Meet some of the team

Meet Ryan – A Visionary Leader Committed to Creating a Better World.

Since founding Bright People in 2015, Ryan’s dedication to delivering better business outcomes for people and organisations has been unwavering. His visionary approach has led to the creation of a practical and kinder path, tailored to modern business needs in the form of an innovative People Advisory business.

With over two decades of experience in global roles with industry-leading organisations, Ryan’s unique commercial expertise has consistently elevated organisational capability. He empowers teams with impactful human-centered strategies and effective leadership.

Ryan’s curiosity and open-mindedness drive his dedication to lifelong learning, resulting in a diverse background across mining, government, aerospace, manufacturing, retail, professional services, and logistics. He has been awarded a Bachelor of Business, a Master of Business and holds various qualifications and professional memberships.  His executive-level experience positions him as a true influencer in his field.

Beyond business, Ryan’s heart shines through his commitment to community causes and charities. He firmly believes that making a difference doesn’t require immense scale – it’s about genuine passion and care.

A devoted husband and father of four, Ryan balances his responsibilities with his broader passions as an aspiring writer and part-time farmer with an array of animals from horses to ducks and a few more in between!

Moreover, Ryan is the visionary behind The Human Space, a groundbreaking community that fosters connections and knowledge-sharing, breaking free from the status quo.

Join Ryan on his journey to create a better world.

As he says, “Let’s connect and make a lasting impact together.”

Monique has a gift for helping others shine. She’s always looking for ways to elevate the people around her, creating space for ideas, growth and connection to flourish.

As Bright People’s very first team member, Monique joined when all we had was a logo and a big vision. Over the past decade, she’s helped build the business from the ground up alongside our CEO and Founder, Ryan. Together, they’ve shaped the culture, brand, and customer experience that Bright People has become known for.

Now, as General Manager, Monique works closely with Ryan to operationally lead Bright People through its next decade, ensuring the business continues to run smoothly, efficiently, and always in alignment with its purpose and values.

Monique oversees all areas of our operations including people experience, brand and marketing, customer experience, and business performance. She also provides functional leadership across our Embedded Resourcing and Coaching offerings, ensuring they deliver genuine value for our customers and align with Bright People’s strategic goals.

“For me, it’s all about creating an environment where our team bring their superpowers and can seamlessly integrate with the organisations we work with, being generous with sharing their knowledge and expertise while building capacity in an actionable and practical way,” Monique says.

With a multi-sector background and deep experience across culture, capability, and talent, Monique brings both insight and heart to everything she does. Her passion for brand and marketing has been integral to Bright People’s evolution, helping grow it from a start-up into a respected, recognisable brand with a loyal community.

Having had two kids while at Bright People (two under two at one point!), her weekends and holidays are all about creating beautiful memories with her little family.

“Everything I now do is for them.”

Jhana’s joie de vivre shines through every part of her work.

“I love to find ways to have some fun and laugh and I can connect quickly with people. I really enjoy finding solutions – listening, contextualising disjointed information and turning concepts into actionable strategies,” Jhana says.

Jhana is well-known for her vast and versatile experience – there’s not much she can’t do!

Her expertise runs across corporate, government and consultancy spheres including multi-national companies. Jhana’s capability includes leadership, coaching, change management, project management, organisation design and effectiveness, employee relations, continuous improvement, facilitation and training.

No matter what the project, Jhana is forward-thinking and always considers what the work means for the people affected by it.

“I like to find places to pause and ask good questions that consider the user experience. This will always lead to a better outcome.”

As Senior Manager – Advisory, Jhana leads Bright People’s Advisory Team, guiding the delivery of customer projects and ensuring high-quality, people-centred outcomes. Jhana brings her fantastic experience and love for people to everything she does, fostering collaboration, supporting project teams, and cultivating strong customer relationships. And Jhana loves her job!

“Bright People has such a unique and special energy and intellect and I get to contribute to that and benefit from it. I like how we are true to our strong purpose and values.”

“There’s such vibrancy here and the work we do is really interesting – it can be fun, mind-bendy and difficult at times, but we always work it out and it’s really cool to be part of that.”

Jhana embraces the idea that our lives extend beyond our own fulfillment, and, among other community work, she has volunteered with young people experiencing homelessness for more than 12 years.

Jhana holds a Bachelor of Business, Diploma in Frontline Management, Graduate Certificate in Change Management. She is Prosci Certified and a Graduate of the Company Directors Course (GAICD).

Rebecca has a passion for finding the sweet spot commercially for a business and its customers.

With an impressive track record of fostering sustainable commercial growth, Rebecca has worked for companies across Australia and the UK. From running her own flourishing business to working in startups and well-established organisations, Rebecca has left her mark on diverse industries, including rail, construction and accounting.

As Bright People’s Manager of Business Performance, Rebecca applies her experience to develop and deliver commercial strategies and uncover opportunities that improve efficiency and outcomes for both business sustainability and customer satisfaction.

“It’s so satisfying to look at a project or business with a commercial view as it is a critical set of eyes for success through the lifecycle of a project and for a business more broadly,” Rebecca says.

Rebecca’s dedication to contributing to Bright People’s purpose of helping people and organisations thrive is strong and she finds joy in being part of a team that welcomed her with open arms after she made the move with her family from England.

Beyond work, it’s no surprise, Rebecca’s knack for finance has been put to good use in the community as she has generously volunteered her skills in treasurer roles for sports clubs over the years.

Hailing from Manchester, England, Rebecca has fallen in love with the Queensland lifestyle, which perfectly compliments her outdoorsy nature. And her family shares her enthusiasm for the sunshine, team sports, and beaches.

Sherry brings calm expertise and a steady hand to the art of getting things done. As Manager – Solution Delivery, she supports the scoping, delivery and project management of Bright People’s advisory projects, ensuring our solutions are delivered smoothly, thoughtfully, and with lasting impact.

With more than 20 years’ experience across HR, organisational development and project delivery, Sherry has a track record of turning ideas into action. She has worked across industries including infrastructure, financial services, education and retail, holding senior HR and OD roles at organisations like Anglo American, Brady Marine & Civil, Energy Super, University of Queensland, and Super Retail Group.

“For me, project delivery isn’t just about getting to the finish line — it’s about building trust, creating clarity, and making sure every step we take adds value for our customers and their people.”

Known for her practical mindset, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and passion for creating high-performing workplaces, Sherry thrives on flipping the chaos into structured, actionable plans. She brings deep experience in organisational design, leadership development, employee engagement, and performance transformation.

At Bright People, Sherry leads with a focus on collaboration, working alongside our customers to deliver outcomes that create sustainable, positive change — not just for today, but for the future.

Outside of work, Sherry can be found spending quality time with her family and friends or focussing on her passion of health and wellbeing through a run/walk/ride in and around Brisbane.

Katrina’s passion for unlocking potential and creating meaningful connections shines through every partnership she builds.

With over a decade of HR consulting experience, Katrina has partnered with customers across diverse sectors, navigating unique challenges and delivering solutions that support the entire employee lifecycle.

Her ‘why’ is simple: to help people achieve their greatest potential.

“I love partnering with customers as their Trusted Advisor, finding tailored solutions that not only meet their needs but also catapult the success of their people and business,” Katrina says.

As Manager – Talent & Resourcing, Katrina leads Bright People’s Embedded Resourcing and Coaching Program offerings. She also oversees resourcing and talent management for Bright People’s projects and internal teams, ensuring the right people, skills, and support are in place to deliver exceptional outcomes.

Katrina is passionate about creating Embedded Resourcing partnerships that feel seamless, connecting skilled professionals who become a trusted extension of our customers’ teams.

“For us, it all starts by meeting people where they are and building meaningful relationships based on trust, respect, and honesty as we uncover the path forward together,” Katrina says.

Katrina’s warmth and genuine curiosity set her apart. Known for her personable approach and relentless focus on customer satisfaction, she thrives on challenges and takes pride in delivering solutions that leave customers truly impressed. A skilled problem-solver, Katrina believes that the best ideas often emerge over a big cup of coffee and a cheeky snack.

Katrina holds a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) and a Master of Business (Human Resource Management).

Splitting her time between Bright People’s Brisbane office and her home on the Sunshine Coast, Katrina enjoys the perfect balance of city vibrancy and coastal serenity.

Nicole brings colour, clarity and creativity to everything she touches. As Bright People’s Brand and Marketing Coordinator, she’s the quietly brilliant force behind our social media, visual storytelling, and marketing initiatives — helping to grow our brand in a way that’s as fun, thoughtful and real as the people behind it.

From designing internal collateral to crafting customer-facing deliverables, Nicole has a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of how to make ideas resonate. She’s known for her trademark line — “I have an idea!” — and for her ability to dive deep into a brief or concept, returning with the kind of insight that sparks “aha” moments and drives action.

Nicole’s path to Bright People has been anything but linear. It spans state and federal government, mining and human resources, before transitioning into marketing (which she’s formally pursuing after switching degrees from law). That same curiosity and versatility show up in her work every day.

“Marketing is more than just promotion — it’s about helping people feel something real about what we do and connecting to why it matters.”

A self-confessed nerd with a passion for design, storytelling, and making things better, Nicole brings both strategic thinking and a creative spark to the table. She’s always up for a challenge and brings a sense of calm capability that keeps things moving, beautifully.

Whether it’s creating impactful content for our LinkedIn or a stunning birthday cake for her daughter, Nicole brings joy and generosity to everything she does — including the regular homemade treats she lovingly bakes for the team!

Callan’s unique combination of experience, qualifications and approach gently brings the best of people to the fore. 

His starting point is “meeting people where they are.” What a great place to start and, together, with Callan you can go a long way. 

A values-driven leader, Callan draws on more than 30-years work across the globe enhancing organisations’ leadership, culture and performance.  

As a qualified narrative therapist and registered counsellor, master facilitator and experienced executive coach, Callan combines contemporary and scientific approaches to help people and organisations thrive in ever-changing environments.  

People’s wellbeing is at the heart of Callan’s work. 

“An important focus, as we look to the future, is for leaders to have a full appreciation for the rich and full lives people have. This supports connection and the way teams show up which flows through to performance and customer outcomes,” Callan says. 

Callan relishes the Bright People way which he says brings energy, care and embraces the diversity in people and organisations. 

“We can draw on our range of experience to amplify a team or organisation’s unique strengths and help bring an understanding to what’s going on for them as we design a solution together.” 

Callan’s passion for people’s wellbeing is a thread that runs through to his counselling in domestic violence support, where he works with men, couples, and families. 

Callan is a keynote speaker, published author and voracious reader, with a tall stack of books always on hand! He believes in the power of the stories we tell ourselves and that storytelling is the most impactful way to put ideas into the world. 

Callan holds a Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work, and his research is focused on transitional agility: exploring the ways people and organisations can be supported through transitional phases. 

Recognised as an inspiring and innovative leader in the field of education, Brianna brings a depth of experience in helping others reach their potential.  The combination of her practitioner experience in secondary school education, coupled with her leadership and mentoring pre service teachers at university, enhances her ability to add value to engagements involving developing and building capability. Brianna leads Bright Peoples’ industry engagement and partnerships with universities and research institute.

Brianna has extensive and practical experience within Education in Queensland, having worked in both the public and private school systems including rural and city locations. Brianna has also further developed her leadership skills and worked for her alma mater, the University of Queensland, as a facilitator and mentor for pre service teachers during their teaching practicums.

Brianna is interested in the value that an experienced mentor can bring to the longevity and career development of a graduate in industry and uses Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development (1978) to underpin the value of mentoring within a variety of contexts. Her other area of interest, which formed a major part of her studies within her Masters degree, is bullying and the impact this has on victims and perpetrators as students / family members / employees in our society.

Brianna’s holds formal qualifications in Education including a dual degree in Secondary Education and Arts (History and English) (2000) and a Masters in Educational Leadership (2011).