BLUE WREN FOUNDATION
Founder and CEO – Adrian Hanks
Much of what has been developed for the Blue Wren Foundation is from Adrian Hanks’ experiences and insights from being involved with men’s work and experiences of being a professional counsellor and psychotherapist for over 20 years.
Adrian’s journey into men’s work started in Tasmania over 25 years ago after spending several days out in the bush with 30 other men on a ‘Shamanic Journey’. From there he joined a weekly didgeridoo class so he could learn how to play the didgeridoo. Whilst in the class he met several other men who were interested in starting a men’s group.
Their first men’s group meeting was held in the ‘All Saints’ Church Hall in Hobart, Tasmania and the group of seven men who met almost every Tuesday night for two years, formed the ‘All Saints Men’s Group’. Since then Adrian has sat in 100’s of men’s groups and circles; sometimes as a participant, but more often as a facilitator. He has also sat with 100’s of men in one-on-one ‘therapy’ sessions as a counsellor/psychotherapist.
Adrian Hanks Blue Wren Founder and CEO
Facilitation Trainer, Facilitator, Coach, Counsellor and Psychotherapist
Adrian is an experienced counsellor, psychotherapist and trainer. He has been facilitating men’s circles and personal development groups for 25 years and loves to go beyond the ordinary in his work; encouraging, guiding and even positively challenging people to get even more out of life. Adrian works with men, youth, women and couples and specialises in topics such as: Habits and Addictions, Conscious Communication, Healthy Boundaries, Intimacy and Sexuality and Meditation and Spiritual Advancement. Adrian also loves to write, travel and play the didgeridoo!
Adrian is based on the Gold Coast and offers counselling, psychotherapy and coaching for individuals and couples.
www.adrianhanks.com
Matt Smith
Facilitator and Coach
Matt has spent a large part of his career working with people in the corporate human resources and learning space, and has facilitated small and large groups on a wide range of topics. He has expanded his opportunities to work with people on the physical and emotional level through Kinesiology, Reiki and Remedial Massage. Matt is passionate about helping people find balance in all areas of life, and to “live the dream” that they have never realised.
Rama Raphael
Facilitation Trainer, Counsellor, Psychotherapist, and Facilitator.
Rama is the Senior Facilitator for the Blue Wren Foundation. He has been presenting groups nationally and internationally, in the public and private sectors, for 40 years. He is a qualified and highly experienced counsellor and educator, specialising in the areas of men’s issues, intimate relationships, sexuality, and family dynamics. He brings compassion, insight, and wisdom to his vocation, assisting humanity in personal and collective liberation. His current passion and project is: School of the Sacred Masculine.
Rama is based in Byron Bay and offers counselling and psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families, in live and online modes.
Robert Grimes
Facilitator, Coach and Counsellor
Robert has been facilitating men’s groups for awareness and change for 15 years. He has a passion for collective awareness and change within the community or group setting whether that be with a group of men, a group of women or mixed. His passion is relationships and understanding his own growth and healing that happens in relationships, especially intimate love relationships.
He is the founder of LoveLifeMatters where he enables couples to grow and heal within their intimate love relationship through counselling, seminars and group workshops.
He is registered with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Counselling And Psychotherapy Association of NSW (CAPANSW)
The Blue Wren Foundation Advisory Board
This Advisory Board has been established to help support and guide The Blue Wren Foundation as it builds and expands. Each Board Member is on the Board in a volunteer capacity. Their personal and professional ‘advice’ is welcomed and is taken into consideration when decisions have to be made.
George Green - Chairperson
Originally hailing from Cleveland, Ohio in the United States, George, a father of 3 young children, has resided in Southeast Queensland since 2008. With a professional background steeped heavily in Commercial/Industrial Construction Management, his interest in the field of Men’s Health from an emotional and mental health point of view started from the ‘Mates in Construction’ course work, which shined a light on how many men are dealing with overwhelming emotional issues, and feel as if there is nowhere to turn for help.
However, it was in learning to deal with his own struggles in his own household that turned, what was merely an interest, into George’s passion. After his active participation and from his graduating through an 8 week ‘SuperDads’ Online Program, a resource for dads worldwide, and two Blue Wren ‘Line in the Sand’ programs, George has now committed himself to help other families learn how to cultivate and maintain conscious and mindful relationships, and further stay on the path of growth and enlightenment. As member of the Blue Wren Advisory Board, George hopes to further those goals.
With his management, team building and communication skills George will help to lead the Advisory Board and The Blue Wren Foundation forward in his position as Chairperson.
Felicity Thomas - Treasurer
Felicity Thomas is a Senior Private Wealth Adviser at Shaw and Partners, having previously worked at Ord Minnett and BT Financial Group. Felicity has over 9 years of experience in wealth management and strategic financial planning, delivering advice on a wide range of areas, including equity trading, portfolio and risk management, bonds, fixed interest and superannuation.
Felicity works with internal and external parties to advise clients on their holistic financial situation and develop a comprehensive strategy for safeguarding and building their wealth. With a thorough understanding of financial markets and strategic long-term financial planning, Felicity constructs and carefully manages the investment portfolios of a select group of private investors, trusts and not-for-profit organisations.
Felicity is also Co-Founder of female financial literacy company Her Financial Network which was established in 2020 to help connect women to trusted advice professionals.
She has her Bachelor of Property Economics, Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance, Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning and Masters of Financial Planning.