About The Founder
We help HR leaders build kinder, more equitable workplaces—where empathy, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety are the norm, not the exception.
I started The Human Approach because, after more than 20 years in senior HR roles, I saw the same patterns repeating: people feeling unheard, unsupported, or reduced to a case number. I’ve worked in organisations of all shapes and sizes, from ambitious start-ups to global corporates, and across every environment, one truth has stayed the same: when HR leads with heart, everything changes. I’ve witnessed how empathy and emotional intelligence can transform workplace culture. I’ve facilitated difficult conversations that became turning points. I’ve seen how clarity, care, and courage in leadership can rebuild trust and retention from the ground up. The Human Approach is my response to a system that too often forgets the humans at its core. I created it to support HR professionals who want to make a difference, who believe that values like kindness, equity, and safety shouldn't just live on posters, but in every policy, practice, and conversation. Because when we lead with humanity, we don’t just improve organisations we change lives.
Shirlee Harris
Founder, The Human Approach
We Build Teams
About Our Founder of The Human Approach
I’m Shirlee Harris, a senior HR professional with over 20 years of experience leading people strategy, transformation, and culture change across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
Over the years, I’ve worked with organisations in Public Sector, local government, FMCG, and Medical devices —always with a commitment to putting people at the heart of change. I’ve led complex restructures, championed equality, diversity, and inclusion, coached senior leaders, and navigated challenging employee relations issues. Whether working with boards or frontline teams, my focus has always been the same: building strong, values-led cultures where people feel heard, supported, and empowered to thrive.
I founded The Human Approach to share what I’ve learned—through real experience, not just theory. I design and deliver training that’s practical, compassionate, and rooted in emotional intelligence and leadership insight. My goal is to equip HR professionals and leaders with the tools to confidently navigate complexity while staying true to their values.
• Strategic HR Leadership: Trusted advisor on culture, workforce strategy, and organizational transformation.
• Employee Relations Expertise: Experienced in managing sensitive, high-risk cases with fairness and integrity.
• Leadership Coaching & Development: Helping managers and HR teams grow into confident, emotionally intelligent leaders.
• EDI Advocacy: Proven success in embedding inclusive practices into policies, hiring, and leadership development.
• Change & Transformation: Skilled at leading people through organizational change with empathy and clarity.
• Engaging Training & Facilitation: Known for creating safe, insightful learning spaces where people can reflect, grow, and take action.