Speaker biographies
Dietician
Lydia Sutakowsky
Lydia Sutakowsky is a dietitian with
over 30 years’ experience and founder of the Sunshine Coast Gut Clinic (2016).
She specialises in gut health, helping clients with concerns ranging from constipation to complex gastrointestinal disorders, and has a particular interest in IBS and disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBIs). Lydia’s passion for food, healthy living and the microbiome underpins her work and home life.
Her curiosity in microbiology sparked a love of fermentation: she bakes sourdough weekly, makes kefir and experiments with wild ferments. Outside the clinic, she enjoys surfing and the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast.
Breathwork Coach
Dane Whakataka
After a transformative breathwork experience in 2020, Dane Whakataka began studying the physiological and psychological effects of breath regulation. Dane discovered its capacity to support nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and mental clarity.
Breathwork became a tool to ground the body, improve resilience, and address long-suppressed stress patterns. This led to the creation of Well Warrior.
Well Warrior utilises breathwork techniques that support regulation, self-awareness, and sustainable wellbeing, helping clients reconnect with their internal state and build greater capacity for both life and performance.
Buddhist Nun
Venerable Tsultrim
Venerable Tsultrim (Carla Pearse) has been a student of Buddhism since 1998, and was ordained in 2009. She spent several years in India and Nepal learning from teachers within the various Tibetan Buddhist lineages and doing retreat.
Tsultrim has lead retreats and workshops in India, Nepal and Australia on practical mindfulness, what is spiritual care at the end of life, and applying Buddhism in day-to-day life.
She believes that most of us can find contentment in our lives, through understanding and training our minds. In particular, through the use of mindfulness to reflect on and examine our view of our internal and external worlds and how that affects our ability to find contentment and peace of mind.
Wellness Coach
Dean King
Dean is the Founder of Personal Edge, a private practice dedicated to developing resilient, high-performing healthcare professionals and organisations.
A registered nurse with 36+ years’ experience, he has worked in paediatric nursing, nurse education and management across public, private, not-for-profit and for-profit sectors.
Since 2006, Dean has trained with leading coaches and mentors and now delivers leadership and wellbeing
development as a certified coach and facilitator. He has provided 14,000+ hours of one-to-one coaching and designed tailored programs for 4,000+ healthcare professionals nationwide.
Dean specialises in helping individuals and organisations unlock their true potential and discover their personal edge.