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Stories of resilience, beautifully told through podcasts, books and exhibitions
A WORLD FILLED WITH MEANINGFUL PERSONAL CONNECTION
Kintsugi Heroes share their real-life stories about overcoming adversity, including mental and physical health challenges, personal trauma, and tragic events.
We capture these stories of everyday adversity in the hope of connecting with other people who may be experiencing similar life challenges or know someone who is.
These relaxed conversations between a host and guest are recorded and published through video and audio podcasts, radio broadcasts and books.
We also promote stories of resilience and connecting communities through photographic exhibitions, social media, printed news press and events.
SCARS WE GATHER OVER TIME
Golden threads of Kintsugi
Kintsugi is a Japanese art that highlights repairing broken pottery, turning the cracks into something beautiful. Just like that, the scars and imperfections we collect in life are a part of our unique beauty and worth. Instead of hiding them, we should embrace them because they make us who we are.
The stories we share dive deep into facing challenges, especially those tied to depression, anxiety, and PTSD. You’ll also find stories about mental and physical illness, addiction, abuse, crime, tough family situations, career setbacks, grief, financial struggles, breakups, and more.
Meet Our Board
Our Board of Directors is a diverse and dedicated group of professionals who are deeply committed to community support and engagement. With a wealth of experience across various fields, they bring unique perspectives and a shared passion for making a positive impact.
Their leadership and guidance drive our initiatives to share inspiring stories of resilience and overcoming adversity. Through their efforts, they foster a supportive and connected community, ensuring that Kintsugi Heroes continues to be a beacon of hope and strength for those facing challenges.
Ian spent 42 years working in the Australian and New Zealand telecommunications and energy industries mainly as an IT project manager. On 10 September 2013 he experienced a life changing moment that led to retiring from paid work in May 2014 and commencing a volunteer career which included establishing NFPs Mentoring Men and Kintsugi Heroes. Ian has been married to Helen for 42 years and they have 4 children and 12 grandchildren.
Host, Animals and Us Podcast | Partnerships Manager and Director. Natalie is dedicated to promoting kindness, health, and happiness. She brings a wealth of experience from humane education and resilience training to writing books and hosting wellbeing retreats. As the former head of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia, she managed partnerships, organised major events, and spearheaded fundraising initiatives.
Pete, originally an electronics engineer in the defence and aerospace sector, moved into organizational psychology and big data analytics, working in international leadership roles at IBM, Mercer, and HayGroup. In 2013, he shifted into volunteering in suicide prevention with Parents Beyond Breakup. Pete, a separated father for 22 years, has since gone on to serve two terms as director and twice as CEO at PBB. His work primarily focuses now on the mental health and wellbeing of separated parents, helping them stay engaged in their children’s lives whilst also continuing a sideline in corporate consulting to the occasional ASX100 client.
Myf brings a wealth of experience from the nfp sector, developing strategic programs to address needs in local communities & driving positive change through community development, nurturing partnerships & volunteer management. Myf also has a background in corporate event management as well as operating her own creative design business. Myf is dedicated to building stronger community connections and is very excited to be part of Kintusgi Heroes as it aligns seamlessly with their vision to create a world filled with meaningful personal connection.
Vinay is an experienced learning and development professional with a genuine passion for co-designing and facilitating outcome focused initiatives that meet contemporary practice.
After a personal tragedy, widower and father of three, John Milham, left his corporate IT career to focus on mental health advocacy. Having overcome grief, depression, and anxiety, John now supports others through life’s challenges. He collaborates with groups like Kintsugi Heroes, Parents Beyond Breakup, and Mentoring Men, emphasizing men’s mental health, suicide prevention, and community-led peer support. His work promotes non-clinical interventions, coaching, and education, leveraging lived experience to create impactful mental health programs.
Patricia is an expert Corporate Communications and Marketing Communications professional with experience in health, finance, corporate travel and politics.
Meet Our Team
Recognising the profound benefits of storytelling, Ian Westmoreland founded Kintsugi Heroes in 2022 to harness the power of storytelling to reframe adversity from something negative into something to be embraced, shared, and valued.
Today, our team consists of volunteers around the world united in helping our Kintsugi Heroes tell the stories they need to tell, so people can find the story they need to hear.
Below are some of our lead volunteers.
Patty has a lifelong passion for language and writing. She has a Masters in English and US Language and Literature, Diploma in Counselling and Cert IV in Training and Assessment.
Christopher Ireland is an internationally recognised photographer and artist. Led heavily by social conscience, Christopher uses photography and film making to shine a light on issues he feels need more social awareness.
After finding herself an uneducated mother to a daughter with a lifelong disability at 35 and a huge debt behind her from a failed attempt at business, she choose to rectify that issue and begin studying and working in a range of fields.
Michelle Henry has a background in operations, and is a keen people enthusiast committed to supporting the potential of others.
Barbara, a multi-award-winning Allied Health practitioner and a key figure in the International Safe Communities Movement. She specializes in injury prevention, child and road safety, and multicultural engagement. Barbara collaborates with stakeholders, develops education programs, promotes safety messaging, and advocates for legislative reforms.
Kate Smith, founder of Rove Creative, is a graphic designer with over a decade of experience. Specializing in visual branding, she creates authentic designs inspired by travel, nature, and culture. Kate enjoys dancing and connecting with nature in her downtime.
Cecil is an inky-fingered editor based in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia) who has been freelancing for over 15 years. They've proudly edited across a range of genres and are always eager to help people tell their stories exactly the way they mean to. They've never met a word they couldn't love.
Margaret Cunneen
Our Patron
From my long experience in the Law, I have learned that everyone experiences adversity at some time in life. Kintsugi Heroes encourages those facing difficult times to uncover their inner warrior and find growth from even the hardest battles. I am honoured to have been chosen to be a Patron.
