Our story
Sel Watts, has always been a future thinker.
From inception in 2007, Sel Watts had a very specific idea for wattsnext Group. She wanted to change the way businesses utilised human resources and evolve it from being the “personnel department”, largely focusing on policies, procedures, rules and boundaries into something strategic and a key driver in a business achieving its goals.
Over the years Sel has taken wattsnext Group from a bedroom start-up to an internationally recognised small business management consultancy.
With offices in Brisbane, Australia and New York City, Sel is committed to developing a team of talented consultants that provide commercial, practical and real-world advice and support to their clients. Whilst also sharing a load of valuable content with the broader business community.
While the core of their business remains to offer human resource services and management consulting to SMEs, Sel has become a specialist in mentoring CEOs and founders to increase engagement and performance in their businesses.
Sel and wattsnext Group invites you to become part of something special and unique. We invite you to join a HR movement that will not only change the way that you do business but may also influence the working world.
About Us
As a business we are designed like a large corporate HR department, and we provide a full range of HR services to small to medium businesses.
We understand business and commercial reality, we are HR for the modern world and disrupt traditional internal HR thinking; our unique methodologies, customised and sustainable solutions are always:
Commercial | Creative | Implemented
We work alongside business owners to deliver real HR outcomes and tangible benefits. When you choose wattsnext you select an established HR Consulting Firm with global experience and unique commercial yet creative and cutting-edge people solutions.
We have experience with all industries and are experts in:
- Defining and Sustaining Company Culture
- Vision, Mission, and Values
- Functional Structures
- Anonymous Surveys
- Outcome Based Role Design
- Driving Performance
- Leadership Development
- Best Practice HR Frameworks
- Industrial Relations & Employee Relations
- Conflict Resolution & Investigations
- Terminations
- Customised Training
- Recruitment & Attraction
Look at us as fractional people and culture experts for the workplaces of tomorrow.
What we VALUE
At wattsnext, our values come first. We believe that by staying true to our core values, we can positively impact the world. That’s why we strive to bring together the best people and resources to help us reach our goals.
Meet our extended family
Sel Watts
FOUNDER AND GLOBAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Ben Watts
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AUSTRALIA
Anita Dazzi
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
Jack Pattra-McLean
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
Bec Armstrong
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Hannah Crossley
HR CONSULTANT
Jenn Ransom
HR CONSULTANT
Rhani Pearson
HR CONSULTANT
Maria Lopez
HR/ MARKETING COORDINATOR
Jesus Santini
HR COORDINATOR
Meet our furry family
North Star
CHIEF WOOF OFFICER
Mochi
EXECUTIVE PAWSSISTANT
Lilo
LEAD PAWS & ENGAGEMENT
Sasha
WOOF COORDINATOR
Because managing people requires trust
“As we had a fairly new Senior Leadership Team in 2024, I recognised we needed some high level, skilled guidance and mentoring to assist us as we grew in our roles, as a collective, and as an organisation. Ben, Anita and their team provided exactly that! Ben’s easy going, relaxed, grounded approach really resonated with all the SLT members, and we all gained so much from yarning with him about leadership, and the power of working from our combined empathy, vulnerability and business acumen ‘buckets’! Anyone needing or wanting some uplifting in the leadership space, I couldn’t recommend Ben and his team more highly!"
- Mel James | Chief Executive Officer @ Social Care Solutions
“Our experience with wattsnext has been great. Anita played a pivotal role in creating and facilitating the HR component for our leadership program, ensuring that our team not only understood the intricacies of performance management and legal risks but also how to apply them effectively in their role as a manager. The training was comprehensive, engaging and tailored to our specific needs.”
- Chloe Mulligan | Talent & Development Specialist @ Rizon
“Working with wattsnext has been a game-changer for our recruitment process. Their team took the time-consuming aspects off our plate and streamlined our approach, consistently sourcing high-quality candidates who fit our needs & culture. This has led to a more efficient and effective hiring process. I highly recommend them to any business looking to elevate their recruitment game!"
- Brad O'Brien | Director @ S.A.L Global Logistics
“Ben Watts is the trusted outsourced HR advisor to Aspen Group, an ASX listed company. He understands my organisation from top to bottom and provides insightful, accurate and timely advice to me and over 100 colleagues. His competitive advantage is a combination of intuition and straight-talk, Ben is essential to the success of our operating model and broader business.”
- Joel Cann | CEO @ Aspen Group
“Ben and his team at wattsnext have become our dearly trusted advisers in this space, helping us with HR but much more, being a partner to the partners with support, understanding, strategy, experience and guidance that has made a tangible difference to our leadership and given us greater confidence in key decisions around people and processes. It has been a fruitful and delightful journey so far and one I see lasting indefinitely.”
- Scott Oxford | Director @ New Word Order
“Marsh & Partners have been working with wattsnext for 5 years now for ourselves and by referring them to our clients who need HR Services. The team are down to earth and understand the big picture rather than just an issue at a time. They show us how to bring the firm and our team into the current workplace environment. To have a HR team behind you to support you whenever needed.”
- Bronwyn Condon | Partner @ Marsh And Partners
“If you are experiencing rapid growth or have an entrepreneurial flare, I suggest contacting the team at wattsnext. Being a small business themselves, they will understand you and their business acumen is second to none.”
- Simon Cuff | Managing Director @ MacGear
The most powerful business
assets are people
We're here to help you get the most out of your human resources.