Meet the Team

Unrivaled aged care experience

Gaynor Giro

Founder and Director


Altaira was founded in 2008 by Gaynor Giro, and since then it has grown exponentially from just two nurses locally to a vibrant and robust national organisation. In 1991 at the age of 21, Gaynor began her career as a Carer, Endorsed Enrolled Nurse, and Registered Nurse, with Florence Nightingale as her inspiration.

It was her experiences working in these roles within aged care facilities that made her realise that she needed to make a positive change within the aged care industry. She wanted to ensure that our aging population was getting the best care possible, and established Altaira with that mission.

Gaynor established Altaira wanting to become a partner to her clients in the sector, not just another service provider. She was instrumental in setting the foundations for Altaira, achieving the goals she set for herself and her small team, and then guiding and growing Altaira into a company where family matters, what you stand for matters, and how you achieve it matters.

Gaynor is exceptionally proud of how far the company has grown and the direction that Jelena and the rest of the team are taking it. Gaynor feels that one of Altaira’s strengths is the great sense of teamwork amongst the team, and this is one of the reasons the company runs so effectively.

Her greatest accomplishment has been building and maintaining personalised relationships with both clients and staff. It is important to Gaynor that everyone feels valued and seen, instead of merely a number in the company.

Jelena Giro

Director


As the Director of Altaira, RCSA SA council member, Chair of ANRA, and current RCSA Board Member, Jelena is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and supporting the labour hire and recruitment industry with over 10 years’ of Executive Leadership experience. She brings a unique value proposition to the table with a strong and deep understanding of the Health and Aged Care Sector with her specialties being recruitment, staffing, and workplace solutions.

Throughout her career, Jelena has demonstrated a strong record of success driving growth, profitability, and brand awareness while growing Altaira from a small start agency into a national provider. Her strengths are implementing innovative solutions and strategies for staffing and workplace solutions as well as optimising operational processes. Jelena’s passion is to advocate and contribute to the industry at every level with the goal of driving positive change.

She received RCSA’s CEO Outstanding Contribution in 2023, which recognises RCSA Members who have gone above and beyond in selflessly supporting the community. Jelena’s biggest accomplishment achieved at Altaira is implementing the mentorship program for graduate nurses. Jelena is a strong advocate in supporting fairness and equality in the workforce and strongly believes that everyone needs to start somewhere, they just need to be empowered with the right opportunities.

John Denham

Head of Client Operations


John is the Client Operations Manager at Altaira and has been in the position since 2014 where he has been instrumental in implementing best practice systems, procedures, and databases. In this role, John manages all aspects of the business, including the recruitment, training, and supervision of staff, maintenance of databases, marketing, and business development, and quality control.

In 1999 John became a Nurse and worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. For ten years he worked as the Unit Manager in Aged Care, and alongside this, he continued his work as a Business Development Manager in the recruitment industry before commencing his role at Altaira. John has 25 years of experience in the recruitment and sales industries, developing well-regarded and valued relationships nationally. He also has experience managing his own recruitment agency in Melbourne.

John is proud to be a part of the team that transformed Altaira from a boutique agency into the prominent leader it is now in South Australia and the Northern Territory. He enjoys working with Altaira’s clients, partners, and staff to ensure that Altaira can offer a comprehensive range of high-quality services and support. John’s goal for Altaira is to continue to be more diverse and grow into a national recruitment company that specialises in the aged care sector.

It is the diversity in his role as the industry evolves that inspires John. He is a strong advocate for social and cultural rights in the workplace and values the importance of providing equal opportunities for all.

Michael Zoumaras

Head of Allied Health


Michael joined Altaira in 2021 and brings strong clinical and academic expertise to his role as Head of Allied Health, holding both a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and a Bachelor of Medical Science.
Prior to qualifying as a Physiotherapist, Michael worked as a Disability Care Worker, providing him with a solid foundation in holistic, client‑centred care and the importance of building meaningful, trusting relationships with clients.
Michael is deeply passionate about supporting clients to maintain their independence, believing this leads to improved long‑term outcomes. He places a strong emphasis on empowering clients to self‑manage their injuries and concerns in ways that are meaningful and sustainable for them.
One of Michael’s greatest accomplishments at Altaira has been the successful establishment and expansion of the Allied Health team, with a strong focus on cultivating a culture of trust and maintaining high professional standards. He also developed a professional, high‑quality, evidence‑based pre‑employment Functional Assessment service. Michael is enthusiastic about Altaira’s future growth into the occupational health field and looks forward to supporting staff as they continue to grow and develop their skills in this area.

Josie Woll

Head of Education and Clinical Governance, RN, B Health Science (Honours), BN


Josie Woll joined Altaira in 2023, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep passion for enhancing the lives of older Australians while also supporting the vital workforce that provides quality care. With over a decade in aged care management and a background as a Registered Nurse, Josie is dedicated to providing exceptional care within the aged care setting. Holding a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) and a Bachelor of Nursing, Josie’s expertise extends beyond direct care. She possesses a strong understanding of accreditation compliance and leverages her leadership and recruitment skills to build and motivate high-quality care teams. Josie leads Altaira’s robust Nursing Graduate Program, providing invaluable support to newly qualified Registered Nurses.

The program pairs Graduate RNs with experienced aged care Registered Nurses and offers 24-hour access to Josie and her team for mentoring and guidance. This commitment to nurturing new talent underscores Josie’s dedication to the future of aged care. Furthermore, Josie is instrumental in driving the education and training sector within Altaira, shaping the next generation of healthcare workers.

She is a passionate advocate for the aged care sector and regularly guest lectures on topics designed to inspire student nurses to consider a career in aged care. Josie is committed to showcasing how working in aged care can “shape the future” of student and graduate nurses, highlighting the fulfilling benefits and diverse opportunities available within the sector. She works tirelessly to ensure a high-quality aging experience for all Australians, collaborating with others and championing the importance of aged care as a rewarding and impactful career choice.

Bradley Holden

Head of Workforce Operations


Bradley joined Altaira’s Allocations team in January 2023 and quickly demonstrated exceptional capability in rostering and meeting the diverse needs of our clients. Now serving as Senior Allocations Manager, his role has expanded significantly to include leading the Allocations team, providing daily supervision, and working closely with the Management team. Bradley brings a strong depth of knowledge and a genuine commitment to delivering high‑quality service, with a clear focus on positive staff development and training across all teams. His ability to leverage the latest technologies to streamline processes and workflows has enhanced Altaira’s service delivery, positioning the organisation at the forefront of the sector. Bradley is eager to pursue further studies in leadership and management as he continues to grow with Altaira.

Luke

Allocations Team Leader


Luke Parletta has been an integral part of Altaira since joining in February 2021, rising to the role of Allocations Team Leader by September 2024. Known for his leadership and problem-solving abilities, Luke has been instrumental in managing client requests, streamlining processes, and guiding his team to success. His input in IT and training projects has helped implement innovative solutions that enhance Altaira’s service delivery. While pursuing a Bachelor of Law, Luke continues to develop his skills, aiming to combine his legal knowledge with his role to grow within the organisation. Luke’s commitment to Altaira’s supportive and family-oriented culture makes him a valued leader, and he believes this strong environment sets Altaira apart as a truly exceptional workplace.

Gabbi Ocenasek

Head of Business Development & Partnerships


Gabbi joined the Altaira team in 2019, and now as Head of Business Development and Partnerships, she is responsible for developing and overseeing the execution of Altaira’s marketing and recruitment initiatives. Her career so far has provided her with experience in brand and event management, digital marketing/social media, content creation, executive communications, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and partnerships. Her favourite aspect of working with Altaira is engaging with so many inspirational aged care workers who make a difference to the lives of our seniors in aged care. With the number of Australians aged over 85 set to double by 2042, the demand for a specially trained and dedicated workforce is stronger than ever. Gabbi is passionate about engaging, recruiting, and inspiring the next generation of healthcare workers. A strong advocate for mental well-being, Gabbi facilitated Altaira’s mental fitness program to help prevent aged care nurses from developing anxiety and burn-out.

Irene Zoumaras

Head of Corporate Compliance


Irene joined Altaira in early 2026, bringing a wealth of expertise from the legal, banking, and compliance sectors. With a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Australian National University, as well as a Certificate IV in Compliance and Risk Management, Irene is uniquely equipped to navigate the complex regulatory landscape of healthcare and labor hire. At Altaira, Irene oversees enterprise-wide adherence to legislative requirements, ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality across aged care, hospitals, and community health. She is passionate about embedding a proactive compliance culture that prioritises human impact and the wellbeing of those in our care.