Ivan Zwart’s mission in life is to use his caring nature and genuine love of people to improve the wellbeing and happiness of others. He works as a consultant with his business Happy Ground Wellbeing in Tasmania, Australia. He is a trained meditation guide and facilitator, and runs wellbeing programs that have consistently changed lives for the better. He is also a consumer representative with Flourish, a community sector mental health organisation based in Tasmania. Prior to creating Happy Ground Wellbeing, he completed a doctorate in political science and worked in a range of professional roles including researcher, community engagement officer and consultant.

While Ivan continues to have a successful professional career, from his early twenties he struggled with his mental health, suffering from anxiety, chronic fatigue and depression. However, his biggest mental health challenge occurred when he became manic in 2010 after the death of his father, which followed the death of his mother in 2006. These traumatic events depleted him emotionally, spiritually and physically. Unfortunately, however, he was admitted to hospital and was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a label which brought him much shame, pain and suffering. Despite this, Ivan used this challenging period of his life to accept his own shortcomings, which were considerable (as they are for all humans). Over 11 long years he learnt about wellbeing, and in 2021 he managed to successfully get off Olanzapine, a tranquilizer which had numbed his senses, slowed his reflexes, slowed his mental processing, and badly impacted his ability to relate to others and enjoy life. Fortunately, many years of meditation improved his relationship with God, while the love of friends, family and his dog Frank, helped in his journey of recovery. The last piece of the puzzle was restoring his body with important nutrients and vitamins, and finding his local Anglican Church. He now has joyful and full life with his wife Danielle and dog Frank, family and friends.