Founder - Joel Hines
Throughout a career spanning over 25 years working in Mental Health, IT, Training, Educational Leadership and Group Facilitation, there has been a common theme of guiding others to explore the shared experience of being human.
With his finely honed skills of empathy and compassion, Joel is at his absolute best when he is holding space for others. He naturally adapts to the situation at hand and exercises deep listening and presence with a calm and considered energy.
Exemplifying integrity and authenticity, Joel motivates and enables leaders to cultivate engagement, foster collaboration and empower others.
Joel's natural gift for storytelling, combined with his calm and approachable demeanour, fuels his passion for enriching workplace connections and fostering the growth of facilitation skills and confidence.
Simultaneously, he diligently addresses the essential human needs of belonging and purpose. He firmly subscribes to the notion that collaboration, agency and empowerment stand as pivotal factors in allowing individuals to not only survive but truly thrive.
Watch Joel’s 2023 TEDx Talk ‘Stories Connect Us’ here
“You can’t hate someone whose story you know”
What People Are Saying
“I trust Joel Hines with my life. That’s not a sentence I say very often or very willingly but it seems fitting I begin with this truth.
It just so happens that I also had the pleasure of working alongside Hinesy at our organisation The Man Cave for a few years, and I picked up a few insights that might entice you to invest your time with this man.
Hinesy is a storyteller who has the rare ability to open hearts and capture imaginations. He has the depth and range to weave folklore with philosophy, psychology with poetry, and quick-witted humour with unshakable truth. He can weave this magic with everyone from teenage boys who are on the edge of juvie to concerned parents desperate for answers to teachers needing an injection of hope and practical tools to corporates whose souls are yearning to reconnect to their humanity.
I should note that I’ve seen Hinesy do his best work with other facilitators. Those brave few who choose to be of service to their groups or communities. In particular, those who are coachable, committed and hungry to continue peeling the layers back on the human condition - this is his sweet spot. Hinesy is reliable, a pillar of truth, a trusted council, a mentor, an initiator, and most of all, he is a kind man. ”
“I first met Joel Hines (Hinesy) when Movember partnered with The Man Cave to redevelop SpeakEasy workshops. And I’m so glad to have been connected with such a fantastic human.
In redesigning the SpeakEasy workshop format, Hinesy was an amazing leader and contributor – listening genuinely, considering thoughtfully, and speaking with clarity. The team worked very well to build something collaboratively that we’re all very proud of.
And in delivering workshops, Hinesy does so with such authenticity and experience. I care deeply about the outcomes of SpeakEasy workshops, and always feel comfortable when Hinesy is at the front of the room. He brings about comfort, holds space so well, and navigates between high-hearted moments and deeper conversations with ease.”
“Joel masterfully modelled what he was teaching. It was inspiring to be led so skillfully. It was very obvious to me that Joel has a wealth of knowledge that he embodies. Anyone who would like to hold space, transform lives, and create meaningful experiences for others would benefit from being around and learning from him.”
“Joel finds the right kind of balance in his events. In a pace that is gentle but engaging, he blends meaningful activities and discussions with practical skills. These are woven together with stories that are drawn from awesome anecdotes, poetry, ancient teachings and contemporary news and events. I experienced elation, wonder, tears and insights that seemed to originate from my heart and merged with my mind.”
“My experience of Joel as a facilitator is one of warmth, safety and inspiration. He has the ability to meet the group where they are at, which is a really important facilitation skill. So whether it is clarity of purpose, playfulness, compassion, intelligent discourse, powerful listening or speaking he has the behavioural flexibility to hold that space.”
“Inspiring, stimulating and thought provoking as well as definitely accomplishing your purpose of being human, bringing humans together and restoring connection and conversation. Well done mate you nailed it really looking forward to more”
“Thank you very much Joel, can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the night! Really re-sparked and injected some fresh energy into my own mythic landscape, and even inspired me to bring a short myth to a friend last night and discuss it in a similar way you had laid out for us”