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The humans behind the HR

Meet the Team

Real people. Straight talkers. Zero corporate speak. Hover — or tap — to meet the Gurus when they’re off the clock.

“Life's better with skis on”

Emily Jaksch

Founder & CEO

I’m the founder of HR Gurus. Before starting the business, I spent 13 years selling my soul in corporate HR at organisations including The Royal Bank of Scotland, GM Holden, Wesfarmers, Coles and HOSTPLUS.

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“Warning: may talk about running”

Jessy Warn

Co-Owner & Commercial Director

I’m the Commercial Director at HR Gurus, and I was actually HR Gurus’ first employee. Before joining the business, I came from retail leadership and operations, managing large teams across multiple sites.

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“Live music is good for the soul”

Shelley Martin

People & Practice Lead

I’m the People & Practice Lead at HR Gurus, and I’ve been part of the business for six years.

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“Powered by coffee and working with great people”

Katie Richardson

Senior People & Capability Leader

I’m a Senior People & Capability leader, and I tend to do my best work when things are changing, growing or slightly on fire.

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“In my Beach Era”

Kendel VanWorkum

HR Guru

I’m a Senior HR professional with 15+ years’ experience across HR leadership, learning and development, and strategic consulting. I’ve worked across complex, fast-moving environments where the people challenges aren’t always neat or straightforward.

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“Life is better when you’re camping by the beach”

Lauren Balfour

HR Guru

I’m an HR Consultant at HR Gurus, and I’ve spent more than 18 years working across all facets of HR, recruitment and people & culture in some seriously diverse workplaces.

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“I believe a good dose of sunshine and saltwater makes everything feel better”

Jennifer Carter

HR Guru

I’m an HR Consultant at HR Gurus, with more than 20 years of experience across HR, People & Culture, change management and business operations.

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“Life is better with bikes, beaches & travel.”

Kelly Furniss

HR Guru

I’m an HR Consultant at HR Gurus, bringing more than 15 years of experience across HR, recruitment and people advisory roles in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

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“Happiest around a full table”

Jelly Oxemer

Marketing & Admin Guru

I’m the Marketing & Admin Guru at HR Gurus — which basically means I’m one of the people helping keep everything moving behind the scenes.

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“Please bring wine”

Kirsty McMenaman

Finance & HR Compliance Guru

I’ve been part of HR Gurus for more than 14 years, looking after the finance side of the business and helping keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

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A team that has sat where you sit

Why the gurus

Every guru on this page has done HR inside a real business before advising one.

Between us there are more than 100 years of hands-on experience, across corporate HR, retail and operations, finance, and running businesses of our own.

That mix matters. When a performance issue lands, a restructure is on the table or a complaint arrives on a Friday afternoon, you need someone who understands the law and the commercial pressure you are under. Someone who has had the difficult conversation themselves, not just read about it.

When you contact us, you speak to an experienced HR professional, not a call centre. They take the time to understand your business and what has happened, then work through it with you, from the first conversation to the final letter.

Over more than 15 years we have worked with more than 1,500 businesses, from teams hiring their first employee to established businesses whose people needs keep growing.

Each guru brings their own strengths, whether that is workplace investigations, employment contracts, award compliance, training managers or steadying a team through change. You work with the person best suited to your situation, with the whole team behind them.

We keep HR practical: clear advice, plain language and no corporate fluff. We will tell you where the risk is, give you options and help you find the most sensible way forward.

And because we work as a team, a complex matter gets a second experienced opinion, and someone who knows your file is there when your usual guru is on leave.

Human first. Commercially smart. Always on your side.

Talk to a guru

Want this team in your corner?

No call centres, no risk police, no HR jargon. Just straight answers from people who do this for a living.

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