Vale Roly Livingstone
We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Roly Livingstone, one of Mapien’s founders, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on 10 June 2025.
A Visionary, a Pioneer, a Legacy
In 1982, Roly Livingstone founded RJ Livingstone & Associates, a specialist industrial relations consultancy that would go on to become Livingstones and, through a merger with SHR Group, ultimately evolve into Mapien Workplace Strategists.
Roly honed his industrial relations expertise in the adversarial mining industry of the 1960s and 1970s. He was a company representative during the eight-month Mt Isa Mines strike in 1964, and the four-year picket of the Utah Development Company’s Australian head office in Eagle Street by the Maritime Union of Australia from 1977 to 1981.
When Roly left the corporate world, he and his wife Joan, established a small bespoke industrial relations consultancy. Roly recognised a distinct gap in the market: employers seeking tailored industrial relations solutions that addressed their unique individual contexts and challenges.
Roly’s reputation led to his prominent involvement in significant industrial disputes including the Powers Brewing Company Voluntary Employment Agreements, SEQEB & National Pilots strikes. While these moments didn’t define his career – they showcased his courage, resolve, and unparalleled skills as an industrial advocate. Never one to shy away from a tough battle or a complex issue, Roly was recognised as a respected figure in the industrial landscape.
With his sharp intellect, deep insight, and unwavering conviction, Roly built a consultancy grounded in excellence, integrity, and innovation. While his heritage was founded in industrial conflict, his underlying philosophy was that what was good for the company would be good for their employees. He believed that the success of one was directly related to the success of the other.
Roly was a true doyen of industrial relations – a disruptor of the establishment and a challenger of the status quo. His pioneering spirit and willingness to embrace change encouraged him to explore the benefits offered by enterprise bargaining, enabling employers to share productivity gains more directly with their employees. This transformative shift became a significant catalyst for Livingstones’ growth and impact.
An inspirational leader
Roly’s influence extended far beyond the courtroom or boardroom. He inspired those around him, colleagues and clients alike, to think differently, to be courageous, and to never accept “that’s just how it’s done.” His legacy is not only etched into the history of Mapien but woven deeply into our culture. His care for clients, tireless work ethic, and unwavering pursuit of excellence remain central to who we are today.
Many of our current Mapiens, including Alex Aspromourgos, Mark Rodgers, Katy Russell, Nadia Taylor, Ben Cooper, Blake Redding, Joshua Shingles, and Kylie Humber, had the privilege of working alongside Roly. Yet his impact reaches further still. His vision and values continue to guide the way we serve our clients and support one another as colleagues.
The big picture
Roly often spoke of taking a step back, “getting in his helicopter” to gain perspective and see the big picture. Today, if Roly were looking down from that vantage point, we believe he’d be smiling, with that familiar glint in his eye, proud of the organisation he helped build and the legacy he leaves behind.
🕊️ Rest in peace, Roly
Your influence endures, and your spirit lives on in all that we do.