When you stay at Golden Door Wellness Retreat and Day Spa you can be assured that the dedicated team working with you are just as passionate about health and wellness as you are.
We are driven by a desire to create opportunities for you to transform. Our team will help you see what can be.
General Manager
Many of our past guests of Golden Door Health Retreat in Queensland would already fondly know Brigid from her role as Program Manager over a period of six years. For many, she played a major part in their life changing experience, positively influencing and inspiring thousands during her time there.
Brigid’s extensive experience in the health, fitness, wellness and sports spheres spans more than 20 years. During this period she has established herself as a reputable and passionate industry leader, inspiring and motivating others along the way. Brigid has held senior management and leadership positions within government, private and not-for-profit organisations, including The Australian Sports Commission, National Heart Foundation, Queensland Health and Golden Door Health Retreat Queensland.
With qualifications in management, sports science, health and wellness coaching, group fitness, Personal Training and yoga, Brigid uniquely fuses her intrinsic knowledge of the industry with an evidence-based and holistic approach to wellbeing education, training and coaching.
Head of Program and Guest Experience
As Head of Program and Guest Experience Jaye has a vested interest in health, fitness and holistic living. She holds qualifications in Adventure Outdoor Education, Wellness Coaching, Personal Training, Group Fitness and Flower Essence Therapy.
Jaye’s journey into sports and fitness began at an early age, she travelled the world as a rock climber and outdoor educator, before returning to Australia where her interest in the concepts of positive psychology, wellness and life balance became her passion, becoming part of the Golden Door Queensland program team in 2009.
Jaye lives and breathes the Golden Door philosophy, bringing her compassionate, optimistic and fun-loving nature to deliver the unrivalled Golden Door program, changing lives each week together with her exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate team members.
Executive Chef
As executive healthy chef of Australia’s leading health and wellness retreat, James lives and breathes the philosophy of ‘The Door’. With a passion for food and wellbeing in his own lifestyle he brings enthusiasm and commitment into the kitchen every day.
James has an inherent love of quality produce and has worked in the food industry ever since he was old enough to clean the floors in the family butcher shop. As a classically trained chef, he has gone on to gain experience across all areas of the industry and kitchen management.
James is passionate about nurturing a healthy kitchen environment for his team; a kitchen in which the menus are produce driven with a focus on fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. He sees food not only as a means to support and nourish but also a way to connect with friends or soon to be friends in the case of Golden Door guests.
The role of the kitchen at Golden Door extends further than serving wholesome meals at the dinner table. As our guest at the retreat, you will also have the opportunity to interact with the kitchen team through cooking demonstrations. This enables guests to not only taste ‘real food’ but provide education and tips on selecting produce and preparing healthy meals when returning home.
During his cooking demonstration with guests, James helps simplify the way they look at healthy eating. ‘We sort through all the conflicting messages around our health and wellbeing and of course the latest fad diets! But really I’m trying to get people back in their kitchens, cooking real food that will nourish and delight.’
Movement and Fitness Manager
Matt was destined to have a life in fitness, having two professional athletes as parents. Training and a healthy way of life was what he was surrounded with and after playing state cricket and soccer in his teens, his competitive spirit took him into mountain biking and triathlons at 22. After a cycling trip around Australia, he returned home to study fitness and began his career at Golden Door in 2004. He enjoys leading the ‘Movement that Matters‘ seminar, Men’s Health workshop, cardiovascular fitness training and functional training exercise classes.
Clinical Health Services Manager
Mel has worn many hats at Golden Door and is currently our Clinical Health Services Manager. She studied physiotherapy at Sydney University and has completed a Masters of Sports Physiotherapy and Wellness Coaching. Mel was attracted to the holistic nature of Golden Door Health Retreat, joining the team in 2004. She brings her wealth of experience to offer specialised services in wellness coaching, physiotherapy and a range of private classes including myofascial release and swim stroke correction.
Movement Coach
Adrienne’s (Adi’s) love of health and fitness stemmed as a young girl from the desire to compete and keep up with her two older brothers!
She has a passion for dancing, motorbike riding, water sports or any activity in the great outdoors. These passions led her to figuring out purpose for a lifelong career in 2014. Adi studied her Cert III & IV in Fitness alongside a Diploma of Business and established her professional skillset as a Personal Trainer and Movement Coach within the corporate arena.
She now facilitates one-on-one Personal Training for our guests and many of the activities on the Guest Experience program. Adi’s style of coaching incorporates many aspects of functional movement and a holistic approach to health to inspire people to move and live well in everyday life.
Her down to earth nature means she loves connecting with people from all walks of life and loves being fit, healthy and outdoors as much as possible!
Tai Chi, Feldenkrais & breathing expert
Brad has made his life’s work the study and practice of agelessness. He has trained and taught Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong for over 40 years and been a Feldenkrais Practitioner for over 25. He was part of the original team at Golden Door in Queensland and moved down to the Hunter Valley retreat in 2015.
Many of the patterns of habitual movement and behaviour that we accumulate along the way in life are actually the cause of stiffness and pain that we just presume is part of getting older. Brad specialises in using a series of ingenious Feldenkrais ATM (Awareness Through Movement) lessons to organise oneself more efficiently to move through life more comfortably and effortlessly.
He incorporates simple yet powerful lessons in Breathing, Qigong and Meditation that helps individuals to:
- Improve breathing and posture in sitting, standing and walking
- Increase self-awareness and gain greater comfort and flexibility
- Learn a complete daily qigong practice for energy and vitality
- Develop mindfulness and meditation techniques for deep relaxation
Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Acupuncturist & Kung Fu Master
Sifu Dean Monk is a Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Acupuncturist and Kung Fu Master (Southern Praying Mantis Lineage) with more than 39 years experience. For 20 years, Dean has been a Practitioner and Facilitator at Golden Door and through his treatments, classes and workshops, has mentored tens of thousands of guests.
The essence of what Dean teaches is restoring vitality (qi) in a simple and enjoyable way, using relaxation, intent, feeling, breathing, movement, posture and the resources the universe provides.
‘Keep it simple and if you enjoy doing it and feel the benefit, you will keep doing it’
– Dean Monk.