Our Leadership Team
Chief Executive Officer
Kirra Lewis
Kirra coordinates the team at Empatia, enjoying the intricate dance of managing operations and strategy so that your workplace can thrive.
A people-centred leader, Kirra has a deep desire for everyone she works with to realise their potential and find joy in their work
Kirra has a wealth of leadership experience within the not-for-profit sector, including leading in the fields of disability and international development before transitioning into executive leadership roles in employment assistance provision.
She has qualifications in Arts (Disability), Education, Theology & Pastoral Care, Leadership Coaching and is currently studying for a Master of Leadership. She is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Level 1 Coach.
Kirra loves juggling a million different tasks. If she can be convinced to put them down for a moment, she is likely to be found walking her dogs in the bush, getting her hands dirty with clay or getting up before dawn to do something active.
Executive Director
Wellbeing Services
Dr Shannon Hood
Shannon oversees all wellbeing services and provides consulting, supervision, critical incident and mediation support.
Shannon specialises in working in blue collar industries especially critical incident and trauma work with emergency services. He has been a clinical manager with Converge International and Clinical Supervisor for OZ Help Foundation. He is the Dean of Counselling for Perth Bible College and has an active private counselling practice.
Shannon has Bachelor or Masters degrees in Engineering, Theology, Education, Commerce and Counselling. He holds a PhD in Counselling and Graduate Diplomas in Integrated Psychotherapy and Pastoral Ministry. Shannon is a Level 4 member of the Australian Counselling Association and a member of their College of Clinical Counsellors and College of Supervisors.
Shannon is also a Workplace Deacon in the Anglican Church. Shannon is an avid reader, loves outdoor sports and believes regular Lego building is important for mindfulness.
Executive Director
Business Development
Rev Mick George
Mick is passionate about seeing organisations thrive through the provision of Christ-centred wellbeing services.
Mick began his career as an Infantry Officer, serving for 20 years in a variety of roles which included the parachute regiment, overseas deployment and border operations. This experience provided Mick extensive leadership, large scale coordination with resource and personnel management skills.
Mick became an Army Chaplain in 2011, and served full time in the ADF as an ordained Priest in the Anglican Church of Australia for a further 10 years.
Transitioning from full-time Army in 2020, Mick began his corporate business career with Converge International as their National Onsite Services Manager and Principal Chaplain. He grew the organisation’s onsite division from $3.5 million to over $6 million within 2 years.
Mick holds Bachelor degrees in Commerce and Ministry, Workplace Training and Assessment, and he is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.
Executive Director
People and Culture
Joanne Hood
Jo provides care and guidance for the Empatia team, in addition to coaching support services.
Jo specialises in supporting women in senior leadership roles juggling work, family and life in general.
Jo has served in numerous Human Resources Roles mainly for professional services firms throughout the Asia Pacific. She was the People and culture manager for KPMG Canberra before joining their internal National Executive Coaching and Leadership Development team as a Senior Manager.
In her undergraduate studies, Jo majored in Organisational Psychology. She has a Graduate Diploma in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, as well as a Masters degree in Human Resource Management.
She is accredited in Lumina Spark and the Leadership Circle. She is a member of the Australian Human Resource Management Institute and the Association of Coaches.
Jo loves a bush walk, reading the Women’s Weekly and is a closet royal watcher.
Executive Director
Business Administration
Tammy George
With substantial experience in management, leadership and business operations, Tammy ensures administrative processes enable the best delivery of care to Empatia’s customers.
With nearly 30 years of experience in management, leadership, business operations, and administration, Tammy, a business owner and female leader, collaborates closely with Empatia’s CEO.
Tammy has a strong desire to deliver administrative services that are easily accessible, simple to navigate and provide customer focused outcomes.
Tammy and her husband Michael have four teenage children, and for fun, host a live drivetime radio program on local Christian radio in Canberra.
She also leads worship at her local church and is an avid Rugby and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu enthusiast.
Director Research
Dr Rowan Lewis
With his extensive experience in research, higher education and qualitative surveys, Rowan supports the research, reporting and assessment services of Empatia.
Rowan specialises in the integration of social science, spirituality and human flourishing. His early career was as a business analyst and strategy consultant before moving into Higher Education where he has lectured at several Theological Colleges. Rowan currently serves as the Head of Pastoral Theology at the Australian College of Ministries.
Rowan has degrees in Commerce, Theology, Education and Training as well as Spiritual Formation. His PhD investigated spiritual change and crises in young adults - the insights of which have been used to develop several formation programs.
Rowan is engaged in several research projects including a national survey of youth and spirituality, and investigating the impact of Christian Schools on the formation of faith in students.
On weekends Rowan can be spotted in the backcountry on his mountain bike or cooking up a storm in the kitchen for friends and family.
Consultants
Empatia has a pool of professionally accredited consultants who resonate with our Christian mission.
Some exclusively provide Telehealth Support, others provide onsite support as well.
They include a diversity of Christian traditions including Anglican, Baptist,
Catholic, Churches of Christ, House Church, Non-denominational community church,
Lutheran and Pentecostal expressions of the Christian faith.
If you would like to join the Empatia team please
click here to submit an Expression of Interest.
Senior Consultants
Senior Consultant Tasmania
Dee Beriya
Dee provides counselling, training, and critical incident support, specialising in supporting clients to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Dee has worked in people-caring roles for more than 20 years, including trauma healing support groups and parenting groups.
She has a Diploma of Community Services and a Bachelor of Applied Social Science, with further specialised training in supporting men and women with Family and Domestic Violence concerns.
Dee holds professional membership with the Australian Counselling Association.
Dee is a bookworm and has the very bad habit of trying to read too many books at the one time.
Senior Consultant Sydney
Dr Mel Burr-Dixon
Mel provides counselling and critical incident support, specialising in children, teenagers and women.
Mel lectures at Bible College, is a School Counsellor and facilitates the supervision training for counsellors in NSW. She was a Secondary Mathematics and History teacher and enjoys connecting with teenagers.
Her private practice focuses on children, teenagers, and women, as well as supervising other counsellors. Mel is the author of Toddler to Teen (over 20,000 copies sold) and A Grateful Heart.
She has Masters degrees in Education, Theology and Counselling and a Doctorate in Counselling. Mel is an elder in her local Churches of Christ church and enjoys reading, tennis and playing with her most squishable grandchildren.
Senior Consultant Regional NSW/ACT
Dr Brad Crook
Brad specialises in the nurture of emotional and spiritual wellbeing, relationship counselling and counselling support for individuals stuck in cycles of problematic coping behaviours.
Brad has Bachelor and PhD degrees in Applied Science. With over 30 years in government, university, and private organisations, he is highly experienced in strategic planning, change management, and the potential impacts on staff wellbeing.
He holds a Graduate Certificate in Divinity, Advanced Diploma in Christian Counselling and Family Therapy, Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy (Spiritual), Level 2 training in Gottman Method of Couples Therapy, and specialised training in Spiritual Direction and Soul Care focused on emotionally healthy leadership.
Brad is a member of the Australian Counselling Association, He has a deep interest in contemplative Christian practices, and enjoys collecting stones, shells, and seeds while spending time in nature.
Senior Consultant Queensland
Rev Wayne George
Wayne provides counselling and critical incident support, specialising in supporting Christian pastors and church leaders.
Wayne is a qualified Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor registered with the Australian Counselling Association. He has over 20 years of Pastoral Ministry experience, having served in ministry roles in different countries, including South Africa, the UK, New Zealand and Australia. This equips him with diverse multicultural experience and the ability to relate well to people from all walks, ages, and stages of life.
Wayne has served in the VET and Higher Education Sector for a number of years; he is an Associate Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor with the Australian College of Applied Professions (Discipline of Counselling).
Wayne holds Bachelors and Graduate Diploma qualifications in Theology as well as Counselling. He is currently studying towards a Master of Counselling. Wayne enjoys tickling the ivories on the piano and is always open to a good old South African braai (BBQ on coals).
Senior Consultant Victoria
Guinevere Swan
Guinevere has a background in mental health and palliative care. She has a particular interest in assisting clients through life's transitions and the unique challenges of living and parenting cross-culturally.
Guinevere and her family spent 10 years living and working in Papua, Indonesia with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Now based in Melbourne, she continues to mentor and train Papuan teammates who are translating the Bible and other resources into their own language to help their communities flourish. She also serves with SIL Asia as a Bible translation consultant for other language teams across Indonesia.
Guinevere holds degrees in Social Work and Theology, an Associate Diploma of Music (Violin), and a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Applied Linguistics). She is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Guinevere is an active member of a local Anglican church and loves exploring with others how the Christian message is good news in all areas and seasons of life. She enjoys being an occasional foster carer, listening to her three teenagers play music, and being near the ocean. She admits to attempting to bribe her second-born with lollies in exchange for hugs, and to watching Border Security on Saturday nights.