Our Staff & Volunteer Community

Clare Shearman, Director
BA(Hons), MBA, Grad Dip Spir Dir (Siloam), Grad Dip Supervision, Supervisor: Australasian Association of Supervision

Clare has been the Director of Heart of Life since January 2022. She graduated from the Siloam Program in 2013 and has been involved in spiritual direction and managed two retreat centres since then. She is also a professional supervisor.  Clare has held leadership roles in the corporate world as well as in large and small not-for-profit organisations.

Clare considers herself extremely blessed to be working in service of those who are seeking to nurture their personal spirituality and pastoral skills for the benefit of others.  “To undertake this work is a privilege and a great responsibility. I am proud to be the current custodian and leader of this amazing organisation along with the Heart of Life team.”

Dr Lynn Moresi
DMin, MMin, GradDipSD, BBibStud, CertIVTAE, CertIVCelebrancy

Lynn is the Program Director and lecturer at Heart of Life.

Lynn is also a lecturer in Practical Theology (University of Divinity), and a Spiritual Director, Professional Pastoral Supervisor, Enneagram Trainer and popular itinerant speaker who travels regularly to teach and minister in bible colleges, seminaries and churches, both in Australia and overseas.

With over 40 years’ experience in pastoral ministry, Lynn has a passion to see people engage with their faith in an authentic and congruent way so they are free to be themselves and empower others to do likewise.

Lynn has a down-to-earth, humorous communication style that engages and challenges her listeners. She is married with two adult children.

Geralyn Anderson
BTheol, Grad Cert Ignatian Spirituality, Ad Dip Graphic Design

Gigi (she/her) is a volunteer at Heart of Life.

As a graphic designer & illustrator, she is passionate about using these skills as tools for good, believing in the transformative power of beauty. Formative studies in Theology & Spirituality inform her creative process, designing under Summa Grafika.

Carole Carmody rsm
MEd, Grad Dip RE, Dip T, Cert SD

Carole is a supervisor, and co-facilitates the Let the Heart Listen program at Heart of Life.

She is Sister of Mercy with a passion for the contemplative approach to spiritual direction, prayer, formative processes and retreats.

Theodora (Dora) Ghaitidis
BTheol, Grad Dip Spir Dir (Siloam)

Dora initially joined Heart of Life as a tutor in the Siloam Program, mentoring & facilitating group work in 2021. Dora is currently a supervisor of the full time Siloam program. A graduate of Siloam and the Emmaus programs at HOL, Dora is well-equipped to support new students through the program.

She is currently completing her Master’s degree to further enhance her theological and pastoral education. She also practices Pastoral Care at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Leslie Hanger
BMin, Grad Cert Teach Medit, M Spir Dir, Giver of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises

Leslie is a supervisor at Heart of Life and a co-facilitator of the Spiritual Leaders Program.

She has Master of Spirit Direction and Grad Cert in Teaching Meditation. She is currently completing the Emmaus Supervision Program.

Leslie is passionate about contemplative practices as a pathway for spiritual transformation and for an ever-deepening relationship with God. She is also a Spiritual Director, experienced retreat leader and workshop facilitator.

Jeff Hood
BSc(Psych), BPA, MA, M Tesol, DTS, GDSD, Dip Min, Grad Dip Couns, Dip Ed

Jeff is a supervisor and lecturer at Heart of Life.

Jeff worked as a psychologist for over 40 years. He has extensive experience in the field as a private practitioner, senior counsellor, university lecturer & training manager. Jeff is a registered teacher and qualified TESOL teacher. Jeff also has a degree in Drama & Theatre Studies (Monash University) and is currently undertaking a Master of Theological Studies (YTU, University of Divinity).

Jeff spent four years as a seminarian, (St Francis Xavier Seminary, Adelaide) and regards teaching and supervising at Heart of Life as the highlight of his working life, much more a vocation than a job!

Apryl Huglin
Grad Dip Spir Dir, Grad Dip in Divinity, MASD, Giver of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises

Apryl is a new staff member at Heart of Life.  She will be guiding and supporting the part-time Siloam students as an intern supervisor.

With a long career in nursing and working as a Baptist Pastor (2008 – 2013), Apryl trained as a Spiritual Director through The WellSpring Centre. Apryl is actively engaged with others in personal spiritual direction, running retreats and courses in spirituality, and is also a participant in Heart of Life’s Emmaus Supervision Program.

Khoi Doan Nguyen msc
BTheol, MTS, Institute of Sexuality Studies Chicago Graduate, Grad Dip in Spiritual Direction (Siloam)

Khoi is a priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). He is a formator (currently Novitiate Director) & Spiritual Director. His pastoral ministries, alongside parish work in Sydney & Melbourne, have included: youth ministry, pastoral care for asylum seekers and refugees & retreat-giving. Khoi is part of the Emmaus program at Heart of Life.

Robyn Reynolds olsh
BA(Hons), MA, PhD, Dip Ed

Robyn is a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) and is a lecturer at Heart of Life.

Robyn spent many years working and living with Indigenous Australians in remote communities of the Northern Territory. After 10 years as lecturer and Dean of Catholic students at Darwin’s Nungalinya College, Robyn has worked at Yarra Theological Union. She has also spent time in South Africa, Philippines and Papua New Guinea conducting workshops in Cross-Cultural Studies, Contextual Theology and Missionary Spirituality. 

Hien Vu
BA, BTheol, Grad Dip Spiritual Direction (Siloam)

Hien Vu is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. He is currently the Parish Priest at Christ the Light Parish (Doreen, Kinglake, Mernda & Whittlesea).

Family is important to him, as is his role as a doting uncle. He is also a Spiritual Director and happy to accompany you on the journey to discover our Inner-World and our ‘Salt & Light’ of Life.

Kathleen Ward
BA (Hons),Dip Ed, Grad Dip Theol, Grad Dip Spiritual Direction (Siloam)

Kathleen leads Communal Reflection in the Siloam Program.

She has worked in chaplaincy in schools and after training as a Spiritual Director has been working in a women’s wholistic centre. She has enjoyed the evolution from teacher to listener.  There is a tenderness and depth that we are invited into in contemplative listening that is to be cherished.  Kathleen is married with four adult children.  She lives in the Dandenong Ranges and loves being with God in nature.