Real HR, real people,
real impact

With over 20 years of experience in HR, I’ve led teams across various sectors, however my career initially began in recruitment, where I was still figuring the direction I wanted to take. It wasn’t until I had the chance to pursue a Master’s in HRM and gain my CIPD status at Sunderland University that I found my true passion, so I made the leap into HR, working part-time in a printing manufacturing company where I was the sole HR professional. It was a steep learning curve, but it gave me the solid foundation to build my career.

In 2013, I founded Oculus HR with the vision of providing businesses with practical, people-first HR solutions that truly make a difference. My role as Managing Director is incredibly varied, and that’s one of the things I love most about it. I still work directly with clients, delivering everything from day-to-day HR support to strategy development and training. Alongside this, I manage the business, which means wearing many hats – from business development and team management to overseeing finances, IT, and daily operations.

I really enjoy the commercial aspect of HR, particularly understanding how people can impact the business financially. HR isn’t just about policies or procedures, it’s about understanding the needs of the business and making decisions that support its goals. Being able to guide our clients through these decisions is what makes HR such an exciting field for me.

Over the years, I’ve honed my expertise in developing HR strategies that drive business growth and support companies to adapt to change. In 2023, I was honoured to be named Sunderland Business Excellence Entrepreneur of the Year. The company was also shortlisted for in the top 5 HR Consultancies in the UK by Personal Today, as well as winning Business of the Year in Sunderland, in the Wear Business Awards and Best Independent Business in the Sunderland Business Excellence Awards!

Outside of Oculus HR, I host Real World HR, a podcast where I discuss current HR topics with industry experts, and sit on the board of trustees for an infant school.

If I weren’t in HR, I would definitely be a travel writer. Travel is my greatest passion, and I’ve already done as much as possible, even becoming a registered travel agent to make it happen more often. I love the idea of getting paid to travel and share my experiences with others – what better way to spend my time?

I’ve spent the past 25 years working in HR, with experience across retail, public, and private sectors. It’s been a journey that’s taken me from the fast-paced world of retail HR to larger organisations, where I’ve worked on everything from recruitment to performance management. The variety has kept me on my toes, and I’m always learning something new.

As an HR Consultant at Oculus, I work with businesses of all shapes and sizes to build, implement, and embed people strategies that support their growth. I’m passionate about making a difference, whether that’s guiding a client through a difficult situation or helping them develop long-term plans to keep their teams motivated and engaged.

I joined Oculus because I wanted to move away from big corporations and focus on helping local businesses. I love the chance to really get stuck into both the short-term needs and long-term strategies, making sure businesses get the best from their people.

When I’m not supporting clients, you’ll find me walking along the beach with Barney, my chocolate labrador, or cheering on my family at netball and rugby matches!