Gemma Russill

Professional Profile

Strategic and people‑centred HR professional with extensive experience partnering with leaders to drive organisational performance, employee engagement, and cultural development. Adept at navigating complex employee relations matters, coaching managers, and delivering pragmatic, business‑aligned HR solutions. Recognised for building trusted relationships, improving people processes, and influencing positive change across diverse operational environments.

Brings a strong blend of operational HR expertise, mediation skills, and commercial awareness gained from senior leadership experience. Currently progressing toward CIPD Level 7 and ILM Level 5 Leadership & Management to further strengthen strategic capability.

• Implemented a new organisation‑wide appraisal system (Kallidus Perform), improving consistency, capability and performance conversations.
• Delivered successful mediation interventions resolving cross‑departmental conflict and restoring effective working relationships.
• Completed a secondment covering compliance for the Head of HR, strengthening governance and risk management.
• Awarded the Executive Recognition Award (Dec 2024) for outstanding contribution across The Horder Centre and The McIndoe Centre.
• Qualified and accredited mediator (Civil Mediation Council).
• Successfully completed ILM Level 3 Leadership & Management training.
• Built strong relationships with business units across the organisation

• People Advisor, Horder Healthcare, 2023-04 - Present, Providing customer focused comprehensive and pragmatic HR advice and support to Operational Supervisors/Managers and employees in line with organisational policies, procedures and legal requirement., Supporting the Head of People and Payroll in the delivery of the Strategy/Business Plan, in order to meet the organisational goals and objectives such as the People Strategy., Partnered with assigned business units giving strategic HR advice and coaching managers., Ensuring that HR processes comply with legal requirements and managers are aware of their obligations in connection with HR administrative processes., Manage and produce documentation relating to ER matters including, employee changes, performance, maternity and absence management., Provide confidential and timely advice and support to managers and colleagues on HR and ER queries., Work closely with the wider HR team and contribute in the delivery of the HR business plan.
• Career Break, 2021-01 - 2023-04, During this time, I took care of family, completed level 5 CIPD Diploma in Human Resource Management and became a fully qualified and accredited mediator.
• Director | Shareholder, KGN Pillinger, Croydon, UK, 2013-01-01, 2021-01, Oversaw day-to-day operational management of business., Liaised between all departments within business whilst mediating general disputes and maintaining strong relationships., Planned and implemented strategies to drive organisation forward whilst managing all HR aspects., Owned responsibility of managing all HR aspects., Managed all service jobs, routine maintenance contracts, quotations and Engineer's diary, and mobile version for external engineers., Gained knowledge regarding changes in employment law, whilst managing disciplinary hearings., Steered efforts in implementing contractual changes, managing general HR administration, and supporting employee relations., Supported headcount of 54 employees, including payroll, daily banking, monitoring cashflow, and shared responsibility for production of certain filings including VAT returns, P11D and P60's., Led service division which contributed 31.3% to company's turnover; directed 3 Engineers, two Administrators, and Service Manager; monitored profitability by analysing costs and developing/upgrading systems as well as processes., Served as an integral member of senior leadership team; chaired weekly director meetings, developed and presented detailed/comprehensive reports to support evidence-based decision making.