Jelena Giro, Leading with Resilience and Community

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, we shine a light on the leaders who don’t just manage businesses, but transform industries. Jelena Giro, Director of Altaira, stands at the forefront of the aged care and recruitment sectors, not only as a market leader in SA and beyond but as a passionate advocate for the workforce that sustains our community.

Since joining in 2014, Jelena has been the driving force behind Altaira’s evolution from a small start-up into a national provider of nursing, personal care, allied health and hospitality staffing.

Jelena’s leadership style is deeply rooted in her personal history. Born in Struga, Macedonia, and raised in Serbia, her childhood was marked by the upheaval of the war in Former Yugoslavia. Her family’s quest for peace and opportunity led them across continents—from South Africa to New Zealand, and eventually settling in Adelaide.

“Growing up as a migrant and a child that constantly moved schools, I was able to adapt to change. I use this skill daily in managing operations at Altaira.”

This resilience is the bedrock of Altaira’s success. While many in the industry focus on “price wars” and “quantity over quality,” Jelena has refused to compromise on integrity. To her, Altaira isn’t just a supplier; it is a genuine partner to clients and residents alike.

Under Jelena’s direction, Altaira has expanded to offer a more comprehensive approach to wellbeing, launching the Altaira Allied Health Clinic, which began as a physiotherapy service and has since grown into a multidisciplinary team.

Jelena is a vocal advocate for the professionals who sustain the healthcare community. Her efforts focus on providing the right opportunities for staff to thrive:

– Mentorship: Establishing dedicated pathways for new nurses and aged care workers, and mental fitness support to prevent burnout.

– The “Accelerate Your Future” Initiative: Now in its second year, this program rewards the hard work of the nursing workforce by offering prizes, including a vehicle, as a way to bring recognition to a demanding profession.

– Industry Leadership: Jelena serves as an RCSA Non-Executive Board Director and Chair of ANRA. Her contributions were recognised in 2023 with the RCSA CEO Outstanding Contribution Award.

A mother of two daughters, Jelena is motivated by the desire to show the next generation of women that they can be “dreamers and doers” simultaneously. She balances the complexities of being a business owner and a parent by embracing growth, accepting failures, and constantly seeking wisdom from those around her.

“What we do in life, working hard, making sacrifices, achieving successes and navigating failures, is the journey I embrace daily so that my girls can have a bright future,” Jelena says. “I want them to believe in giving back and always coming from a place of gratefulness, kindness and generosity.”

This philosophy is already taking root. Jelena’s daughter, Aleksandra, is currently spearheading a fundraiser to support sports education opportunities for girls in Nepal.

For Jelena, business is personal. Inspired by her mother-in-law, who founded Altaira in 2008 to make a difference in aged care, Jelena views the company as an extension of family.

“There is an African proverb I use at home: ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ This also applies to the growth of a business,” Jelena explains. “Without your work family, you don’t flourish; without the support of your home family, the balance is a struggle.”

As we look toward the future of aged care and female leadership in 2026, Jelena Giro reminds us that the strongest businesses are built on compassion, resilience, and the courage to change.