She has led programs across Australian universities, research institutions, and organisations, mentoring hundreds of students, researchers, professionals, and entrepreneurs. She has also spoken on the TEDx stage, sharing her belief that philosophy—the art of asking better questions—can be a powerful catalyst for personal transformation.  

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After years working in education, management, and consulting, Maria felt drawn back to the reason she first studied philosophy: a desire to help people explore who they are, what matters most to them, and how to live more authentically.

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With a Global MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship alongside deep study in Philosophy, Maria brings a rare combination to the board: the strategic instincts of someone who has built and led large-scale programs, paired with a genuine belief — shared on the TEDx stage — that philosophy, the art of asking better questions, is one of the most powerful tools for personal transformation.

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She is, above all, an empath and a woman in business who understands both sides of growth: the systems that make organisations work, and the deeply personal experience of change for the people inside them.

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Mentoring & Community Involvement

• ARAFMI phone line support volunteer

• Mentor — CSIRO ON Prime

• Queensland Eating Disorders Mentor

• SheEO Mentor & Activator

• TEDx Speaker

 

Qualifications

Global MBA (Innovation & Entrepreneurship)

• Master of Philosophy

• Master of Creative Industries Management

• Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

• Motivational Interviewing Trained

• Design Thinking and Action Learning Trained

• Diploma of Counselling (currently studying, December 2026 graduation)

• Certificate IV in Mental Health (currently studying, December 2026 graduation)

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Languages 

• English

• Spanish

• Italian