Porter O'Brien Expands Management Consulting Practice with HR Expertise
- Porter O'Brien Team
- Sep 16, 2025
- 2 min read
Saint John, NB – September 15 – Porter O'Brien is proud to announce the expansion of its Management Consulting practice with the addition of Human Resources Professional Emily Small, based in the firm's Saint John office.
For years, Porter O'Brien has worked with clients across the region on leadership training, strategic planning, and organizational development. The addition of Emily's HR expertise builds on this foundation, allowing the firm to offer an even broader range of solutions to help organizations succeed.
Emily brings proven experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, and workforce development, further enhancing the firm's ability to deliver human resources management services, including:
Recruitment & Talent Acquisition
Employee Onboarding & Training
Performance Management Systems
Policy Development & Compliance
Workplace Culture & Engagement Strategies
Conflict Resolution & Mediation
Workforce Planning & Succession Management
"Our clients trust us to provide the strategic insights and tools they need to thrive," said Jacqueline Durnford, Management Consulting Lead at Porter O'Brien. "Adding Emily's expertise means we can now support them at every stage of their organizational journey, from setting strategy to building and developing the right team."
Meet our team of Management Consultants:
Jacqueline Durnford, Senior Associate
Jacqueline specializes in change management, stakeholder engagement, and human resources, with experience across municipalities, Indigenous organizations, and private clients. She is pursuing her CP3 designation and brings a strong background in business operations, market expansion, and organizational restructuring.
Joni Leger, Senior Associate
Joni has 20 years of experience in strategic planning, research, and program management. She has led applied research projects and fostered collaborations across industry, academia, and the non-profit sector, including senior leadership roles in post-secondary institutions.
Emily Small, Senior Associate
Emily Small recently joined Porter O’Brien as a Senior Associate, bringing 5 years of HR leadership. She excels in recruitment, onboarding, training, and policy development, fostering strong workplace cultures that empower teams, enhance performance, and support long-term organizational success.
Jessica Langille, Consultant
Jessica brings over 13 years in the public sector, focused on strategy, policy, and stakeholder engagement. Her work includes provincial population growth strategies, labour agreements for NB Immigration, and consultations with First Nations communities.
Claudia Gervais, Associate
Claudia is a bilingual consultant with Porter O’Brien, where she has worked since the summer of 2021. She specializes in research, digital communications, and stakeholder engagement, with prior experience in public relations, fundraising, and the non-profit sector.
About Porter O'Brien
Porter O'Brien is a public affairs and management consulting firm with offices in Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton. We work with clients across Canada and internationally, helping them achieve success through strategic advice, innovative solutions, and measurable results.
Recent projects include optimizing operations affecting thousands of families, improving organizational efficiency by 80%, and guiding complex stakeholder engagement processes across Atlantic Canada.
For more information:
Jessica Sundblad
Business Development Manager
Porter O'Brien
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