The Team

Karen HoweHR & Payroll Consultant

Karen Howe has in excess of 15 year’s commercial experience, with the last 10 years in a Human Resource generalist capacity. Karen has enjoyed a successful career in a number of industries such as manufacturing, advertising, printing, communications, IT and retail. Karen has extensive knowledge in the OH&S and Payroll across all industries which is where her career began.

In recent years Karen has come on board with The HR People in a HR and Staff Efficiency Consulting capacity consulting to businesses that either cannot afford a full time HR person, or prefer to use external services to remove the legal issues, and be kept up to date with best practices.

Karen believes that businesses need to have peace of mind in regards to their people and know that all legal requirements are met. This enables senior management to get on with the strategic and operational business.

Brigit SteindlHuman Resources consultant

Brigit Steindl brings over 20 years of Human Resources and Employment Relations experience to HR People. She began her career within the Queensland Government in the departments of Health and Emergency Services.

Brigit then spent 15 years in Government Owned Corporations in the Energy Sector holding HR specialist and senior managerial positions in both Industrial Relations and Human Resources. Throughout this time Brigit created strong and effective relationships with managers across the businesses to achieve strong business success through HR partnership. She has strong experience with dispute resolution, negotiation and had appeared before the industrial tribunals.

Areas of special interest include Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership, Performance Management – helping everyone to bring their best performance to work. She looks forward to providing a high standard of HR support to help your business thrive.

Brigit holds a Bachelor of Science and a Graduate Diploma of Human Resources and Industrial Relations.

Sally LoudonPayroll Specialist

Sally has more than 18 years experience in the very complex field of the Australian payoll system. Starting from the very basics of data entry and working her way up the ladder to a position of Payroll Manager for a Medium sized Construction Company working mostly in the Oil and Gas and Mining Industries.

More recently she has gained further experience in the Retail and Manufacturing Industries.

Sally completed the Diploma of Payroll Management with the Australian Payroll Association in 2014.

Sally has gained extensive experience over a broad range of Payroll activities and is very familiar with the interpretation of Awards and Enterprise Agreements, calculations of Termination and Redundancy payments, compliance around Superannuation and Taxation and all other aspects of payroll.

Carla ThurgateHuman Resources consultant

Carla Thurgate started her career in Education and has since become a small business specialist. She particularly enjoys assisting small to medium size businesses with all their HR needs and has extensive experience in systems and processes that improve people and business operations, day to day and strategic people management, coaching/mentoring and facilitating training/education.

Carla has strong HR experience working across a number of industries, including Energy, Not-for profits, Fashion and Hospitality and builds lasting relationships with clients to help them achieve successful outcomes for their people and business. She is known for her calming nature and empathetic listening ear.

Carla holds a Bachelor of General Studies with a major in Education, Dip of Business Administration/Business Analyst and has graduated from the Dale Carnegie School of Leadership.

Taryn AshtonHR Consultant

Taryn Ashton is a Toowoomba local and joined the team in September 2014 to provide our services to our Toowoomba clients. Taryn has generalist experience in Human Resources, starting her career within Organisational Development and Training. Taryn enjoys all aspects of HR, with particular expertise in implementing HR systems to improve business operations, end to end recruitment, induction development and delivery, resume development and formatting and training.

Taryn has worked across a number of industries including Oil and Gas, Higher Education, Government and Aerospace. Taryn has a particular interest and flair for developing client relationships, an important aspect in working together to achieve a successful outcome for our clients.

Taryn holds a Bachelor of Education and is close to completing a Master of Business Administration (majoring in Strategic Human Resource Management).

Helen StevensonHR Generalist and Workforce Planning Consultant

Helen Stevenson brings with her over 10 years experience working as a HR Professional with a passion for recruitment and conflict resolution. Helen’s career began initially working for a large Group Training Organisation as a State Recruitment Officer and has since worked for a number of diverse organisations, specialising in the development, improvement and implementation of human resource practices and procedures.

Her portfolio includes a strong background in Accounting, Aged Care and Security Industries. Helen has in depth experience in major Company acquisition projects and uses a consultative and problem solving approach to facilitate successful outcomes that meets organisational and Fair Work requirements.

Helen brings a wide and varied experience to the Team and looks forward to supporting and assisting businesses with their HR needs. Helen has completed Diplomas in Human Resources, Business and Management.