MENtal Fitness Panel Discussion

Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt

Peter “Spida” Everitt is a former Australian Rules footballer who played for St Kilda, Hawthorn and Sydney in the AFL. He made his debut for St Kilda in 1993 and in 2003 began playing for Hawthorn. Everitt was traded to the Sydney Swans at the end of 2006. Following the club’s 2008 semi-final loss to the Bulldogs, he announced his retirement. He finished his career on 291 games.

Everitt currently co-hosts the breakfast show at Gold Coast Triple M.

Keegan Hipgrave

Gold Coast-born and bred, former professional rugby league footballer Keegan Hipgrave played for the Parramatta Eels and the Gold Coast Titans before an abrupt retirement at 24, following a series of serious concussions.

Now the host of his own podcast series Keegan and Company, the talented and passionate advocate for sport and its benefits to mental health chats with high-profile athletes about their secrets to success, the highs and lows of being a professional athlete, and what happiness means to them.

Xavi Donobedian

Xavi Donobedian is the Director of Marketing + Sales at Phyba, where he leads innovative strategies that elevate brand visibility and engagement in the wellness sector. Additionally, he serves as the Head of Sales + Marketing at The Sports Dietitian and BiteRite, driving tailored marketing initiatives to support athletes in their nutritional journeys.

With a solid foundation in kinesiology from the CHEK Institute and advanced training in functional medicine from the Kresser Institute, Xavi seamlessly integrates wellness principles into his marketing efforts. He is currently completing his finance studies at the University of South Australia and is poised to pursue certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) in the near future.

By combining his expertise in wellness with a robust understanding of finance, Xavi Donobedian is dedicated to fostering growth and creating impactful connections within the health and sports industries.

Marco Renai

Marco Renai founded Men of Business in 2011 after volunteering his time to support youth at risk. Marco’s passion for reforming the education system was born
out of his own troubled experiences in school.

After realising that there were no specific male focussed programs for young men who were struggling to engage in life and their education, he went back to his business community and piloted the first Men of Business program.

12 years later a simple pilot program has now grown into two academies, 35 passionate staff and 180 thriving students. He is committed to creating better futures for young men and their families on the Gold Coast through his passion and love for the boys and his drive to deliver education in an innovative and effective way.

Daniell Bennett

Meet Dr Dan, founder of Tidal Health and a surfer whose passion for helping people extends far beyond the waves. As an International Classifier for the Para Surfing Association, Dan combines his love for surfing with his commitment to making a difference in people’s lives.

As a physiotherapist and exercise physiologist, Dan’s expertise lies in the intricate connection between the brain and body. He specialises in various areas, including mental health, neurological and brain injuries, neurodevelopment disorders, psychiatric disorders, concussion, vestibular disorders, chronic pain, and general musculoskeletal conditions and injuries.