Meet the Team: Jordan Sitaram

Our employees are the driving force behind what we do at Fortem.  

Throughout our Meet the Team series you can get to know the passionate individuals who are steering our mission forward and making a positive impact in the lives of first repsonders and their families, Australia wide.  

This week, we interviewed Jordan, in our Community Engagement team.  

What is your role at Fortem? Tell us about it.  

“I am Fortem’s Community Engagement Coordinator in Western Australia. I have the best job because it’s super fun – I get to plan and participate in our social connection and wellbeing activities. Meeting and connecting with first responders and their families is a joy to me – being able to build connections within our community is wonderful and there are so many amazing people I get to meet and chat with, whilst at times I get to use my competitive side at certain activities we engage in (my boss Lara will be reading this, oops!)” 

What inspired you to join the team? 

“I’m lucky enough that the position with Fortem found me. However, I’m a big believer in supporting communities, and Fortem is doing that with our First Responders. Having this opportunity, knowing that I wake up and get to work for the people that are tirelessly looking after first responders every day is the best feeling. Being able to give back is a dream job to me.” 

What does your professional background look like? 

“I feel like I’ve lived three lives. I played for a professional football club back in the UK then moved into building my own companies. Having sold them, I moved to Perth and kept the same mentality of building businesses over here and now I’m working with a dream team at Fortem as well.” 

What do you love most about your job? 

“When it’s the weekend and you can’t wait to wake up on a Monday morning ready to work you know it’s not just a job, it’s a love for what you do! I’m lucky enough to be working in an organisation that is educating me daily and teaching me new skills. Additionally, being able to absorb the information from those team members that I’m in awe of, makes me feel fantastic. Whilst I’m also lucky enough to meet our first responders and participate in wellness activities.” 

Fun fact about you!   

“At the age of 16 I completed a month’s trek along the Annapurna circuit of the Himalayas in Nepal. This was one of the most amazing life experiences I’ve had. At the time I never fully appreciated how special this was, not until now. Also, our family owns a commercial chicken farm in Jamaica, it’s a special place where my grandad lived.”  

Most important advice you could give – it can be about anything.  

“Be kind. Always. You never know what someone else is going through. Be gentle. Have compassion. Default to empathy. If you can’t find any love in a situation, it’s a signal to be the love the situation desperately needs. As humans, kindness is a nutrient for the heart. Love is the purest expression of this kindness. When all else fails, sprinkle a little love on it. You just might be surprised at how well it heals what appears broken. Especially when it’s turned inward.”