Kintsugi Heroes: Uncovering our Hidden Value

Troy grew up in Bendigo, Victoria and studied sports science at university. He developed curiosity and appreciation for learning through diverse life experiences and family challenges.

After university, Troy travelled extensively, living in places like Greece, Iran, and South America. He worked in remote cattle stations, ski field management at Mount Buller, and even spent six months living in a zoo.

Troy built a varied career in ban...

Catherine Robertson is a highly experienced wellbeing and leadership coach, consultant, and keynote speaker who bridges corporate leadership and personal growth.

With a 20-year career in the pharmaceutical industry and over a decade specialising in wellbeing, mindfulness, and positive psychology, she supports leaders to enhance health, resilience, and performance through evidence-based approaches.

Catherine designs and delivers tra...

Joanna Nell is a British/Australian author, former GP and advocate for positive ageing. Her journey began with a deep curiosity about people. As a doctor, she listened closely to her patients and cared for them with empathy and understanding every day.

Leaving a successful medical career, Joanna followed her passion for writing. She shows us it’s possible to change direction in life and start something new at any age.

Storytelling is...

Ros Knight began her journey as a good listener among friends during high school, soon realizing her interest in how people think and grow. Her first career path did not quite fit, but Ros found her true calling as a psychologist, driven by her desire to help others.

Over the years, she has built a strong foundation in clinical practice, always focusing on understanding both the brain and the person.

Ros became a respected advocate, ...

Jill Nash overcame early family tragedy and loss, showing remarkable strength. Her experiences shaped a determined outlook, helping her guide her family and herself through life’s most challenging moments with courage.

Now 86 years old, UK born Jill champions dignified aging and end-of-life choices and is involved in voluntary assisted dying initiatives including creating creates seminars to encourage open, supportive conversations ...

Peter Donnell grew up in Sydney’s northern suburbs. His career began strongly but the early 2000s brought unexpected hurdles, including workplace changes and the closure of his office. He also faced tough commutes and job stress.

His wife’s health after childbirth brought extra challenges at home. Managing a newborn and household demands grew more difficult and pressures continually increased during this period.

After changing jobs P...

Margot was born in 1962 in Australia, the daughter of Dutch immigrant parents. She left school in year 11 and went to art school in the Netherlands for a little while.

On her return she secured an apprenticeship the pre-press printing industry as a 'retoucher and dot etcher'. She worked in that trade until opening her Apple Computer store, Mac & Me in Avalon, Sydne...

From war zones to slums, Aaron Tait has travelled to and worked in more than 70 countries across the globe as a military officer, humanitarian and social entrepreneur, and now writes to help people live deliberate lives filled with purpose. 

Aaron was thrust into the frontline of international crisis at a young age, deploying to Iraq immediately after 9/11 as a 17-year-old military officer. A move to East Africa at 25, sa...

Michael describes how leaving Africa for Australia brought him both emptiness and relief. Building a new life meant loss of networks and family upheaval, including divorce, yet the safety, law and order in Australia provided comfort.

Michael’s passion for high-risk activities like kayaking, skydiving, and micro-lighting was driven by adrenaline and the thrill of adventure, helping him stay present. These pursuits beca...

Michal’s childhood was filled with outdoor adventure and freedom in Rhodesia, growing up on a hobby farm, fishing and riding, but also navigating a complex relationship with his Scottish father’s temper.

Being sent to boarding school at a young age shaped Michael’s sense of independence and self-reliance but also led to feelings of abandonment and questions about his own self-worth over many years.

He recalls a safe, respectful commu...

John had a tough childhood, surviving mental and physical abuse. Living on the streets at fourteen shaped his empathy, wisdom, and understanding of the challenges facing many men today.

From truck driver to mindfulness coach, John’s story includes surviving a catastrophic accident, experiencing a spiritual awakening, and transforming years of darkness into clarity. He teaches simple practices that bring peace and connection.

John’s l...

Petrina Barson grew up as the youngest of five girls in a loving family, surrounded by compassion and kindness. Her early life set the foundations for her caring nature. She attended a church school, learning about Christian principles and compassion. The experience shaped her guiding light, even though she did not fully embrace all its teachings.

Medicine was not an obvious path for Petrina. She found medical education challenging ...

Daniel had a fairly normal upbringing with a supportive family, a love of nature, and a Catholic faith. He loves family, friends, community, and his dog. 

Daniel says his Catholic upbringing is very important to him. He holds faith sacred, has a strong sense of values, and appreciates opportunities to reflect and understand what truly matters in life.

He loves connecting and is most comfortable when others share their stories. H...

Sharna is the Founder of Kindred Spirits a not-for-profit organisation with the vision to create a holistic healing sanctuary for children who've experienced trauma. As a transformation coach she helps people overcome anxiety, self-doubt, and people-pleasing through her signature Reclamation process, holistically reclaiming the mind, body, emotions and spirit. As a child, she was sexually abused by her step-grandfather, which left ...

Sherrie Laryse is an Emotional Intelligence Consultant with a degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and a background in human behaviour, trauma, psychosomatics, mental illness, yoga, and meditation. She has authored two books about overcoming challenges—"On Path” and “The Body Talks Back”—and is currently completing her Master’s degree in Psychological Anthropology, specialising in emotional intelligence skills. Sherrie’s aim is to empo...

Michelle grew up as an only child in Melbourne, surrounded by adults, in a quiet home shaped by grief, missed connections and a sense of being different from other children. Her early childhood was defined by few friends, no pets and a risk-averse environment, where independence grew from a lack of emotional nurturing and encouragement to play.

Michelle learned to craft a polished exterior, which hid the turmoil within. She had two ...

Lance grew up moving often, with a tough childhood and feelings of not fitting in. He struggled at school, found it hard to make friends and often felt alone.  Early on, Lance showed signs of ADHD and anger, feeling out of place and hearing constant criticism which shaped his self-belief and experience at home and school.  

He started work young, taking on paper rounds and mowing lawns. After working as a builder he f...

 Mark grew up in Albany in WA, enjoying nature and learning from his schoolteacher parents, who blended creativity, resilience and the support that shaped his values and curiosity. After finishing high school, he went on to university in Perth, where he made lifelong friends. Mark began a corporate career in logistics and sales, working for Rio Tinto across Australia and Asia, learning about business, hard work and balancing c...

Nicole grew up in a loving family in Cape Town, South Africa before moving to Australia with her parents and siblings at the end of high school. 

Nicole met her husband Chris in her early twenties, married young, and together navigated early adventures including running a café and art gallery in Hawk’s Nest. After starting her family, she devoted herself to raising two children. She found joy and perspective in daily life throu...