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Conference Details

Pre Conference Workshops:

Wednesday 13 May, 9am - 5pm

The Art & Science of Love or
The Mindful Brain

Conference Day One

Thursday 14th May,

8.30am - 5:30pm

Conference Day Two

Friday 15th May,

8.30am - 5:30pm

Post Conference Workshops:

Saturday 16th May

Morning Workshops 9am - 12pm

Workshop 1: The Architecture of
Sustainable Happiness
Workshop 2: Your Creative Intelligence - how to develop your key to the future
Workshop 3: Living the Examined Life - the practice
Workshop 4: Building Resilience in
Families and Australian Communities

Afternoon Workshops 2pm - 5pm

Workshop 5: Ordinary Children,
Extraordinary Teachers - unlocking
the brilliant child within
every student
Workshop 6: The Joy of Meditation and the Altruistic Spirit of Awakening
Workshop 7: Practical Tools for
Positive Relationships that Transform You and the Organisation
Workshop 8: Happiness and
Creativity: the wake-up workshop

› Add this to my calendar

or call +61 (2) 8719 5118

Conference Volunteers

Do you want to lend a hand at one of Sydney’s most successful conferences?
We have a variety of volunteer roles available including, guest services, registration, set-up, information desk, speaker escorts and more.
For more information or to confirm your availability, please call Helen at the Vajrayana Institute on 02 8916 7414.

Look Back at 2008

"The conference has been awesome! Really exceeded expectations and I had pretty high expectations...I will take a lot of this inspiration home with me where I hope to apply it both professionally and personally."

Holly Vitale, Alzheimers Australia, VIC

"The conference was wonderful. All the speakers were inspirational approaches were accessible and pragmatic confirming meditation and compassion for others does enhance our well-being."

Ann Dunn, Counsellor, QLD Corrective Services

"Fantastic once again, after the third time! Thank you"

Paul Russell, Mental Health Services

To see more testimonials click here

2009 Sponsors

To find out more about what a great opportunity it is to sponsor this event

Email: sales@vayrayana.com.au

Professional Development Points

Members of some Endorsing Associations such as the Australian Counselling Association

The Australian Psychological Society

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

are entitled to claim conference attendance as professional development points.
Learn more

Affiliates 2009

An initiative of

In association with

Thank you for attending Happiness and Its Causes 2009
To Register for Happiness & Its Causes 2010 please visit: http://www.terrapinn.com/2010/happiness/
Register now to save $400!

EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HAPPY

Endorsing Bodies 2009

How to improve the happiness and overall quality of life is the big issue of our time. And it is not just an individual quest for happiness – now is a time of intense focus on how to improve the happiness of others in care, within families and in the workplace.

In its fourth amazing year, Happiness & Its Causes is an extraordinary conference bringing together 50+ speakers and an engaged audience of over 2,000 delegates for a thrilling exploration of the science, psychology and philosophy of human happiness.

Incredible highlights
of Happiness 09
* The world’s top psychologists: including acclaimed positive psychology researcher Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, UCLA psychiatrist Dr Daniel Siegal and the celebrated author Dr Daniel Goleman in an exclusive pre-recorded session.

* The world’s leader in relationships research: relationships are the foundation of happiness, so we’re bringing to you the world authority on relationships, Dr John Gottman. Don’t miss his workshop, The Art & Science of Love.

* The cutting edge of science and medicine: extraordinary stories from the frontiers of brain science from the author of The Brain That Changes Itself, Dr Norman Doidge and the controversial British anti-depressants researcher Professor Irving Kirsch.

* The world’s leading creative thinker: Tony Buzan turns his creative genius to how to use creative techniques to lead a more fulfilled and purposeful life.

* Explore meaning and purpose: an eclectic gathering of philosophers and thinkers including Robina Courtin and Australia’s Richard Neville.

* True stories: be inspired by award-winning educator Marva Collins and Australian humanitarian Geraldine Cox. Be moved by the heart-wrenching story of Ingrid Poulson.

To view the full conference program

Conference filling fast
With four weeks to go we are now approaching 1,800 delegates!

Conference workshops are filling fast. Dr John Gottman’s full day pre-conference workshop on The Art and Science of Love is almost full.

Only a few places left in post conference workshops – Ordinary Children, Extraordinary Teachers with Marva Collins and Happiness & Creativity: the wake up workshop with Stephanie Dowrick.

Program Changes
It is with regret we announce that due to ill health Lama Surya Das is no longer able to participate at the Happiness & Its Causes Conference 2009. Our best wishes go for Lama’s speedy recovery.

We are pleased to announce that dynamic Buddhist nun, and past conference favourite, Ven Robina Courtin, will now be presenting his session and workshop.

Gala Dinner
Thursday, 14th May, 2009 at 7.00pm
The Star Room, Level 6 of the IMAX Theatre Complex, Darling Harbour, Sydney

Gala Dinner – limited seats remaining
Join fellow delegates in a fun night of good food, music and dancing. All profit goes to support Geraldine Cox’s Cambodian orphanage, Sunrise Children’sVillage.. We’d encourage you to book now if you wish to attend!

For more information about the Gala Dinner click here.

Book now!
Bring your team!
There are big discounts group bookings. Bring your family, friends and work colleagues!

OUR SPEAKERS

DR JOHN GOTTMAN USA
World leader in relationships research The Gottman Institute, USA Best-Selling Author: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

DR DANIEL SIEGEL, MD, USA
Psychiatrist and award-winning educator, Author: The Mindful Brain, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine; Director, Center for Human Development, USA

VEN ROBINA COURTIN, USA
Executive Director, Liberation Prison Project

PROFESSOR JOHN ARMSTRONG
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Melbourne University; Philosopher in- Residence, Melbourne Business School; Author: Love Life Goethe: How to be Happy in an Imperfect World

DR TOM DENSON
Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of NSW

SHANAKA FERNADO
Australia’s Local Hero 2007, Founder, Lentil As Anything

MORRIS GLEITZMAN
Best-Selling Children’s Author: Once and Then

PROFESSOR IAN HICKIE
Executive Director, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney

JO LAMBLE
Clinical Psychologist; Columnist, New Idea; Presenter Sunrise and The Morning Show, Channel 7, Author: The Partner Test

CYNTHIA MORTON
Author, Speaker, Founder: The Emotional Fitness Program

RENATE OGILVIE
Psychotherapist, Senior Teacher, Vajrayana Institute; Director, World Happiness Forum

TERRY ROBSON
Editor: WellBeing Magazine; Health Reporter SKY News and ABC Local Radio; Author: Deep Health and What's the Alternative?

RENATA CONSIGLO, NATIONAL HR MANAGER
Camp Quality Limited

SOPHIE SCOTT
National Medical Reporter, ABC; Author: Live A Longer Life

DR NORMAN SWAN
Broadcaster, Journalist, Doctor, Presenter: TheHealth Report, ABC Radio National

DR DANIEL GOLEMAN
Psychologist, International Best-Selling Author: Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence, * A pre-recorded session exclusively for Happiness & Its Causes

PROFESSOR SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY
Acclaimed positive psychology researcher University of California, USA

DR NORMAN DOIDGE, MD
Psychiatrist, Researcher and International; Best-Selling Author: The Brain That Changes Itself on the neuroplasticity revolution, Columbia University, New York, USA, and University of Toronto, Canada

MARVA COLLINS
Inspiring, award-winning educator, Author: Marva Collins Way, Marva Collins Schools, USA

GERALDINE COX
Founder, Sunrise Children’s Village, Cambodia, Author: Home is Where the Heart Is

CATH ARMSTRONG
Founder, Cheapskates, Author: Debt Free, Cashed Up and Laughing

PROFESSOR PAULA BARRETT
School of Education, University of Queensland; Director, Pathways Health and Research Centre

LUCINDA BRYANT
Artistic Director, Merry Makers Australia and Dancers, Merry Makers Australia

PROFESSOR ROB DONOVAN
Professor of Behavioural Research, Faculty of Health Science, Curtin University, WA

ALICIA FORTINBERRY, PHD
Fortinberry- Murray Consulting, Best-Selling Author: Creating Optimism

DR JIMMY LITTLE, AO
Australian Living Treasure, celebrated Indigenous musician, Founder, The Jimmy Little Foundation

BOB MURRAY, PhD
Fortinberry- Murray Consulting, Best-Selling Author: Creating Optimism

RUTH OSTROW
Senior Journalist, The Australian; Author: Life Magic

DAVID ROCK
Founder & CEO, Results Coaching Systems, Author: Quiet Leadership

ALAN SAUNDERS
Presenter, The Philosopher’s Zone, ABC Radio National

SHERRY STRONG
Food Philosopher and Nutritional Strategist, Foodlover's Workshop

TONY BUZAN, UK
Leading author on creative thinking Mind Map originator International Best-Selling Author: Use Your Head and The Mind Map Book

PROFESSOR IRVING KIRSCH
Controversial anti-depressants researcher, University of Hull, UK

RICHARD AEDY
Presenter, Life Matters, ABC Radio National

DR CHRISTINE BENNETT
Chief Medical Officer, Bupa Australia Group; Chair, National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission

ANGELA CATTERNS
Broadcaster & Media Veteran

DAVID CROSBIE, CEO
Mental Health Council of Australia

STEPHANIE DOWRICK
Best-Selling Author of fiction and non-fiction, including: Choosing Happiness; Interfaith Minister; Good Weekend columnist

DR RUTH GAWLER
General Practitioner, Group Leader and Therapist, The Gawler Foundation

DR SUZY GREEN
Clinical and Coaching Psychologist, Coaching Psychology Unit, University of Sydney

LIBBY KOCH
Co-author: Kochie's Guide: Smart Couples Start with Nothing and Create Real Wealth and Women’s Guide to Going It Alone

JULIE MCCROSSIN
Journalist, TV & Radio Presenter

RICHARD NEVILLE
Australia’s most controversial futurist, Co-founder and Director, The Neville Freeman Agency; Author: Footprints of the Future

DR VERA RANKI
Founding Director, Examined Life Institute, Multiple award winning author and academic

DR BRIAN ROSNER
Fellow of the Centre for Public Christianity; Lecturer, Moore Theological College, Author: Beyond Greed and Editor: The Consolations of Theology

PROFESSOR TIM SHARP
Founder and Chief Happiness Officer, The Happiness Institute, Author: The Happiness Handbook

PAUL THOMPSON
Principal, Kimberley College, Queensland