Lea’s Team

Claire Fortune

Project Manager and Facilitator

Claire Fortune (MAPP, BHlthSc, AdvDipAppSc) is a trainer, facilitator and course designer in positive psychology. She is passionate about empowering people with the tools to flourish in all spheres of life.

Having completed her Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) at the University of Melbourne, Claire has deep knowledge and training in the field of positive psychology. Claire is a member of the International Positive Psychology Association and Positive Education Schools Association. Claire also holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Complementary Medicine with a particular interest in behavioural neuroscience and the mind body connection and has completed further study in positive psychology coaching with Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener.

Claire has worked in the health and education sectors for over 20 years and has worked both overseas and in Australia as a wellbeing consultant, speaker and practitioner. In the Education Sector, She has worked with both State and Independent schools across Victoria, NSW, QLD, Tasmania and WA to improve wellbeing outcomes by delivering school health and nutrition programs, workshops on positive education, workshops on relationships and through the her role as a facilitator in the Visible Wellbeing™ program.

Trained by Professor Lea Waters as a Visible Wellbeing™ facilitator, Claire has contributed to resources on Visible Wellbeing™, the Strengths Stars Framework and The Strengths Exchange, collaborating with Professor Lea Waters and Lara Mossman on games to encourage strengths awareness through play in children.

Marianne McEwen

Project Coordinator and Facilitator

Marianne McEwen is a counsellor (BA, Bachelor of Counselling) with nearly 20 years working across several secondary schools in Victoria, and prior to this working in Municipal Councils. She practiced overseas and in Australia in the counselling field. She is now working with Lea and Visible Wellbeing as the Project Coordinator, Facilitator and Coach.

In schools, Marianne has been a counsellor, a wellbeing leader and a member of the college leadership team. She has been pivotal in driving a strengths approach to wellbeing in schools and building a proactive space in counselling. She has challenged the deficit model of wellbeing and strives to build a whole-school culture of wellbeing. In her former school, she led the successful implementation of positive education across a seven-year period, leading students, staff and school leadership.

Marianne has vast experience presenting to staff, parents, corporate groups and youth groups. Her motto is to give practical takeaways and to be relevant. She was the Visible Wellbeing Leader in State Secondary Colleges and, now as a facilitator, is committed to sharing her expertise and giving back to build wellbeing in other schools. Marianne will be facilitating, coaching and also working to coordinate events and presentations for Lea.