About the Firm
Built on Trust,
Driven by Results.
"Now that I've seen who she's recruited and been through the experience myself, I can say she's very good at what she does."
CFO — Client & Candidate
Our Story
About
Turning Stones was founded by Jo Shapley in response to a simple but persistent problem: the traditional recruitment model wasn't delivering where it mattered most.
Too often, senior, complex and business-critical roles were left unfilled — or filled poorly — leaving organisations and their recruiters frustrated and exposed.
Jo is a career recruiter with two decades of experience and a strong track record of delivery. She has built long-standing relationships across the commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors, known for her direct approach, sound judgement and consistent outcomes.
Her experience spans banking and financial services, global recruitment within a leading non-profit, and over a decade operating in the Canberra market as a trusted HR and executive search partner.
Jo Shapley
Principal Consultant
Our Approach
What Sets Us Apart Isn't Just What We Do — It's How We Do It
Our search methodology is designed to deliver in an increasingly competitive talent market. It's transparent, structured and built to give you confidence in your hiring decisions.
We partner closely with you from the outset, investing time to understand the organisation, the people and the context behind each role.
That depth means you don't just hear from us weeks later with a shortlist. We bring you into the process — sharing insights, testing assumptions and adjusting the search as needed. The result is a well-aligned longlist and a considered, agreed shortlist.
Clients value the consistency: clear communication, strong follow-through, and a process that stays engaged from briefing through to placement — and well beyond.
We're known for staying close. For being responsive. For working through complexity rather than stepping away from it. And for bringing a level of care and personal investment that is increasingly rare in recruitment.
Many of our clients describe the experience not as transactional, but as a genuine partnership — built on trust, insight and long-term thinking.
"Jo operates in the executive search space, not transactional recruitment. She solves complex, hard-to-fill roles and consistently delivers the right people."
CEO — National Non-Profit
What We Stand For
Core Principles
Professional and Partnership-Led
We know when a search requires a high level of confidentiality — and manage it accordingly. Candidate information is handled with care, and sensitive engagements are approached with the discretion they demand.
Rigour Without Compromise
We do not shortlist candidates we have not thoroughly assessed. Our process is thorough because the stakes are too high for shortcuts.
Relationships Over Transactions
We work with clients over time — supporting multiple hires, career moves and organisational shifts. Success isn't just a placement, it's the longer-term impact on the organisation.
Work With Us