Our people

Dr Donna Lyon
Founder and CEO

  • After battling with a laundry list of symptoms linked to her childhood sexual abuse and trauma (you know, depression, worthlessness, suicidal ideation, addiction… those kinds of things), Donna embarked on a healing and alternative justice journey that led her to sobriety, inclusive faith, boxing and getting a PhD. Donna’s background is in the arts, filmmaking and education and after a not-so-successful amateur fighting career, she decided to combine her passion of boxing with creative writing to help other survivors like her regain a sense of agency over their body and trauma. Since getting her life together, Donna has run two half and two full marathons, hobbled through a 55km trail run, fought five times, won once, produced an independent feature film ‘Disclosure’ (check it out on Stan), co-edited a book and set up Left Write Hook. How’s that for getting some justice?

Maryanne Dib
Head of Operations and Lead Facilitator

  • “From abandonment at birth to child abuse, from children’s homes to homelessness - repeated abuse and trauma symptoms was all that I knew. This was my norm. Fight, survive, and repeat. Until I found a reason to live through boxing. I saw power and strength through my training to keep standing up and moving forward.”

    Today Maryanne holds multiple degrees as well as an MBA. She closed the door on her successful corporate roles to follow her true passion - helping people be stronger inside and out through the art and sport of boxing.

    Maryanne is the proud owner and operator of 9Round Bentleigh kickboxing gym. She also works within the community adopting a trauma and violence informed approach that encourages young people to be more physically active, develop new skill set and feel strong and connected to their body.

  • All of our trainers and facilitators have lived/living experience of complex trauma and abuse.

    They are all trained in writing and trauma-informed boxing and receive specialised support from our Left Write Hook psychotherapist to ensure they are well-equipped to hold space for you when you participate in our program.

    Most of our trainers and facilitators have been program participants in the past and understand first-hand the bravery and resilience you demonstrate by signing up and showing up.

Lived/living experience trainers

“I was a participant twice, and now I’m a program facilitator. It feels like such an honour to give back to Left Write Hook and to hold space for others as they go through the program.”

— LWH Lived/living experience trainer

Our board

Sarah Sacks
Director and Chair

  • Sarah has always been fascinated by people, nature and well-being. Located in Bayside Melbourne, she is a trained psychotherapist and counsellor and has been in the mental health space for over 10 years.

    As a therapist, Sarah has worked in not-for-profit, community health, and group practice settings. She is experienced in delivering individual, couple and group therapy. In therapy, she enjoys working around struggles with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationships.

    With a previous background in business, Sarah exited a successful group practice that she co-founded to more recently establish The Calm Store, an ecommerce business focusing on mindful self-care.

    To help keep me feeling strong and inspired, Sarah loves spending time in nature, doing body-based mindful practices, the arts, writing, learning, giving back, and most importantly spending time with the people that matter to her the most.

Jacqui Bloom
Director

  • A seasoned entrepreneur, Jacqui’s career has seen her travel the globe in business development and executive operational roles with a proven track record in driving growth, raising capital, and facilitating investments within the startup ecosystem. Currently serving as the Growth and Investment Director at Startupbootcamp Australia, Jacqui is an active startup mentor and advisor empowering aspiring entrepreneurs where she leverages her expertise to evaluate and support promising ventures. Jacqui is currently appointed as an Independent Investment Committee Member on the Swinburne University of Technology and Breakthrough Victoria Innovation Platform and beyond her professional endeavors, remains committed to philanthropic initiatives and social causes.

Rita Cincotta
Director

  • Rita is a seasoned leadership development professional with over two decades of experience in executive roles across diverse industries. She is a facilitator, speaker, coach, author, and non-executive Board Director, consulting extensively in technology, healthcare, finance, aged care, media, e-commerce, FMCG, and higher education sectors. Rita holds qualifications in Organisational Behaviour, Human Resources, Marketing, and Industrial Relations, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Director. Rita serves on the Board of Peninsula Health and Left Write Hook.

Alexandra Doig
Director

  • Alex is a lawyer with expertise in commercial and business law and disputes. Over the past 10 years in particular, Alex’s focus in her practice has been on working with women in business and in assisting predominantly female litigants in asserting their rights and protecting their interests. Prior to commencing her legal career, Alex worked in law reform, with a focus on strategies to prevent youth crime and generational disadvantage and trauma. Alex brings to her role on the board of Left Write Hook a passion for purpose-driven business and human-centred problem solving.

Taylor Tran
Director

  • Taylor is a business advisor and former Chair of Playgroup Australia, an $8m charity in the early childhood sector. Taylor is also director of the $14m incubation space Western BACE and startup funding advisor. Taylor’s corporate, community and startups experience spans over three decades driven by his passion to support and bring about fundamental systematic change. He holds an executive MBA and is a member of AICD and CPA.

Ambassadors

Jo Stanley

Jo Stanley is a performer, writer, and TV and radio presenter with 20 years experience in the media. She is co-host of The House of Wellness TV and Radio, and creator of the House of Wellness podcast. She writes a regular column for the Sunday Life Magazine, and is the creator of the Play Like A Girl kids book series. Her performance style, which is heavily influenced by her stand-up comedy roots, makes her a much sought-after MC and speaker.

Jo is passionate about women’s and girl’s health, gender equality, social justice and mindfulness. In support of these issues, Jo is a patron for Lighthouse Foundation and a patron for Wellsprings for Women, and is thrilled to have just begun as ambassador for Left Write Hook. She loves her daughter Willow, her husband Daz, running, meditation and the Collingwood Football Club, but don’t hold that against her.

Want to join the team?

If you are interested in joining the Left Write Hook team, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates about upcoming opportunities, including volunteer positions.