Tell us about your business?
Cornerstone Consulting Group (CCG) is a South Australian owned human resources consultancy founded by husband-and-wife team Riley and Jasmine Kirkpatrick.
We partner with growing Australian businesses to deliver expert HR support without the overhead of a full-time in-house hire. With over 30 years’ combined experience in HR and operational leadership, we dive deep into our clients’ teams to become a seamless extension of their business.
We focus on the “people side” of business: ensuring compliance, enhancing culture, and helping leaders manage performance with confidence. Because many growing businesses under 100 employees can’t justify a $100K+ internal HR role, we offer an effective alternative.
As a local, family-owned business, we believe in rolling up our sleeves and working alongside our clients. No fluff, no one-size-fits-all templates - just solutions that work in the real world.
Jasmine and Riley have recently welcomed their son, Hugo – who is now 6 months old. So they are in the thick of balancing family whilst building their business.
What has been your greatest success?
Our greatest successes are the transformations we’ve facilitated with our clients, turning HR from a “necessary burden” into a strategic enabler of growth and morale. Whether it's improving management capability, resolving culture issues, or streamlining their people processes, the most rewarding part is seeing teams thrive and businesses grow because of our work.
On the internal side, we’re proud of scaling from a husband-and-wife team to a team of 7 (and growing) and becoming a trusted partner for many SMEs across South Australia, helping clients with compliance, performance, engagement and more. The testimonials we receive remind us that our approach is making a real difference.
What do you value about FBA?
We believe deeply in the idea of legacy, multi-generational thinking and shared values - things at the very heart of many family businesses. By joining FBA, we gain access to a network of other values-driven businesses, and opportunities to exchange wisdom, support and perspective with peers who truly understand the challenges of combining family and business.
The value we derive most from FBA is the sense of community: you’re not alone.
We’re at the early stages of building both our family and business, so to hear the perspectives of those who have travelled the road before is invaluable.
What advice would you give to other family businesses?
As a Human Resources consultancy, here’s our advice to family businesses based on what we’ve seen across some of our clients:
Put structure around relationships.
Even in a family business, roles and reporting lines matter. Clearly define who’s responsible for what, and make sure those expectations are written down. It avoids confusion and protects relationships when difficult conversations arise.
Don’t skip the fundamentals.
Policies, contracts, performance frameworks - these aren’t “big business” tools; they’re risk-reduction tools. Even small, family-run teams need documented processes to ensure fairness, compliance, and consistency.
Have the hard conversations early.
Whether it’s about pay, performance, or succession, avoiding awkward topics only makes them harder later. Create a culture of openness - it keeps communication healthy and trust intact.
Invest in leadership capability.
The biggest challenge in businesses isn’t technical skill, it’s people leadership. Equip family members and managers with the confidence and tools to give feedback, manage performance, and develop their teams.
Lead with your values.
Family businesses thrive when decisions reflect shared values, not just short-term results. If your people understand what you stand for, they’ll stay engaged and help carry that legacy forward.
Learn more about Cornerstone Consulting Group
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