Mood Active’s Mission
To run exercise programs that empower people to better manage their mental health, and to get more General Practitioner’s & Psychologists prescribing exercise as treatment for depression/anxiety.
Our Background
In 2012, then psychology researcher Isabelle Granville-Smith and tennis coach Cameron Wilson met at Sydney’s Black Dog Institute. Both had long been advocates for the role exercise plays in boosting mental health, and both were convinced that more could be done to facilitate it for people who were struggling with depression or anxiety. After wading through the published research on exercise and mood disorders, and with input from clinicians at Sydney’s Black Dog Institute, they started a group exercise program intended to:
- address the barriers to exercise for people battling depression/anxiety
- utilise research-proven optimal exercise “dosage.”
- administer an assessment process & track measurable results
- help each participant build exercise into their mental health well-being strategy
In July 2013, Cam ran the program’s very first cardio tennis class at Eastcourts Tennis in Kingsford, and Isabelle its first group fitness circuit in Centennial Park. Mood Active was born.
Committee founders Tania Curley, Andrew Purll and Cameron Wilson, brought experience and skills in coaching psychology, finance and IT, communications, as well as combined decades of lived experience using exercise to boost mental health. In June 2017 Tania Curley was appointed Mood Active’s General Manager.
Our Committee
Cameron Wilson
Committee Member & Founder
Having served as Committee President (2013-2020), Cam brings his lived experience and real-world nous to supporting people as they adopt exercise for better mental health. He has battled bipolar depression since his late teens and relies on exercise to boost his own mood and well-being.
Cam has been our Head Trainer since 2013, is a Tennis Australia certified Cardio Tennis coach as well as an internationally published freelance journalist. He holds a BA in Communications, and is currently completing a Cert IV in Training & Assessment.
Andy Hobbs
Treasurer
Andy is a finance professional who has worked in a variety of roles in the public sector. He currently works for NSW Treasury.
Tania Curley
General Manager
Tania has been with Mood Active since 2013 working as a volunteer Events and Marketing Manager and then Funding and Sponsorship Manager.
Tania is now the General Manager of Mood Active. Tania holds a Masters in Coaching Psychology, Masters in Strategy HRM, a BA in Tourism Management, and a Cert III in Fitness.
Tania is also a leadership facilitator and coach.
Heather Napier
President
I was an aerobics tragic and started my career in fitness out the front of students at the Sport and Fitness centre, University of Sydney. Coming from a background in dancing, bush walking and cycling I have had fitness as part of my everyday since i could walk.
Completing my studies in Psychology has seen me providing support to Chronic pain sufferers, counselling support after major incidents and assisting injured workers to return to meaningful work.
More recently I have moved into Leadership roles in People and Culture and Health and Safety. I truly believe that moving actively everyday is like brushing your teeth and sets every person up for a good day ahead. I look forward to helping this become the everyday for more people.
Our Operational Team
Tania Curley
General Manager
Tania has been with Mood Active since 2013 working as a volunteer Events and Marketing Manager and then Funding and Sponsorship Manager.
Tania is now the General Manager of Mood Active. Tania holds a Masters in Coaching Psychology, Masters in Strategy HRM, a BA in Tourism Management, and a Cert III in Fitness.
Tania is also a leadership facilitator and coach.
Cathy Lloyd-Prowse
Program Manager
Cathy is an accredited personal trainer, group fitness instructor and coach. For the past 13 years Cathy owned and ran her own fitness business, Mums the Word Fitness.
In this role she helped many mums with post-natal depression by providing fun varied outdoor training sessions.
Cathy will also be running some of the group fitness classes for Mood Active.
Anita Cheah
Graphic Designer
Anita is a current participant and volunteer in Mood Active with a background in engineering and project management.
Clara Tang
HR
Clara is a self-motivated, pragmatic and detail-driven trilingual HR BP. As a certified Return To Work Coordinator, Clara holds a Cert IV WHS. With strong key stakeholder management, she delivered a high level of HR BP outcomes for the business being the Acting Payroll Manager in facilitating IR/ER issues and interpreting industry award.
Clara enjoys hiking and yoga, she truly believes exercise can enable people to improve their mental health and wish to contribute to Mood Active in the local communities.
Grant Pillon
Finance Officer
Grant joined Mood Active in May of 2018. He has seen, first hand, the benefits of exercise for mental health. Grant likes to live by the motto "healthy body = healthy mind". Grant was moved by the vision of Mood Active and so began volunteering in a finance capacity.
Grant also holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce, Major in Accounting, Western Sydney University and is a Provisional Member of CAANZ (Chartered Accountants New Zealand).
James Hulme
Program Management and Client Support
Born in Sydney, James has spent the last 8 years living in Byron Bay studying to become an Exercise Physiologist.
After finishing his undergrad degree James established Mens Health Byron Bay, a community group aiming to get men exercising and connecting with one another. This experience lead James to complete his Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology which has now enabled him to pursue a career he’s truly passionate about.
On the weekends you’ll find James in the ocean surfing, swimming or trekking through the bush in one of our beautiful national parks.
Jodie Wills
Research Grants Writer
Jodie is passionate about fitness and exercise, and believes these are key components in empowering people to take control of their health and wellbeing.
She enjoys socialising with friends and plays roller derby in her spare time. Jodie holds a BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Science, Masters in Sports Science, and a PhD in Biomechanics.
Kim Mannering
HR Manager - Recruitment and Retention
Kim’s role at Mood Active combines her passion for mental health, exercise and a providing a great people experience.
Kim has supported organisation’s leaders to develop workforce engagement strategies and has provided specialist HR services in health, financial services, legal and professional services sectors.
Kim has a Bachelor of Business HRM and a Graduate Diploma of Management. Her previous volunteer experience includes roles at Australian HR Institute, Country Education Foundation, community sport and dance.
Kim enjoys physical activity to improve mood, keep healthy and stay connected with friends.
Katie Brooke
Social Media Consultant
Katie is Mood Active’s volunteer social media consultant looking after the sourcing, creation and curation of our social feeds. She is the digital marketer for Out of Home provider oOh!media with experience in all things digital marketing including social strategy, marketing automation and website.
Katie holds a Bachelor or Commerce - Major in Marketing, Minor in Psychological Science, and has always had a passion for both marketing and the mind.
Rajiv Bangalore
IT Manager
Rajiv has a Master’s degree in Computer Applications and comes with an IT background specializing in delivering digital/online initiatives & IT transitions/transformation programs. He brings his experience in Program Management, Governance and views technology as an enabler that supports and contributes to Mood Active’s strategic goals.
Having experienced physical and mental benefits of exercise, Rajiv relates to Mood Active’s vision and wants to spread the message around to guide other people.
Leah Cohen
Events Manager
Leah is a dynamic individual with well rounded experience in marketing, management and business development.
She brings with her a cheerful nature, can-do attitude, and an eagerness to develop unique strategies. She has a passion for bringing people together through social engagement and engaging events, and believes that staying physically active and socially connected is an integral part of positive mental health and wellbeing.
Leah is highly capable to implement innovative ideas at Mood Active that fosters growth through organising and running key events.
Lorena Garmendia Flores
Human Resources Manager
Lorena is a Multi-Skilled Human Resource Professional with an extensive background in HR generalist affairs, including experience in employee recruitment and retention, post recruitment, induction, on-boarding, offer generation, compensation & benefits, salary negotiation, contracts & HR records management, HR policies development with a wealth of hands-on-experience working with Senior Stakeholders in diverse industries & corporate cultures.
Lorena is passionate about creating a collaborative environment that promotes engagement through learning, development, and embracing diversity.
Luke Hopkins
Website Manager
As Co-founder and CTO of The Protein Bread Co. – a leading provider of nutritionally enhanced foods – Luke brings to Mood Active a wealth of experience about how to effectively communicate the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle across both digital and traditional media platforms.
Luke’s personal mission is to help 5M Australians to live fitter, healthier and happier lives and is thrilled to be able to work with Mood Active to help achieve this.
Yolanda Zhang
Program Coordinator & Data Analyst
Yolanda works as a volunteer data analyst in Mood Active. She is a Certified Practising Accountant with experience in data analysis, financial reporting and financial analysis.
With the variety of professional and life experiences, through happiness and those struggling times, Yolanda understands how important good mental health could be for an individual has his or her family. Now as Mood Activist, she is passionate about having an opportunity to help people stay happy and healthy.
Srilaxmi Choudhury
Salesforce Specialist - Reporting
Srilaxmi has more than 4yrs of experience in the IT industry and holds a Master’s degree in IT.
She is passionate about learning new thing and technology. Srilaxmi believes that working as a team will bring better s than working in an individual capacity.
Srinidhi Srinivasaraghavan
SalesForce Configuration Specialist
Srinidhi is a Software Developer and holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California. Experienced in Salesforce, Srinidhi has achieved several superbadges and a certification.
Srinidhi is passionate about her Yoga Practise and believes that good mental health is achievable through fitness practices and physical activity.
Stephanie Yu
Stephanie has recently graduated from University of Sydney with a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Food, Nutrition and Health. She has a great passion for nutrition and health. She strongly believes that a healthy lifestyle is essential for everyone and understand its importance to mental health.
Through joining Mood Active, she hopes to help people achieve an active lifestyle through initiating changes in daily activities like diet and exercise. During her free time, she enjoys casual hikes/coastal walks as well as being an amateur foodie to hunt for good food spots in Sydney.
Tinashe Washay
Marketing & Community Engagement
Tinashe is a dedicated Medical Representative with a thorough understanding of mental health, especially depression and anxiety. Tinashe holds a Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours Class I) from the University of Sydney; where he pursued his educational passions for physiology and pharmacology.
His recent completion of the Masters of Management course has equipped him with the tools required to enhance Mood Active’s Marketing segment, ultimately allowing him to reach and improve the lives of many patients that are suffering from mental health issues.
Victor Leong
Human Resources Manager
Victor has over 25 years of HR experience predominantly in government appointments and 6 years with a not for profit aged care provider just prior to his retirement. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Employment Relations and a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management.
As a HR professional, he believes in good HR practice to ensure that all levels of an organisation can work collaboratively in meeting its goals and objectives.
If you or your business would like to sponsor Mood Active, please get in touch.
Accreditation
We’re not a registered NDIS provider ourselves, however we work with NDIS Providers.
Unfortunately we are not a Medicare funded.
Follow us on Facebook
