Trusted by forward-thinking leaders to create lasting change.
Leadership for Your Mission
Experience that runs as deep as your mission
Searchlight Group was born from real-world experience in the sectors we now serve. Our founder, Michael Holdway, started his career in public service, public education and not-for-profit organisations before moving into recruitment in 2003.
As a result, we do things differently. We know firsthand that the right leader in your sector won’t just fill a position; they will transform it. A leader who fits your culture and aligns with the mission will drive your mission forward, even in the face of great challenges. By contrast, a leader who brings only technical skills can threaten everything you’ve built.
When you work with us, you’re working with an Executive recruitment firm who truly
understands the stakes.
FOUNDER
Michael Holdway
Michael Holdway’s career has always been about making a difference where it counts. His first job out of school was in the public service, working directly with veterans. In the not-for-profit sector, he led teams that ensured vulnerable populations received the support they needed. Along the way, he acquired an MBA and a degree in psychology qualifications he uses every day to match candidates to cultures.
As an executive recruiter, Michael continues to make a difference in the public and for-purpose sectors by finding the leaders they need to deliver on their missions.
Michael’s move to recruitment in 2003 was driven by a desire to fix a recurring problem he’d seen on the ground: leaders hired for their technical abilities without effective evaluation of cultural fit and mission alignment. Michael has seen for himself how even the most technically adept leader can cause collapses in morale and delivery, sometimes setting teams and programs back years.
Searchlight’s executive search process weighs every dimension that a candidate will need to be successful in the role. This is where Michael’s combination of experiences and qualifications gives him a unique ability to vet candidates for public service and for-purpose leadership roles beyond their CVs.
The result is Searchlight’s ability to find skilled leaders who are resilient, values-driven and capable of leading under pressure in the most complex and constrained environments.
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Executive Search & Coaching
Ruth Hayes
Ruth Hayes’ career has always been about connecting people to opportunities that matter. She started in federal politics and policy, working alongside decision-makers before moving into executive search. Since then she has helped for-purpose organisations, universities, peak bodies, and government agencies find leaders who fit—not just on paper but in practice.
Ruth’s career has been shaped by a deep interest in helping individuals and organisations flourish. She knows that the right leader can transform an organisation — while the wrong one can set it back years. That’s why she focuses on identifying leaders who understand mission, navigate complexity, and build trust, in addition to bringing technical capabilities.
At Searchlight Group, Ruth’s deep research and market insights delivers great candidates. She also coaches leaders through career transitions so that they can approach the market with confidence.
Ruth’s qualifications — including a Master of Applied Science (Coaching Psychology) from the University of Sydney — give her an added edge in assessing leadership styles, resilience, and cultural fit.
With a reputation for rigour, insight, and a personal approach, Ruth plays a key role in Searchlight’s ability to find leaders who drive impact where it counts.
Connect on linkedinLet’s start the conversation
If you’d like your next leader to be someone who has the right skills and who is aligned with your mission, your values and your culture, you need an executive recruitment firm with the experience, qualifications and insights to vet candidates for all those qualities.
Our recruitment service is unique because it’s layered over our on-the-ground experience in the public and for-purpose sectors. It’s simply not possible to get the same level of confidence in a potential candidate from a database search, trawling LinkedIn or parsing CVs.
Whether you’re ready to start your search or you’re exploring options, we’re here to listen and share our insights into finding the best candidates.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a confidential conversation with someone who’ll understand what you need.
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