Happiness and Its Causes 2009

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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

SPEAKERS


		RICHARD AEDY, Presenter, Life Matters, ABC Radio National Richard Aedy is a broadcaster who's spent a good portion of his adult life overseas. He did his degree and journalism studies in New Zealand, where he began his career. He spent five years in London, mostly at the BBC, and returned to Australia 11 years ago. Richard’s been presenting Life Matters on ABC Radio National since the beginning of 2006. After more than 20 years in journalism, he still claims to be interested in ‘almost everything’. Richard is married with two young children and admits to being happy.

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

		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 Professor John Armstrong is a Council Fellow at the University of Melbourne and Philosopher in Residence at the Melbourne Business School. He is the author of several internationally acclaimed books including In Search of Civilisation; Love Life Goethe; The Secret Power of Beauty and The Intimate Philosophy of Art. His primary interest is in the quality of relationships to ideas, people and objects - and the significance of such relationships for individual and collective flourishing. He is currently writing a book, called Midnight Conversations, on the secret thoughts, hopes, fears and fantasies we have about the meaning of our own lives.

		PROFESSOR PAULA BARRETT, School of Education, University of Queensland; Director, Pathways Health and Research Centre Paula is internationally recognised as a prominent scholar and groundbreaking researcher in the field of child psychology. Her life goal is to maximise the happiness of every child through early intervention, prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression. Paula’s positive psychology programs can be used in clinics and classrooms to increase social and emotional skills in children from the age of four. Developed in 1991 the FRIENDS for Life resilience program has travelled around the world. Paula’s work is implemented on a charitable basis in Australian schools by the Pathways to Resilience Trust. Paula was a Finalist in the Australian of the Year Award, Queensland; and the Queenslander of the Year Award (2008).

		DR CHRISTINE BENNETT, Chief Medical Officer, Bupa Australia Group; Chair, National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Dr Christine Bennett joined MBF as Group Executive, Health and Financial Solutions Chief Medical Officer on 1 May 2006. Dr Bennett has over 25 years of health industry experience in clinical care, strategic planning and senior management including Chief Executive at Westmead – Australia’s largest teaching hospital. In April 2008, Dr Bennett was appointed by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to be Commissioner of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission that will provide advice on performance benchmarks and practical reforms to the Australian health system. Dr Bennett has an active commitment to and involvement in medical professional issues, social policy and medical research.

		TONY BUZAN, UK, The world’s leading author on the brain, learning and thinking skills, Mind Map originator, International Best-Selling Author: Use Your Head and The Mind Map Book Tony Buzan is the world's leading author, lecturer and adviser to governments, businesses, the professions, universities and schools on the brain, learning and thinking skills. In addition, he is founder of the Brain Trust Charity and the Use Your Head/Brain Clubs, President of the Mind Sports Council and the Buzan organisation. He is the creator of the concepts of Radiant Thinking and Mental Literacy. Among his 85 best selling books which have sold over five millions copies worldwide, the classic Use Your Head and other books in the Mind Set series has catapulted him into position as one of the BBC's top-selling international authors. His books have now been published in over 100 countries and translated into 30 languages.

		LUCINDA BRYANT, OAM, Artistic Director, Merry Makers Australia and Dancers, Merry Makers Australia Lucinda Bryant is the creative force behind the Merry Makers – a unique dance troupe, most of whom have some physical or intellectual disability. Following the loss of the group’s beloved founder Rosemary Marriott AM in 1994, Lucinda was given the responsibility of Artistic Director. She was 18 years old. Lucinda and the Merry Makers were the subject of the multi-award winning documentary The Music In Me which screened on ABC TV to over 1.2 million viewers. The film won eleven international awards including the prestigious Humanitarian Angel Film Award at the Monaco International Film Festival. Lucinda was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2003 for her voluntary work with the Merry Makers. She works fulltime for Taronga Conservation Society Australia teaching Environmental Education.

		ANGELA CATTERNS, Broadcaster & Media Veteran Angela Catterns is one of Australia's most popular broadcasters. With a diverse media career in film, TV and radio she has broadcast nationally, in Sydney, in country NSW and in Washington DC. You may remember her from Simon Townsend's Wonder World!, Mornings on Triple J, the National Evening Show on ABC radio and Breakfast on 702ABC Sydney, where she reached Number 1 in the ratings. She co-presented the Breakfast Show on Vega fm in Sydney, and has recently been heard back on ABC radio, on a variety of shows. She presents a regular podcast "Is It Just Me...?" with fellow radio veteran Wendy Harmer on the ABC website, and is heard on Qantas planes all over the world.



		MARVA COLLINS, One of the most inspiring and respected educators in the USA, Marva Collins Schools, USA, Author: Marva Collins Way Marva Collins grew up in Atmore, Alabama at a time when segregation was the rule. Her experiences in that system, coupled with her dissatisfaction with the quality of education that her two youngest children were receiving in prestigious private schools, convinced her that children deserved better than what was passing for acceptable education. That conviction led to her decision to open her own school on the second floor of her home. Thus, Westside preparatory School was founded in 1975. During the first year, Marva took in learning disabled, problem children and even one child who had been labeled by Chicago public school authorities as borderline retarded. At the end of the first year, every child scored at least five grades higher proving that the previous labels placed on these children were misguided. She has turned the responsibilities of running her school over to her daughter, Cynthia B. Collins, who was one of the first students in the Westside Preparatory School. Today, Marva Collins trains teachers in her educational program and methodology. Her curriculum is based on classical literature, and other subject material that contain ideas, lofty thoughts, and abstract concepts. The purpose is to teach children the values that hold societies together and that present to student’s thoughts that may be interpreted differently.

		GERALDINE COX, AM, Founder, Sunrise Children’s Village, Cambodia, Author: Home is Where the Heart Is Geraldine started her career with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs in 1970. Her first posting was to Phnom Penh, where she experienced life in a country at war when the Vietnam War spilled over into Cambodia. Geraldine’s original experiences in Cambodia never left her and on a return visit in 1993 she became involved in helping an orphaned Cambodian child. From that small beginning Geraldine co-founded what is now the Sunrise Children’s Villages. She spends half the year with the children and the remainder traveling to raise funds. Her life is documented in her autobiography Home Is Where The Heart Is and award-winning documentary My Khmer Heart. Geraldine was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2000.

		DAVID CROSBIE, CEO, Mental Health Council of Australia As CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia, David Crosbie leads a peak national organisation that is driving mental health reform across Australia. Previously David was CEO of the national peak body in the alcohol and other drugs field and CEO of Odyssey House Victoria. He has played a significant role in national policy development across a number of areas through various national advisory groups, publications and media advocacy. David has a very diverse background having taught in prison, lectured at university, played in rock bands, and spent a lot of his working life advocating for the marginalised.

		DR TOM DENSON, Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of NSW Dr. Denson is a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales. His research examines the causes and consequences of anger, aggression, and hatred in humans. This includes research on aggressive personality, biological causes and consequences of anger and angry rumination, prejudice, and intergroup aggression.

		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 Norman Doidge, MD is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, researcher, essayist, poet and New York Times bestselling author. He is on the Research Faculty at the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, in New York, and the University of Toronto's Department of Psychiatry. Oliver Sacks has written, "Doidge's book The Brain That Changes Itself is a remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain." The Brain That Changes Itself is an international bestseller, and being translated into 13 languages, made into a film, and was chosen one of the top science books of 2007 by amazon.com. The New York Times has written that its ideas have "implications for all human beings, not to mention human culture, human learning and human history."

		PROFESSOR ROB DONOVAN, Professor of Behavioural Research, Faculty of Health Science, Curtin University, WA Rob Donovan (PhD Psychology) is Professor of Behavioural Research in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University. He founded a market & social research company in 1974 which today continues as part of the TNS group. He has held marketing positions at several Australian and US universities, and has been a visiting scientist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. He is principal of Mentally Healthy WA’s Act-Belong-Commit campaign. Other interests include the regulation of the marketing of ‘sin’ & unhealthy products, racism, violence against women, Indigenous issues and doping in sport.

		STEPHANIE DOWRICK, Best-Selling Author of fiction and non-fiction, including: Choosing Happiness; Interfaith Minister; Good Weekend columnist Stephanie Dowrick is Australia’s leading writer on personal and social development. Her books include five number one best-sellers, both fiction and life-changing non-fiction like Intimacy & Solitude, Forgiveness & Other Acts of Love, and Choosing Happiness: Life & Soul Essentials. Formerly a publisher and founder of the prestigious London publishing house, The Women’s Press, Stephanie trained in psychotherapy but makes writing her main focus. She combines this with extensive public appearances, her “Inner Life” column in Good Weekend, and interfaith ministry. Stephanie was ordained in 2005 and in 2008 completed a PhD, writing on the poet Rainer Maria Rilke and the transformative power of spiritual inspiration.

		SHANAKA FERNANDO, Australia’s Local Hero 2007, Founder, Lentil As Anything By establishing the "Lentil as Anything" concept, Shanaka Fernando has shown how a commercial enterprise can be operated on a socially responsible, idealistic and altruistic basis and still be financially successful and popular with the public. Since Shanaka relinquished his personal capital in the first restaurant and turned it into a cooperative and youth training enterprise, the business has grown into four restaurants employing about eighty young people and providing space for artists and writers. With “no set prices” customers pay only what they can afford or what they think the meal was worth. The business celebrates compassion, individuality, and artistic expression under a philosophy that challenges and defies our consumerist society.

		DR ALICIA FORTINBERRY, Fortinberry- Murray Consulting, Best-Selling Author: Creating Optimism Alicia is internationally-recognized expert in psychology, optimism and happiness, leadership development and organizational change. She is the International Best-Selling Co-Author of Creating Optimism, and Raising an Optimistic Child. Alicia holds a PhD in organisational psychology, received her Masters from Columbia University, and has studied psychology and group dynamics with field leadersVirginia Satir and Gregory Bateson (author of Steps to an Ecology of Mind). Alicia is a member of the Association for Humanistic Psychology and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. An award-winning writer and editor, Alicia has written for Psychology Today, many major US women’s magazines and several Time Inc. and Dow Jones publications.

		DR RUTH GAWLER, General Practitioner, Group Leader and Therapist, The Gawler Foundation Dr. Ruth Gawler MB BS, MGPPsych, FACPsyMed, works at The Gawler Foundation as a General Practitioner, Group Leader and Therapist. She has worked as a doctor for more than 25 years, in Africa for 2 years, in Psychiatry, in Aboriginal Health and then as Medical Director of the Family Planning Association in Central Australia. Since 1995, she has been a practitioner of Mind-Body Medicine and all her work aims to help people understand more about their illnesses, on all levels, supporting them to make the best medical, social and lifestyle choices for their healing.

		MORRIS GLEITZMAN, Best-Selling Children’s Author: Once and Then Morris Gleitzman grew up in England and came to Australia when he was sixteen. He was a frozen-chicken thawer, sugar-mill rolling-stock unhooker, fashion-industry trainee, student, department-store Santa, TV producer, newspaper columnist and screenwriter. Then he had a wonderful experience. He wrote a novel for young people. Now he's a much loved children's author of books such as Boy Overboard, Girl Underground, Once and Then.

		DR DANIEL GOLEMAN, Psychologist, International Best-Selling Author: Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence, USA Daniel Goleman, psychologist and author of international best-seller Emotional Intelligence, has transformed the way the world educates children, relates to family and friends and does business. The Harvard Business Review called emotional intelligence (EI) — which discounts IQ as the sole measure of one’s intelligence — “a revolutionary, paradigm-shattering idea.” His latest New York Times bestseller, Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships explores the groundbreaking neuroscience behind everyday interactions and what it means for success in life. A reporter on the brain and behavioral science for The New York Times for 12 years, he was awarded the American Psychological Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. * A pre-recorded session exclusively for Happiness & Its Causes from one of the world’s most celebrated psychologists

		DR JOHN GOTTMAN, International leader in the field of relationships, Co-Founder, The Gottman Institute, USA; Best-Selling Author: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work John Gottman, Ph.D., is world renowned for his work on marital stability and divorce prediction, involving the study of emotions, physiology, and communication. He was recently voted as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Therapists of the past quarter-century by the PsychoTherapy Networker magazine. He is the author of 190 published academic articles and author or co-author of 40 books, including his NY Times best seller, Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. Dr. Gottman is the co-founder of The Gottman Institute where he teaches weekend workshops for couples and training workshops for clinicians. He is also the Exec. Dir. of the Relationship Research Institute, which creates programs for new parents and treatments for domestic violence.

		DR SUZY GREEN, Clinical and Coaching Psychologist, Coaching Psychology Unit, University of Sydney Dr Suzy Green is a Clinical and Coaching Psychologist (MAPS) based in Sydney. She is a leader in the complementary fields of Coaching Psychology and Positive Psychology having conducted a world-first study on evidence-based coaching as an Applied Positive Psychology. Suzy was the recipient of an International Positive Psychology Fellowship Award and published in the Journal of Positive Psychology. Suzy lectures on Applied Positive Psychology as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Coaching Psychology Unit, University of Sydney and also consults privately providing clinical, counseling and coaching services for the enhancement of well-being and optimal functioning. Suzy also writes a regular “stress-less” column for Women’s Health magazine.

		PROFESSOR IAN HICKIE, Executive Director, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney From 2000 to 2003 Ian was CEO of beyondblue: the national depression initiative and from 2003-06 served as its Clinical Advisor. In 2003, he was appointed as the executive director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute. From 2008-13, he is one of the first round of new NHMRC 2008 Australian Fellows. In July 2008 he was appointed to the Federal Health’s Minister’s new National Advisory Council on Mental Health.

		PROFESSOR IRVING KIRSCH, Controversial anti-depressant researcher, Department of Psychology, University of Hull, UK Professor Irving Kirsch holds a chair in psychology the University of Hull. He has published 8 books and more than 200 scientific journal articles and book chapters on placebo effects, antidepressant medication, hypnosis, and suggestion. His recent meta-analyses on the efficacy of antidepressant medication has been covered extensively in the media, and his previous analyses influenced the current NICE guidelines on the treatment of depression.

		LIBBY KOCH, Co-author: Kochie's Guide: Smart Couples Start with Nothing and Create Real Wealth and Women’s Guide to Going It Alone Libby Koch is a nurse by training and currently works as David’s PA. Just as importantly, Libby is the master of the Koch family finances and budget. Apart from allocating David his allowance, she masterminded the financial tightrope of balancing a single income while raising four kids (Samantha, Brianna, Alexander and Georgie) and meeting the mortgage. For many years Libby wrote a weekly home budgeting column for News Ltd newspapers. Libby has also co-authored Your Money and Your Life, I’m not made of Money, Women’s Guide, Kochie’s Guide and the soon to be released updated and new version of Kochie’s Guide.

		JO LAMBLE, Clinical Psychologist; Columnist, New Idea; Presenter Sunrise and The Morning Show, Channel 7, Author: The Partner Test Jo Lamble is a Clinical Psychologist who has been in private practice for the past 18 years. She sees individuals, couples, and groups and specialises in relationship and parenting issues. Together with Sue Morris, Jo has co-authored four self-help books: Motherhood: Making it work for you; Side by Side: How to think differently about your relationship; Online and Personal; the reality of Internet Relationships; and The Partner Test; How well are the two of you suited? Jo Lamble appears regularly on Channel 7’s Sunrise and The Morning Show. She also writes a weekly column in New Idea.

		DR JIMMY LITTLE, AO, Australian Living Treasure, celebrated Indigenous musician, Founder, The Jimmy Little Foundation Jimmy Little has been entertaining Australians for over 50 years since his career began in 1957. Jimmy was named Pop Star of the Year in 1964 with his hit single "Royal Telephone" and was introduced to a new audience in 1999 when his CD “Messenger” was voted Adult Contemporary Album of the Year on Triple J FM. Jimmy was also inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame that year. In 2004 Jimmy was named one of Australia’s National Living Treasures and was awarded the Order of Australia for his service to the entertainment industry, ongoing work in schools and his work for the reconciliation process. However the greatest gift of that year for Jimmy was to be the recipient of a new kidney that has given him a new lease on his remarkable life. In August 2006, Jimmy launched The Jimmy Little Foundation, to help provide a healthier future for Indigenous Australians particularly those with renal disease in remote Australia. Jimmy continues to inspire us all with his work and dedication to doing what he can to make the world close to us a better place.

		DR SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY, leading positive psychology researcher, Author: The How of Happiness, University of California, USA Sonja Lyubomirsky (A.B., Harvard; Ph.D., Stanford) is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside. She received the 2002 Templeton Positive Psychology Prize for her research, and the Faculty of the Year and Faculty Mentor of the Year Awards for her teaching and mentoring of students. Currently, Lyubomirsky is associate editor of The Journal of Positive Psychology and (with co-PI Ken Sheldon) holds a 5-year million-dollar grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct research on the possibility of permanently increasing happiness. Her book, The How of Happiness (Penguin Press, 2008) has been translated into 14 languages.

		JULIE MCCROSSIN, MC, Journalist, TV & Radio Presenter Julie McCrossin talks to people for a living. After 20 years as a broadcaster with ABC Radio National, ABC TV and Network Ten, she is now a freelance journalist and facilitator.

		CYNTHIA MORTON, Author, Speaker, Founder: The Emotional Fitness Program Cynthia Morton’s book “A Helping Hand with Life” was a 2002 top ten bestseller. Her second book “Emotional Fitness” was released in 2004. She is the author of the multi award winning Emotional Fitness Program which provides a unique approach to helping people with a history of trauma and addiction. As the CEO of the Emotional Fitness Foundation, Cynthia has worked with over 7000 people facing trauma and addiction challenges and has received awards in recognition for her work including Australian of the Year Award 2005; Award of Distinction for Services to Humanity from the Australian Medical Association 2004; Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence 2006; and Pride of Australia Award 2007.

		BOB MURRAY, PHD, Fortinberry- Murray Consulting, Best-Selling Author: Creating Optimism Dr Bob Murray is a world-wide leader in positive personal and organizational relationships and change, and International Best-Selling Co-Author: Creating Optimism, and Raising an Optimistic Child. In the UK, his work as a management consultant for firms such as ICI and Hill Samuel Bank earned him a Fellowship of the British Institute of Management. Bob is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Humanistic Psychology and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. He is quoted frequently in major publications from Sydney Morning Herald and The New York Times to Entrepreneur.

		RICHARD NEVILLE, Australia’s most controversial futurist, Co-founder and Director, The Neville Freeman Agency; Author: Footprints of the Future Richard Neville has been challenging and changing the ways we think ever since his student days in the sixties, when he published the magazine, Oz, which widened the boundaries of free speech on two continents. An author and social commentator, Richard became a full time futurist in the 90’s, co-founding the Australian Futures Foundation, and is now a principal at Sydney’s Neville Freeman agency. Richard’s most recent book, Footprints of the Future, is a playful mini-guide to the New Millennium, when “philosophers will be rock gods”. Richard claims to have lived his life back to front, spending much of his prolonged youth on tropical beaches in exotic countries, extending the boundaries of human happiness. Now he is married with two kids, three laptops, a dog and a weird job title.

		INGRID POULSON, Founder, Steadfast Training, Author: Rise In 2003, Ingrid Poulson’s estranged husband killed their two young children and Ingrid’s father. From the depths of this unimaginable tragedy, Ingrid has arisen and gone on to inspire thousands through her own compelling journey of resilience. Ingrid combines her academic background with her uniquely qualified life experience to build resilience in others. Ingrid runs her own company, Steadfast Training, which works with individuals and organisations, helping to equip them with the necessary tools for coping with stress, change and adversity. Ingrid is a qualified trainer, holds an MA in Cognitive Science, and has authored a self-help book on resilience, Rise.

		RENATE OGILVIE, Psychotherapist, Senior Teacher, Vajrayana Institute; Director, World Happiness Forum Renate was born in Germany, and educated in both East and West. She holds Masters degrees of Frankfurt University, and Antioch University (Regent’s College) London, and studied Western Philosophy at Birkbeck College London. She worked in London as a literary agent and commissioning editor, before training as an existential psychotherapist and counselor. After migrating to Australia, Renate was founding director of Shakyamuni Buddha Hospice Sydney, and served on the International Board of Directors of FPMT Inc. (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition). She is a director of WHF (World Happiness Forum). She has been teaching Tibetan Buddhism at Vajrayana Institute and other Buddhist centres, hospices and community groups for over fifteen years and has appeared on radio and TV. Her weekly column appears on www.homepagedaily.com. Renate works in Sydney and the Blue Mountains as a psychotherapist in private practice.

		RUTH OSTROW, Senior Journalist, The Australian; Author: Life Magic Ruth Ostrow is one of Australia's leading Mind Body Soul writers, educators and keynote speakers, with her columns in The Australian newspaper read by millions, and a host of best-selling books to her credit in the areas of human relations, money, and wellbeing, her latest being Life Magic. Formerly a Finance journalist in the Greed is Good 80’s before becoming a relationships then health writer, she is currently also contributing a new column to The Australian called Business Life exploring Work/ Life balance. Ruth also works as a consultant to the Health and Spa industries here and abroad.

		DR VERA RANKI, Founding Director, Examined Life Institute, Multiple award winning author and academic Multiple award winning author and academic Dr Vera Ranki is Founding Director of the Examined Life Institute. She developed the Examined Life Programme, a structured series of philosophical exercises aiming at conscious ethical living as everyday habit. Bringing philosophy out of the ivory tower and directly into our lives, Vera provides courses, individual lectures, talks and workshops to capacity audiences on classical approaches and techniques, applying them to modern living. Her earlier book, The Politics of Inclusion and Exclusion, was Outstanding Academic Book of the Year 2000 in the United States. Currently she is writing a book on Living the Examined Life.

		TERRY ROBSON, Editor: WellBeing Magazine; Health Reporter SKY News and ABC Local Radio; Author: Deep Health and What's the Alternative? Terry Robson is a journalist, author, and occasional screenwriter. Terry has a degree with majors in archaeology and psychology and a diploma of naturopathy. He is the editor of WellBeing magazine, a health reporter for SKY News and many ABC local radio stations, and co-presents the ABC podcast Talking Health. Terry writes widely as a freelance journalist, has written two books (Deep Health publisher Allen and Unwin and What’s the Alternative publisher Melbourne University Press), and has edited a textbook An Introduction to Complementary Medicine. Terry also works as an MC and speaks regularly at functions throughout Australia and overseas.

		DAVID ROCK, Founder & CEO, Results Coaching Systems, Author: Quiet Leadership David coined the term NeuroLeadership and is driving the use of neuroscience research in the workplace, through creating the NeuroLeadership Summits and Journal. His work was featured in US Business Week in 2007 and his article ‘The Neuroscience of Leadership’ has become one of the most popular papers at strategy + business magazine, where it was published in 2006. David is also the founder of Results Coaching Systems, which is helping global organisations build coaching cultures, built around a brain-based approach to coaching. David is on the faculty and advisory board of CIMBA, an international business school in Italy, where he is building a neuroscience-based MBA. He is the author of three books, recently Quiet Leadership and the soon to be released Coaching with the Brain in Mind.

		DR BRIAN ROSNER, Fellow of the Centre for Public Christianity; Lecturer, Moore Theological College, Author: Beyond Greed and Editor: The Consolations of Theology The son of an Austrian Jew, brought up in Sydney, Brian spent sixteen years studying and working overseas before returning in 2000. He has an honours degree in psychology and has worked as a public servant, school teacher and university lecturer. Trained as a Bible scholar, his PhD is from the University of Cambridge. His book Beyond Greed is a critique of Western materialism as a false religion. He edited The Consolations of Theology, inspired by Alain de Botton’s Consolations of Philosophy, which looks at how knowing God can give comfort to people struggling with a range of difficult emotions, including anger, obsession, despair, anxiety, disappointment and pain. In his spare time Brian enjoys bushwalking and golf (sometimes simultaneously).

		RENATA CONSIGLIO, NATIONAL HR MANAGER, Camp Quality Limited As Camp Quality’s National HR Manager, Renata is responsible for workforce planning and development. Camp Quality is a national charity that provides support to children living with cancer and their families through fun therapy and optimism. Over the last 15 years in the not for profit sector, Renata’s had the opportunity to work with people with physical and intellectual disabilities, the aged, Autism, and now children diagnosed with cancer. Renata, as does Camp Quality, truly believes that Laughter is the Best Medicine!

		ALAN SAUNDERS, Presenter, The Philosopher’s Zone, ABC Radio National Alan Saunders was born and educated in London. He came to Australia in 1981 to pursue research at the Australian National University and was subsequently awarded a PhD. Having joined the Science Unit of ABC Radio National in 1987, Alan Saunders founded The Food Program which was broadcast until 1997. He now presents The Philosopher’s Zone and By Design, a weekly programme on architecture and design, gardens and food. Alan has written about food and other topics for various publications. He is the author of A is for Apple, and his first novel, Alanna, was published by Penguin in 2002

		DR DANIEL SIEGEL, MD, Psychiatrist and award-winning educator, Author: The Mindful Brain, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine; Director, Center for Human Development, USA Dan Siegel received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in pediatrics and child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. An award-winning educator, Dan Siegel is currently an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he is a Co-Investigator at the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and is Co-Director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. Dr Siegel is the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, an educational organisation that focuses on how the development of insight, compassion and empathy in individuals, families and communities can be enhanced by examining the interface of human relationships and basic biological processes. His latest book is The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being (2007).

		SOPHIE SCOTT, National Medical Reporter, ABC; Author: Live A Longer Life Sophie Scott is the national medical reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Her stories appear on the ABC's flagship news bulletin at 7.00pm, Lateline, Stateline and 7.30 Report. Her reports can be seen throughout the Asia-Pacific Region, through ABC's Australia TV network. She can also be heard on ABC radio. In 2005, Sophie Scott received the Health Research in the Media Award in recognition of her ability to communicate complex information in a way that the general community can easily understand. She is the Vice President of the Australian Medical Writers Association and her first book titled Live a Longer Life is published by ABC books.

		PROFESSOR TIM SHARP, Founder and Chief Happiness Officer, The Happiness Institute, Author: The Happiness Handbook Professor Sharp has three degrees in psychology and an impressive record as an academic, clinician and coach. He is the founder & Chief Happiness Officer of The Happiness Institute, Australia’s first organisation devoted solely to enhancing happiness in individuals, families and organisations. In 2008 Dr. Sharp’s achievements were recognised by the Australian Davos Connection when he received a Future Leadership Award. Dr. Sharp is also a best selling author (of, among other things, The Happiness Handbook and 100 Ways to Happiness: a guide for busy people), a sought after public speaker, and he makes frequent appearances in the local and international media (http://www.drhappy.com.au).



		SHERRY STRONG, Food Philosopher and Nutritional Strategist, Foodlover's Workshop Sherry Strong is a food philosopher and nutritional strategist, former chef, and nutritionist predominantly engaged as a workplace wellbeing consultant. She is the former Victorian chair of Nutrition Australia and Melbourne head of Slow Food. She has worked in some of the worlds best restaurants, presented Master classes and spoken internationally, presented on television. Sherry writes for magazines internationally and is currently working on a book and a documentary film based on her philosophies.

		DR NORMAN SWAN, Broadcaster, Journalist, Doctor, Presenter: The Health Report, ABC Radio National Host of the Health Report, on ABC Radio National, Dr Norman Swan, is a multi-award winning broadcaster and journalist. One of the first medically qualified journalists in Australia, Dr Swan was born in Scotland, graduated in medicine from the University of Aberdeen and later obtained his postgraduate qualifications in Paediatrics. Dr Swan was named Australian Radio Producer of the Year in 1984 and was awarded a Gold Citation in the United Nations Media Peace Prizes for his radio work. He has won three Walkley National Awards for Australian journalism, including the prestigious Gold, and Australia's top prize for Science Journalism, the Michael Daly Award, twice. In addition to the Health Report, Dr Swan appears on local ABC Radio, he presents the popular "Health Minutes" on ABC NewsRadio each week and edits his own newsletter, The Choice Health Reader, which is published in partnership with the Australian Consumers Association. On television, Dr Swan has hosted ABC Television's science program, Quantum, and been a guest reporter on Catalyst and Four Corners

		LAMA SURYA DAS, USA, One of the world’s foremost Western meditation teachers and scholars, Author: Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be and Awakening the Buddha Within Lama Surya Das is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars and a leading spokesperson for the emerging American Buddhism. The Dalai Lama calls him "The Western Lama." Surya has spent over thirty-five years studying Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia, including the Dalai Lama's own teachers. Founder of the Western Buddhist Teachers Network with the Dalai Lama, he is also active in interfaith dialogue and social activism and regularly organizes its international Buddhist Teachers Conferences. He is the author of many books, including "Buddha Is as Buddha Does" and "The Big Questions" and "Words of Wisdom."

		PAUL THOMPSON, Principal, Kimberley College, Queensland

Endorsing Bodies 2009