Our Team
Carlie Belancic
BSc(Psych & Nutr) PGDipPsych DipPosPsych
Founder & Psychologist
Carlie is a postgraduate qualified and registered Psychologist experienced in the field of Positive Psychology & Wellbeing. With 15 years of experience, she is passionate about physical and mental wellbeing and supporting people to become the happiest, healthiest versions of themselves. She also has a special interest in using the science of Psychology to enhance organisational success. Before founding The Happiness Lab in 2019, Carlie spent the first ten years of her career as a Psychologist and allied health leader in the disability sector supporting people facing significant social, emotional and physical challenges.
Carlie’s areas of interest include Leadership & Culture, Emotional Intelligence, Positive Emotion, Relationships, Meaning & Purpose, Parenting, Mindfulness, Resilience and Positive Nutrition.
Carlie is a wife and Mum. She loves to travel, especially in Australia, and thinks we have the best beaches, wildlife and landscapes in the world. One of her greatest highlights so far is coming up close and personal with a whale shark on the beautiful Ningaloo Coast in WA. She enjoys being outside and is at her happiest at the beach. She also loves creating healthy and delicious meals in the kitchen and is behind all of the recipes we share on our website.
Isabel Papadopoulos
BArts (Psych)
Leadership & Wellbeing Consultant
Isabel believes we're at the next stage of organisational evolution, where we can holistically bring together purpose, people, and profit to make great things happen. With a background in Psychology and a specific interest in organisational development, leadership, and wellbeing, she deeply understands human behaviour and its impact on the workplace.
Having significant experience in work health and safety, Isabel has spent a significant amount of her career helping people recover from psychological injuries at work as a registered Rehabilitation Counsellor. She is all about promoting mentally healthy workplaces and improving mental wellbeing at work.
As a Leadership and Wellbeing consultant, she works to empower emerging leaders to embrace transformative strategies that foster growth, innovation, and resilience. Through tailored coaching sessions and workshops, Isabel works to equip leaders with the tools to build high-performing teams with a focus on employee happiness and wellbeing.
Beyond her professional endeavours, she continues to advocate for mental health awareness and education. When she is not working, you will find her out on a hike with her husband and daughter exploring our beautiful national parks or playing country music loudly in her kitchen whilst cooking up a storm.
Sam Manago
BArts (Psych), PGDipPsych
Psychologist
Sam is a Registered Psychologist with over 15 years of experience in clinical, worker’s compensation, education, and disability settings. Sam has a special interest in supporting people who experience people-pleasing, perfectionism, anxiety and stress.
Sam has worked with a diverse population and enjoys supporting his clients to reach their mental health, life and career goals. Sam has also provided corporate training on a range of topics. His calm, compassionate, thorough approach means clients feel safe, understood and supported during their appointments with Sam. Sam is passionate about assisting his clients to identify what is uniquely important to them so they can live full and meaningful lives. He is also passionate about supporting people in learning how to manage their emotions and thoughts so that they don’t get in the way of them reaching their full potential.
He uses an eclectic and tailored approach to his sessions using evidence-based modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Sam is a registered Medicare provider meaning clients can claim a Medicare rebate with an eligible plan from their GP.
Outside of work, he enjoys playing sport and staying active as much as possible.
Simon Belancic
Advisor
In addition to his day job as an IT professional, Simon works hard behind the scenes to ensure our services and content are delivered in a way that is meaningful to our customers. His ability to explain the concepts of Psychology and Wellbeing in everyday language helps us to ensure our services and content are accessible and welcoming.
Simon has made it his mission to embed the principles of Positive Psychology into his everyday life. He lost his father to mental illness at a very young age. This, combined with his own battle with mental illness in 2017, led Simon to look at life in a completely different way. Simon’s resilience, determination and zest for life has had a tremendous influence on the evolution of The Happiness Lab.
Simon enjoys travelling, surfing, camping and catching up with his family and mates. His life highlights are marrying his beautiful wife, becoming a father to his wonderful daughter, and travelling to remote destinations in Australia and around the world. Simon strives to live to his core values of curiosity, care, commitment and contribution in all that he does.