ABOUT THE TEAM
ABOUT
Jen thought her life had reached its peak when she saw ABBA at the age of 9. She worked hard to find some meaning after that and then she found law – Dancing Queens were replaced by Q.C.s and her robes and wigs were more sombre, but she’s been a lawyer for over 30 years and she loves it.
Jen spent 15 years at Minter Ellison and 8 years as a partner at Kennedys. She’d witnessed countless workplace disputes that were entirely avoidable. That’s why, in 2015, she embarked on her mission to prevent workplace conflict before it escalates, and Bicknell Law & Consulting was born. Jen does the usual employment lawyery stuff, from contracts to dispute resolution, but her focus is on dispute prevention.
Jen’s educated countless business owners and managers on mastering the art of performance management, equipping them with bespoke scripts, coaching, workshops, and courses, provided online and in-person. Her ultimate goal? Empowering clients with the expertise and tools to handle challenges independently – making herself redundant!
Want to know what people have to say about Jen? Click here for testimonials.
Get in contact with Jen: jen@jenniferbicknell.com.au
ABOUT
Deborah Stonley joined us as an HR Consultant in 2025, bringing with her a legendary track record in HR leadership.
Deborah cut her teeth in HR at David Jones and Woolworths, before becoming the Head of Human Resources for several leading law firms for over three decades. If there’s a tricky people problem, Deborah’s probably solved it – multiple times.
Deborah doesn’t just ‘do HR’, she helps businesses build strong, capable teams while guiding leaders in achieving career, business, and personal success. She cuts through the noise with a pragmatic and commercially savvy approach.
Deborah has led many significant HR activities across remuneration, recruitment, leadership development and performance management, but her superpower is untangling complex people issues, especially when businesses are facing challenge, uncertainty, and change.
When she’s not wearing her HR cape, you’ll find Deborah power walking, enjoying a great meal, singing along at a concert, or spending time with her family. (Don’t worry, for safety reasons, she never does all of these things at the same time).
Get in contact with Deborah: deborah@jenniferbicknell.com.
ABOUT
Sarah Ryding joined us as an HR Consultant in 2026, bringing with her deep experience and a refreshingly practical, solutions focused approach to people and business.
She began her HR career in her father’s company 30 years ago before moving through not for profits, the health sector, and start ups. For the last 12 years she has owned and run a commercial construction and manufacturing business. That mix of environments means she’s seen almost everything- and can usually fix it before it becomes “a thing.”
Sarah loves understanding how a business really works and believes that strong foundations, proactive people management, and early intervention make workplaces calmer, clearer, and far more enjoyable. Her generalist expertise spans recruitment, performance management, remuneration and benefits, and employee and industrial relations, all delivered with her trademark efficiency and empathy.
Outside of work, Sarah is busy with friends, family, and thriving sports taxi schedule. She sits on several committees – from golf to orthopaedic research – and turns the music up at every opportunity. And in a very important cultural alignment, she shares Jen’s unwavering love of a well made Negroni.
Get in contact with Sarah: sarah@jenniferbicknell.com.au
ABOUT
Stuart Bicknell is a highly experienced communications and stakeholder engagement professional whose career spans government, business, and the not‑for‑profit sector. He’s known for bringing clarity, calm, and strategic thinking to complex situations – especially when the issues are sensitive, the timelines tight, or the stakeholders diverse.
Stuart has shaped communications strategies, managed community engagement programs, and supported senior leaders through major projects and organisational change. He understands that effective communication isn’t just about words – it’s about capturing the right information, for the right audience, at the right time, by the right means, and in the right voice. It’s a discipline he’s refined over thousands of briefings, resources, conversations, and campaigns.
He’s a whiz at sourcing crucial industry information, separating marketing fluff from meaningful communication, and making the most of emerging tools such as AI, to work smarter and faster.
Stuart has been part of the Bicknell Law & Consulting story for many years, helping us communicate with purpose and precision. He’s also our resident keeper of fun facts – a role he takes far more seriously than anyone expected.
Get in contact with Stuart: stuart@jenniferbicknell.com.au
