Evidence-based, practical, and playful is a powerful mix.

Here’s my official story:  

As an award-winning researcher and playful change activator, I’m passionate about translating cutting-edge research into practical strategies that help care for wellbeing, supercharge psychosocial safety, and co-create change in workplaces, schools, and communities.  

I’m an honorary fellow at Melbourne University’s Center for Wellbeing Science, the author of six best-selling books and numerous journal articles, a regular contributor to Psychology Today, and have published over 250 interviews with leading researchers and practitioners on the Making Positive Psychology Work podcast. With a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and a Ph.D. in systems change, my award-winning work has been recognized globally and featured in outlets including Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, and The Age and am recognized as a Mental Health thought leader on LinkedIn.  

Here’s my unofficial story:  

After growing up in a family overwhelmed with mental health challenges, violence, and drug abuse I longed just to be happy. Despite steadily ticking off the realization of a great career, financial security, good friends, a loving family, travelling the world and more, while my life came to look great on paper, I was a stressed-out mess who couldn’t keep up with the life I had created. So, I went back to school to discover the latest science and to seek playful and practical ways to thrive, even in the midst of the struggles we all encounter. 

1994

Climbs public relations ranks and becomes youngest general manager for large ad firm – along the way loses 100 sheep in the middle of Melbourne.

2001

Travels the world working for IBM and PwC and becomes global brand director in New York – along the way realizes most efforts to change organizational behaviour get compliance, but rarely commitment.

2008

Flies from Melbourne to Philly every 3 weeks to complete Masters of Applied Positive Psychology – loses her passport and still manages to get customs to let her into the country.

2009

Joins PwC Australia’s HR team and uses positive psychology to build a thriving team culture – teaches accountants and auditors the value of sometimes being optimistic.

2012

Creates The Wellbeing Lab to help people boost thriving and navigate struggle – along the way delivers a workshop to a football stadium filled with workers in America.

2019

Completes her PhD and co-creates The Change Lab to help people embrace the mess and magic of change – along the way talks to positive change leaders all over the world.

2019

Co-creates The Leaders Lab to help leaders build cultures of CARE – along the way creates a new leadership measure.