Austin holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and began her career in HR with BAE Systems. Following the BAE Systems graduate development programme, Austin moved into the manufacturing industry by joining Coopervision, an FMCG international contact lens manufacturer.
She was then approached externally to move into her first HR management role with Delta Electrical in Birmingham. The acquisition of Delta by US based industrial manufacturer, Eaton Corporation, led to a wide range of opportunities across the globe and Sally held a number of HR Management roles supporting US, EMEA and European facilities in a number of organisational restructures.
She joined the HR team in Costain in 2005 working in a variety of HR roles and became group HR director in 2014. Austin was appointed to the executive board in July 2015.
Her current role holds responsibility for defining and delivering the people strategy across the Costain Group. Main areas of focus include executive board strategy development, remuneration committee matters, group wide HR operations, recruitment, learning & development, engagement, HR shared services and pensions.
Austin is a Chartered Member of the CIPD and is an Alumni member of INSEAD Business School, France following completion of the Advanced Management Programme in 2015.She is also a Fellow CIPD
Externally Austin is a non-executive director/foundation governor of Warwick Independent Schools Foundation and is an HR Trustee for Maidenhead Citizens Advice Bureau.
She lives in Maidenhead and is married with two young children.
