Meet Mind Your Monkey

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mind Your Monkey, Anita provides the strategic leadership and vision for the practice, ensuring its commitment to strengthening psychological resilience and mental wellbeing is delivered through evidence-based, practical and accessible services. She chairs the Advisory Board, providing governance and oversight, and works closely with Dr Eamonn McCarthy to develop innovative programs that combine contemporary psychological science with practical strategies that create meaningful and lasting change.

Anita brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience across global organisations. She spent a decade as Director of the Global Human Resources Division for an international renewable energy company, leading people strategy, organisational culture, leadership development and organisational transformation across diverse regions and cultures. This extensive experience has given her a deep understanding of the human factors that influence wellbeing, performance and resilience in both individuals and organisations.

Anita is also the Founder and Managing Director of Larita Academy, a leadership and professional development organisation dedicated to building emotionally intelligent, values-driven leaders through evidence-based education, coaching and organisational development. Her work across psychology, leadership and organisational performance reflects a strong belief that resilient people create healthier workplaces, stronger communities and more fulfilling lives.

Dr Eamonn McCarthy is a Doctor of Forensic Psychology, Member of the Australian Psychological Society and Fellow of the Australian College of Forensic Psychology. He is recognised as one of Victoria’s most respected forensic psychologists in the field of childhood trauma, attachment and high-risk youth.

In his recent former role as CEO of Lighthouse Foundation, Eamonn worked alongside the Foundation’s care teams, volunteers, donors, corporate partners, trusts and foundations, to expand the circle of support for disadvantaged youth, with the goal of breaking the cycle of youth homelessness.

From 2014 to 2021, he was a Principal Practitioner of Child Protection in Victoria, consulting and guiding large teams while developing a reputation for managing complex key stakeholder relationships with a refreshing, easy communication style.

Prior to this he spent several years providing assessment and treatment for Victoria’s highest risk children and youth within a statutory setting, before moving to the Royal Children’s Hospital where he delivered sexual abuse counselling services to children and their families.

Eamonn’s extensive experience in the clinical and executive fields, combined with his passionate advocacy for the rights of children and young people, has positioned him well to take up the new challenge of guiding community minded organisations and leaders into the next era of social change making.

Eamonn is the resident psychologist at Larita Academy providing advice to the governance including development of the learning and caring curricula for the Academy building capacity of students and coaches alike.

Larry Kestelman is the Executive Group Chairman of LK Group, a diversified investment company with interests spanning telecommunications, property, sports and entertainment. He is a co-founder of Mind Your Monkey and the owner and Executive Chairman of the National Basketball League (NBL), which he has transformed into one of Australia's premier sporting competitions. A passionate entrepreneur and philanthropist, Larry is known for building bold Australian brands and investing in ventures that make a lasting community impact, with a particular passion for people development.