Ultimately the HCANZA Board’s goal is to ensure that an HCANZA Coach membership is an irresistible proposition, creating a vibrant professional community and value for current and prospective coach members.
The Coach Leadership team is a voluntary think tank of coach members that acts as an incubator of ideas for realising that goal. They bring perspectives and strong voices of members to the Board, ensuring HCANZA continues to meet the needs of its membership.
Debra Carnes
Deb is an Accredited Health and Wellness Coach who focusses on work health and wellbeing amongst essential services and frontline workers. Her coaching qualification was completed through Wellness Coaching Australia in early 2021.
She has a background in nursing having worked in public and private sector environments including emergency, rural and aged care contexts. Her other work history includes the roles of industrial officer, political staffer and academic.
With postgraduate qualifications in nursing, research and education she is currently building on her coaching skills by completing a Master of Mental Health Nursing.
In addition to HCANZA she is a member of the WHO Global Patient Safety Network, Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
In her spare time Deb plays piano and enjoys keeping fit by regularly going for a run around the numerous options in New Norfolk in Tasmania’s beautiful Derwent Valley.
Sonya English
Registered comprehensive nurse, Master in Health Practice, advanced care practitioner (NZHQSC end of life discussions/ planning), PreKure certified health coach, certified professional coach in transformative coaching (coach masters academy). ICF ACC.
Following many years in the acute care service as a critical care nurse & nurse leader Sonya has first-hand experience of the rising pandemic that is a non-communicable chronic disease. As a health coach and health coach educator Sonya believes that health & wellness coaching is about giving our families and communities back the self-belief, knowledge & ownership of their health journey. She has a strong desire to inspire health coaches’ confidence to make real changes in health outcomes and influence the future of medicine. In her role as an HCANZA leadership team member, Sonya is motivated to work with our members to innovate, connect and grow a community of strong health pioneers.
Michelle Hasani
Michelle is a Mental Fitness and Wellness Strategist and Coach; her mission is to reduce dis-ease, driven by a desire to inspire individuals, organisations, and communities to embrace sustainable positive change. With her innovative programs and coaching services, Michelle champions success, fostering calm, confident, and conscious leadership. Her approach enhances communication, fuels innovation, and drives growth, creating a culture where people truly thrive.
Michelle’s business Revive & Thrive specialises in Wellness, Mental Fitness and Leadership excellence.
Michelle’s background is in stakeholder engagement, community development, project management, consultation, leadership, and management, she has over 25 years experience in coaching and development.
A strong advocate of systems change, Michelle welcomes the opportunity to positively influence the coaching landscape in Australia.
Michelle has been a HCANZA Member since 2020.
Dr Brad Hulcombe
I am a Primal Health Certified Coach with a background as a physician, ski coach and physical trainer. After my own health journey, I was driven to find answers outside our conventional medical model. Frustrated by being unable to participate in the exercise I had previously enjoyed. The solutions I discovered were profound, involved changes to my understanding of fitness versus health, and redefined my lifestyle goals. I found myself getting better and being able to enjoy those recreational activities again. I realised that as a health coach I could help other busy professionals over 40 achieve their health and fitness goals after a health scare, burnout, or other setbacks.
Chrissie Williams
A former role of Health Promotion / Chronic Disease Coordinator, in a central Melbourne Primary Care Partnership, led Chrissie to diversify from her previous focus on acute and primary health care nursing to a focus of Health Coaching.
Initially studying the HealthChange Methodology, Chrissie participated in further health and wellness coach training inclusive of the ‘Mastery in Health Coaching’, leading to professional membership of HCANZA in May 2022.
Currently working across primary health and a not-for-profit organisation Chrissie seeks any opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of the ‘coach approach’ to both health service providers and the consumer and drive a shift from the traditional medical model of health care.
Chrissie is driven to support the regulation of the health coaching industry.
Chrissie is excited to be a part of the HCANZA leadership group and to represent all members of HCANZA and assist in addressing their needs to support growth in the health coaching industry.
