Growing up in Dunsborough in a big, close-knit family, Tennae Delamotte learned early what it meant to show up, work hard and stay connected. With parents running their own small business and four siblings beside her, community life shaped her sense of purpose from the beginning.
“Community and small business have always been part of who I am. I grew up watching my parents work hard and back the people around them, and that has guided me my whole life.”
Today, Tennae is raising two daughters in the South West, spending most weekends on the road for basketball carnivals and sporting commitments. She is often found courtside coaching or managing teams, with her trademark smile and a light-hearted approach.
“I’m happiest when I’m encouraging someone to have a crack at something new,” she says. “Keeping things positive and spotting the good is just how I move through the world.”
Tennae’s optimistic outlook, commitment to community and care for others are values that serve her well in her job as an Executive Manager with CommBank’s Regional and Agribusiness team, supporting farmers and clients across diverse commercial industries throughout the southern half of the state. Meeting with clients, coaching her team, and managing risk all form part of her day.
Her work is grounded in strong relationships and a deep understanding of what regional business owners truly need – whether that’s tailored finance for farming or manufacturing, risk management for seasonal or trading challenges, or digital tools that simplify operations.
“At the heart of this role is people,” she says. “Our clients, our communities and my team. Helping them succeed is what drives me.”
Her career, however, began far from the trajectory she once imagined. With a love for the ocean, Tennae originally set her sights on working on cruise boats. But when a traineeship at the local bank appeared, she took a chance. It proved to be the turning point. Starting as a Teller, she moved through Personal Banking, Home Buying and Small Business Banking, discovering a natural alignment with regional clients and community-focused work.
“I fell in love with the stories behind regional businesses. They are resilient, passionate and willing to back themselves. It felt like home.”
Tennae did not follow the university path. She completed a Cert IV in Financial Services and built the rest of her career through consistency, curiosity and a strong personal brand. She believes communication and problem-solving have been the most valuable tools in her journey.
“You don’t need a degree to build a meaningful, well-paid career. What you do need is drive and the willingness to learn. If you can talk to people and genuinely listen, you can go a long way.”
The lessons she absorbed growing up in regional WA still shape her approach to leadership today. Her parents taught her simple but powerful expectations: do every job well, earn every opportunity, and never walk away without a plan.
“Those values built resilience and adaptability,” she says. “Regional life teaches you to find solutions, stay resourceful and keep moving.”
For Tennae, the most rewarding part of her work continues to be the people. Supporting clients to reach new milestones, watching her team grow in confidence and seeing people realise their own potential are the moments that make her hard work worthwhile.
“Seeing someone take a step they didn’t think they were capable of and backing them wholeheartedly is the best part of what I do. That moment of belief is everything.”
Her advice for women across regional WA is simple, grounded and full of encouragement: “Don’t hold back. Bring your ideas and your energy, even if you don’t feel one hundred per cent ready. If you can do most of the job and you’re willing to learn the rest, go for it. Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Back yourself. Take the leap.”