QUEST FOR LIFE FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Allison has over 30 years experience working in healthcare. As a Clinical Nurse Consultant, she provided mental health consultation to her colleagues in the general hospital setting, which engendered her interest in the mind-body connection. Since completing a Bachelor of Counselling, Allison has also qualified and acted as a workplace mediator. As a trained and experienced facilitator, Allison established nurse support groups for those working in high stress clinical areas.
More recently, she has provided similar services to large organisations in matters relating to a safe workplace culture and effective teamwork. Allison is committed to Quest's principles and values, which she is keen to share with those who attend Quest's programs. Allison lives in Sydney with her husband, and enjoys travelling, cycling and is passionate about bushwalking and the importance of good humour.
Amna Pervaiz (B.App.Psych) is a Gestalt Psychotherapist registered with Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), who brings her experience as a mother and wife to her therapeutic interventions.
She has significant knowledge and experience in offering Person-Centred Therapy and case management, emphasising the use of empathy, understanding and unconditional acceptance which enhances counselling outcomes. Gestalt Therapy sessions focus on developing self-awareness, self-acceptance and trusting in feelings/experiences that alleviate distress.
Amna is recognised for her strong understanding of Somatic Experiencing and Relational Framework.
With vast experience helping clients deal with anxiety, stress, depression, relationship issues, postpartum depression and grief, she offers adolescents, individuals, and couples the sort of results they seek. What underpins her work is the belief in the power of transformation that can occur within the therapeutic alliance and which supports clients to improve their relationship with themselves.
Aurora Hammond has been a social worker, psychotherapist, group facilitator and trainer for over 30 years. She completed a Masters Degree in Holistic Psychology in the US in 1984 and was the founder and CEO of the College of Holistic Counselling for over 15 years.
She is the author of the book Good Grief, Healing the Broken Heart and the Pool Meditation CD. Now working in private practice as a mental health social worker, Aurora describes her way of working as holistic psychotherapy.
Aurora is a Quest facilitator and counsellor and brings with her a wealth of experience and commitment to the principles of Quest.
Bernadette specialises in Oncology Yoga, deep relaxation, Feldenkrais movement and other gentle practices to support people going through illness and life transition.
She is passionate about bringing joy and healing to those experiencing illness and transition. Using the tools of gentle yoga, self-care, and relaxation, she has helped thousands of people who face cancer, HIV, auto-immune disease, PTSD, depression, anxiety, or grief and loss to find calm, inner relaxation, and strength in the face of difficulty.
Bernadette has taught yoga and meditation internationally for more than 20 years. For the last 13 years she has been program facilitator of yoga and life-skills classes at the Quest for Life Foundation in the Southern Highlands.
Her students love her ability to make the healing practice of yoga so accessible. They find safety, ease and acceptance in her classes. Bernadette loves tailoring the practice to suit the individual, so that they can reclaim natural movement and find a sense of equilibrium and freedom in body and mind. She has a soothing, stilling voice and her relaxations are legendary!
Bernadette lectures for the International Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA) in their yoga teacher training course. Bernadette works between Wollongong, Sydney and the Highlands and personal or groups sessions can be arranged in the comfort of your home.
Mr Fenlon joined Blackmores in 2013 and had responsibility for both territory and whole of business functionality. He was a Director of Special Olympics foundation for two years until June 2019 and is on the board of The Quest for life foundation. Mr Fenlon was appointed Group CEO and Managing Director of BWX Ltd on 1 July 2019. In March 2022, Mr Fenlon was appointed CEO of The PA Group - a group of 1200 independent pharmacies - and also hold the positions of Non-Executive Chairman of National Growth Solutions (NGS) and Non-Executive Director of BWX Ltd.
Ganga (Karen) Ashworth is a charismatic Singer, Songwriter, Speaker, and Author of the The Silver Circle, and is described as having "the voice of an angel".
Job Titles:
- Counsellor / Therapist
- Holistic Counsellor
Georgie is a Holistic Counsellor and Psychotherapist as well as a qualified Naturopath and Nutritionist. She provides tailored counselling and naturopathic consultations to participants on Quest for Life programs, in her private practice in Coffs Harbour and throughout Australia via phone and Skype.
Georgie has a passion for assisting her clients to make meaning of difficult experiences, to grow from life's challenges, and to navigate skilfully through stress, anxiety, depression or chronic illness - to regain a sense of inner calm, resilience and wellbeing. With over a decade's experience working therapeutically with people, she sees her work as a privilege and a calling. Understanding that our physical health is intimately connected with our mental, emotional and spiritual health, she is committed to empowering her clients with the skills, insights and fresh perspectives to actively contribute to their own healing.
She holds a post graduate degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the Jansen Newman Institute in Sydney and Advanced Diplomas in Naturopathy, Nutrition and Herbal Medicine.
Georgie lives on the Coffs Coast with her beautiful little family and enjoys quiet time in nature, swimming in the ocean and the nourishment of daily meditation. She believes life is a precious gift and that every difficult, painful or traumatic experience we go through holds within it the seeds of deep healing, growth, transformation - and ultimately greater love, freedom and peace.
Job Titles:
- Board of Directors
- General Manager of Government and Regulatory Affairs at the ASX
Grant is currently the General Manager of Government and Regulatory Affairs at the ASX. Prior to this he had more than 20 years' financial markets experience in New York, London and Sydney culminating as the Head of Fixed Income at UBS Australia.
From 2012 to 2015, Grant was the Chief of Staff to Hon. Joe Hockey (Shadow Treasurer and Commonwealth Treasurer).
Living with a mental health condition he is passionate and compassionate for those who also face such challenges - this drove him to be a Director of the Black Dog Institute from 2016 to 2023.
He is also a Director and Treasurer of the Story Factory, a not-for-profit creative writing centre which aims to build writing skills, confidence and creativity for young people in under resourced areas of Sydney and NSW.
He has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of NSW and a Masters of Applied Finance from Macquarie University.
Jim is a very experienced business leader with a strong background in Sales and Marketing with over 25 years spent in Blue chip organisations including Coca Cola, Arnotts and Goodman Fielder, across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. In the last 10 years Jim has operated at Senior Executive level with global food giant Fonterra as well as Australian iconic Healthcare business Blackmores. Jim's particular strengths are in Leadership, Sales, Marketing, Product development and Brand building.
Julia has been teaching yoga for 20 years and specialises in working with women at different transitions in life. Her Master's thesis was on psychoneuroimmunology - the mind/body connection - in relation to cancer. Her own experience with cancer 10 years later helped her to integrate her knowledge and use the nurturing tools of yoga together with lifestyle changes to navigate her path to wellness.
Julia's recent challenges with memory and brain function caused her to seek out information and programs that work with new and exciting ways to challenge the current paradigm that mental deterioration is inevitable as we age. Since 2017 she has followed the Bredesen Program (End Alzheimer's) with great results and has significantly reclaimed the capacity of her brain and continues to be dedicated to learning more and sharing it with others.
More recently Julia has developed a strong interest in women's health and aging, with a focus on their mental and physical well-being using yoga and mindfulness together with other modalities such as exercise and diet. She is passionate about helping others to discover their inner potential and power to reclaim their brain's potential.
Kate is a facilitator with Quest for Life and is a qualified counsellor and Dru yoga teacher. Kate is a passionate advocate of the healing properties of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness.
Kate spent the majority of her working life in the corporate world of advertising and marketing.
Everything changed when she was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of brain cancer and was only given a short time to live over a decade ago.
This experience prompted a search for a pathway to health and led her to Petrea King's Quest for Life program where she found peace and learned strategies to help her navigate this monumental challenge more skilfully.
The work she does at Quest for Life provides her with a wealth of opportunities to connect and share with others the health and well-being it has brought her.
Lesley is an experienced Gestalt psychotherapist and trained yoga and meditation teacher. She works in private practice in two locations: the Blue Mountains (1.5 hours west of Sydney) and the eastern suburbs of Sydney at Coogee Beach. She also offers online sessions.
Over the last 25 years, Lesley has supported survivors of many challenges such as major life change and turning points; grief, loss and trauma; facing chronic and life-threatening illness; relationship difficulties; depression and anxiety; including teaching ‘mindfulness' meditation and relaxation techniques. As a Buddhist practitioner and seeker of wisdom, Lesley draws on her knowledge and experience of both Western psychological approaches and the Eastern wisdom traditions as well as hypnotherapy.
Over the years, Lesley has worked as a resident therapist on hundreds of Quest for Life programs, taught on the faculty of the Sydney Gestalt Institute for their four-year post-graduate psychotherapy degree, taught the Psychology of Yoga at Naturecare College for their yoga teacher training diploma, and taught Mindfulness Meditation for the Eastern Suburbs evening college.
Previously, Lesley was a senior executive at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A series of life challenges, including overcoming long-term illness, resulted in a profound change of direction at the age of 40. This gave her a deep and personal insight into the healing process.
Lesley provides a safe, non-judgemental space in which to explore issues deeply. With warmth, intelligence and compassion, together you will be able to shine the light of awareness on what stands between you and peace of mind.
Southern Highlands. Lisa works within the private sector providing individual and group counselling in a range of areas. These include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-esteem, resentment, forgiveness, communication and boundaries. In the past Lisa has worked as a Lifeline crisis support worker and has studied as a Doula in Sydney's Eastern suburbs. Her experience as a TMS clinician reflects her professional interest in the emerging fields of neural plasticity and neuropsychotherapy. Lisa is passionate about, and grateful for, her role as a retreat counsellor because she is able to incorporate QUEST philosophies to provide an empathic and compassionate environment to facilitate healing.
Lisa is aware of the complexities that life events can bring and the importance of having a safe space to talk about our feelings so they can be expressed and validated. She creates warmth and compassion, helping people find their path to fulfilling potential, finding connectedness, and enabling peace and wellbeing.
Lisa lives in the Southern Highlands with her husband and three children, along with their dog Gina, cat Daryl and free-to-range chickens.
Margie is a senior facilitator with the Quest for Life Foundation and has facilitated thousands of people in their quest for peace and happiness. Margie's professional practice is based on contemporary neuroscience, positive psychology and a commitment to holistic approaches to health.
Margie uses humour and warmth to engage and inspire people to take charge of their own happiness using conscious choice. She is energised by the incredible human potential we possess to develop across our entire lifespan.
Margie's book Getting to the Heart of Stress can be found in the Quest for Life Shop and is a practical guide to a joyful, conscious life that draws on her own life experience as a woman, partner, mother, friend, clinical psychotherapist and educator.
Margie holds a Graduate Certificate in Adult Education, Diploma in Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy and is a Victims' Services registered counsellor.
Murray is an experienced business leader with over 30 years in corporate real estate across Asia Pacific and the Middle East working in Australia with such companies as Lend Lease, AMP and Jones Lang Wootton. Over the past four years Murray has focussed full-time in the people space chairing two property boards and undertaking succession planning for predominantly rural clients and mentoring and coaching corporate clients.
Murray's particular strengths are in leadership, strategy, business general management, commercial property, succession planning and mentoring and coaching.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founding Director
- Board of Directors
Petrea King is the Founding Director and CEO of the Quest for Life Foundation. Petrea provides a practical and spiritual perspective in the challenging arenas of life including facing mortality, grief, loss and trauma. Our changing world demands a robust version of spirituality and Petrea is well versed in articulating that for individuals, groups and the media. She makes the invisible world accessible and is able to shed light and wisdom on living a meaningful life in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Petrea has written 9 best-selling books: Quest for Life A handbook for people with life-threatening illness, Spirited Women Journeys with Breast Cancer, Sometimes Hearts Have to Break 25 inspirational stories of healing and peace, Your Life Matters The Power of Living Now; 3 children's books, You, Me & the Rainbow, Rainbow Kids and The Rainbow Garden; and a recipe book, Food for Life. The Your Life Matters book is also available on a double CD with Petrea narrating and she has produced more than a dozen relaxation and meditation practices on CD, including one for children, Rainbow Connection. Her books and CDs are available through our online shop or CDs also through iTunes.
Petrea is a regular guest on ABC national and local radio and she has been featured in many television programs. Petrea has received many awards for her work including the Advance Australia Award, the Centenary Medal, Citizen of the Year for 2008 and has been amongst the nominees for Australian of the Year each year since 2003.
Petrea is a regular keynote speaker at conferences nationally and internationally.
Petrea King is CEO of the Quest for Life Foundation which she established in 1989. She is a well-known author, inspirational keynote speaker, teacher and facilitator. She is also qualified as a naturopath, herbalist, clinical hypnotherapist, yoga and meditation teacher.
In 1983 Petrea was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and was not expected to live. Meditation and the integration of past traumatic experiences, including the recent suicide of her brother Brenden, became paramount in her recovery, much of which was spent in a monastery near Assisi in Italy. She has been meditating since the age of 17.
Petrea has counselled individually or through residential programs and workshops tens of thousands of people living with cancer and other life-challenging illnesses, grief, loss, trauma and tragedy. She is at the forefront of wellness education and is a frequent lecturer at medical and other conferences. Petrea sees crisis as a catalyst for personal growth and understanding and as an opportunity for healing and peace.
More than 125,000 people have attended residential programs or counselling with Petrea and her team since 1985. She also lectures and conducts workshops around Australia and internationally.
Petrea has written 9 best-selling books: Quest for Life A handbook for people with life-threatening illness, Spirited Women Journeys with Breast Cancer, Sometimes Hearts Have to Break 25 inspirational stories of healing and peace, Your Life Matters The Power of Living Now; 3 children's books, You, Me & the Rainbow, Rainbow Kids and The Rainbow Garden; and a recipe book, Food for Life. The Your Life Matters book is also available on a double CD with Petrea narrating and she has produced more than a dozen relaxation and meditation practices on CD, including one for children, Rainbow Connection. Her books and CDs are available through our online shop and CDs also through iTunes.
Frequently featured in the media, Petrea has been a regular guest on ABC Radio Sydney for almost 20 years - on Richard Glover's Mid-Week Conference and Nightlife. In 2003 she was celebrated on Channel 9's This Is Your Life and has been featured on Australian Story, Compass and many other television productions. An acclaimed documentary was jointly commissioned by Channel 4 (UK) and the ABC called Quest for Life - A Year in the Life of Petrea King in 1990.
Petrea has received the Advance Australia Award, Citizen of the Year and the Centenary Medal for her contribution to the community and has been nominated for Australian of the year each year since 2003 as well as being a NSW finalist for Senior Australian of the Year in 2011.
Petrea lives with her partner Wendie Batho in Bundanoon, NSW.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Psychiatry
- Scientia Professor
Prof. Gordon Parker AO is currently Scientia Professor of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales (UNSW) and was Executive Director of the Black Dog Institute from 2002-2011. He was, for nearly two decades, Head of the School of Psychiatry at UNSW and Director of the Division of Psychiatry at Prince of Wales and Prince Henry Hospitals. He has had a number of responsibilities for the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, including being Editor of the Journal and Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee.
He has been an active researcher and has held a number of positions with legal organisations, including the NSW Guardianship Board and the NSW Administrative Appeals Tribunal. In 2004 he received a Citation Laureate as the Australian Scientist most highly cited in the field of ‘Psychiatry/Psychology'. His autobiography "A Piece of My Mind: A Psychiatrist on the Couch" was published in 2012.
Scientia Professor Gordon was a dual winner of the Australian Mental Health Prize with Professor Helen Milroy.
Ruth Cracknell was the Centre's first Patron and was an avid supporter of the Foundation's work. Ruth's garden is a tranquil garden centred around a water feature in memory of her loving support of Petrea and the work of the Foundation. A place for quiet reflection enjoyed by visitors to the Centre.
Sandy is a qualified Holistic Counsellor & Psychotherapist and a Clinical Hypnotherapist. She works in private practice offering individuals, adolescents, and couples therapy. Sandy sees clients with NDIS plans or Plan Managed as well as offering private health fund rebates.
Sandy is happy to offer you a free consultation to discuss your individual needs. She can provide consultations face-to-face, via phone or online on Zoom or WhatsApp.
Sandy has worked at Quest since 2013 in the role of Senior Support and Counsellor, to support individuals to find peace within their difficult struggles and situations.
The holistic approach considers both physiological and psychological challenges as parts of the whole person that is interconnected with the mind, body and spirit. Sandy's passion for assisting clients through difficult times and to make meaning out of what they experience is to help create empowerment and growth. Sandy takes an integrative approach to healing the mind and helps clients to break free from destructive behaviours to enjoy the freedom of their mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing.
Over the last 15 years, Sandy has been on her own self-development journey where she has been challenged personally with illness, mental health, grief and loss. Sandy has a deep commitment to supporting her clients through their pathways to find their own answers to empower and create change within their unique lives.
Sandy is qualified as a Counsellor, Psychotherapist, and Clinical Hypnotherapist and supports her clients using an array of different therapies for their unique needs. She is qualified in ACT, EFT, Resource Therapy, Mindfulness, and Couples therapy. She sees individuals who have challenges such as anxiety, depression, addictions, DV, anger, trauma, grief, and loss.
Sandy is a fully qualified Couples and Relationship therapist using the Gottman method. She is passionate in supporting both individuals in reconnecting and creating new changes and skills for the couple to thrive.
Sandy lives in St Georges Basin with her husband, has 4 adult children and loves to take walks along the Basin, read inspirational stories and play with her beautiful grandchildren. Sandy loves travelling and discovering new places and cultures where she can learn and appreciate the diversity and connectedness around her.
Sandy loves these words by Marianne Williamson.
Suzanne is a Retired Commander, Royal Australian Navy. Following this, she led a Defence appointment responsible for the delivery of all family and community support programs for ADF members and their families.
Suzanne has otherwise devoted her life to volunteering in the community, including as a Life Line and Youth Line Counsellor, and Alcohol and Drug Addictions Counsellor and a Workplace Mediator.
In 2013, Suzanne left Defence and transitioned to Social Work with a Master of Social Work degree followed by a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy degree. Suzanne also qualified as a Trained Teacher in Mindfulness and Self-Compassion. Since 2013, Suzanne has worked as a therapist and group facilitator in Community Health, Hospital and Custodial settings.
In 2019, she was appointed as the Clinical Superviser for the Department of Social Work and Psychology at Calvary Public Hospital in Canberra. She has been lecturing and tutoring for several years in the Master of Social Work course, Australian Catholic University and the Master of Counselling course, University of Canberra. She also operates a Private Practice in Canberra and in Bundanoon NSW.
From her past, Suzanne brings a lived experience of trauma, post-traumatic stress and a long term, chronically painful illness. Through her own healing journey, Suzanne has learned there are pathways available to transform the way we experience our inner and outer world and move forward in life with trust and joy.
In her own experience, this has included backpacking through mainland China, completing the ancient pilgrimage walk across Northern Spain, the Santiago de Compostela Camino, living with orphans in a rural North East Thailand orphanage, building houses for the poor in Cambodia, and providing massage to hospital patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Besides delighting in time spent with family and friends, Suzanne enjoys gardening, reading, walking and watching films.
Tamika has previously worked on faculty with Hypnotherapy Training Australia (HTA) where she taught Gestalt Psychotherapy and Counselling to students. Nowadays, Tamika has moved more towards focusing on building her retreat business, facilitating retreats both here in Australia and in Bali.
Tamika lives on the Central Coast with her partner, Stuart, her rescue dog, Bonnie and her horse, Puddems. She has adult children and 4 very precious grandchildren. Tamika loves to travel, with India being her favourite place to explore. Her ability to continue to support people through challenging times comes back to her ability to stay present with daily practices of meditation, being at one with nature and possessing a good sense of humour.
Wendie has co-facilitated residential programs with Petrea for almost 20 years. Prior to that Wendie spent over 25 years as a teacher, school principal and was involved in educational leadership and facilitation of school executive groups.
10 years of this time was spent in PNG where she taught and worked for the government. Wendie has been travelling since the early 60s and is especially attracted to Asian cultures. She holds degrees in Anthropology, Education, Sociology, Theology and Political Science. Her current passions are her grandchildren, travel biographies, exploring Asia, 4×4 driving, reading everything she can get her hands on, and watching movies on the big screen at home.