether that’s responding to shifts in customer demand, evolving network design or developing future leaders.

What I enjoy most
The people side of the role. Seeing individuals and teams grow in confidence, capability and connection is incredibly rewarding. I’m strongly motivated by creating inclusive environments where people feel supported, challenged and able to do their best work and where they can see a pathway for their own growth and progression.

What I’ve learned
Looking back, my journey has been shaped by being open to change, saying yes to opportunities that stretched me, and having the support of people and programs that believed in my potential.

Advice to others
A defining influence on my career was joining NAWO early in my time at Linfox and participating in the Mentoring Program.

Being part of that network, and having access to mentors who challenged my thinking, gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities I hadn’t previously considered. It expanded my view of what was possible and reinforced that progression into senior operational roles was achievable.

My advice is to seek out those networks, stay open to being challenged, and back yourself to step into opportunities—even when you don’t feel completely ready.

100 Women Nomination

What Poya Katebi, Strategic Talent Manager at Linfox said about Michelle:

I am nominating Michelle Slevin for NAWO’s 100 Women in Operations in recognition of her sustained leadership in operations and her visible commitment to making operational career pathways more inclusive and accessible for women.

  • Driving inclusion in operations through leadership: Leads Linfox’s Gender Equality Group and C&HG Gender Equality Chapter, using mentoring and connection to nurture talent and progress gender equality.
  • Industry contribution through NAWO: Appointed as a NAWO NSW Committee Member, focused on programs that support women’s career growth and influence inclusive leadership mindsets.
  • Making pathways visible for young women: Secured opportunities for Linfox participation in NAWO youth-focused events to showcase pathways and possibilities in operations careers.
  • Visible role-modelling and storytelling: Participates in career experience engagement (including presenting and using compelling video/storytelling) to bring operations careers to life.
  • Supporting inclusive wellbeing conversations at work: Hosted a menopause awareness webinar to educate and support employees and their families.

Thank you, Michelle,  for sharing your story and being part of NAWO’s 100 Women in Operations. Showcasing the breadth of roles, pathways and leadership that exists across the operations industry is at the heart of this campaign—and it’s stories like yours that make it possible.

Do you know a woman with an interesting role or career journey?
You can nominate them to be featured. We’re looking for representation across sites, shifts, functions, industries and career stages.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION