Meet the team
The people behind the Conscious Combat Club.
Georgia Verry
Founder and CEO
Our founder Georgia (she/her) is an exercise scientist, black belt, athlete, podcaster, and facilitates all our trauma informed kickboxing classes. Georgia has been throwing punches and kicks since she was 12, and earned her black belt at 20. These days she's a Muay Thai fighter with 5 professional fights and holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Her love of combat sports inspired a degree in exercise science, and she's worked in the industry for 7 years with clients from folks with back pain to Australia's top firefighters. After years struggling with body image and disordered eating, Georgia now focuses on process over outcome and movement for its own sake — which is why she founded the Conscious Combat Club, using martial arts to help women with lived experience of trauma heal and reconnect with their bodies. Off the mats you'll find her rock climbing, exploring nature with her pup, or playing saxophone.
Naomi Penny
Research + Survivor Advocacy
Naomi (she/her) is a powerhouse dedicated to supporting survivors and advancing research. As head of research and survivor advocacy at the Conscious Combat Club, she brings a unique perspective, having graduated from the club's trauma-informed kickboxing program. Currently a provisional psychologist working on her PhD, Naomi is deeply committed to her work. Off-duty, she's a loving pet parent and a skilled gardener, nurturing both her fur-children and her green thumb.
Meesha Hall
Relationships + Purpose
Meesha (she/her) is our Relationships and Partnerships Director, with over 10 years of business development experience. A fierce Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor and graduate of the Conscious Combat Club, she won the World and Australia National Blue Belt Jiu-Jitsu Championships in 2022. A power connector and collaborator, she brings detailed knowledge of working capital finance as well as project, product and vendor development. After being hospitalised by an intimate partner, Meesha turned to BJJ as a way to reclaim her power and reconnect with her body — and she's committed to creating a space where women can do the same.
Claire Allen
Board Member and Chair
Claire (she/her) has worked extensively in the not-for-profit sector with a specific focus on LGBTQIA+ inclusion. She has advocated across Australia within the health sector including domestic and family violence services, aged care, youth services and disability support services. Claire draws upon her science background to provide evidence-based, best-practice frameworks for organisations to improve the inclusion of staff and service users alike, and has worked with government, not-for-profit and large multinational organisations at all levels, from boards to frontline staff.
Temple Saville
Board Member
Temple (she/her) is a Melbourne-based Barrister with over 15 years' experience practising law. Over the years she has served on various committees including a Committee of Management for an Incorporated Association whose mission was to empower women within its industry. With 6 years' experience as a kickboxing practitioner, Temple's personal interest in combat sports and professional experience in law make her a valuable addition to our board.
Leesa Miller
Board Member and Public Officer
Leesa (she/her) is a finance executive with significant experience across not-for-profit and commercial sectors, from small start-ups to large-scale national operations, with particular strengths in commercial acumen, strategy and stakeholder relationships across the for-purpose sector. Her skills include financial and IT governance, commercial management, risk management and property management, with a personal passion for start-ups and digital platform development. With 25 years of experience across some of Australia's best-known private family businesses, blue-ribbon corporate groups, NFPs and government, Leesa is a 'can-do dynamo' passionate about making a difference and the advancement of women.
Bruce Wade
Board Member and Company Secretary
Bruce (he/him) is a senior executive and board director with extensive experience in organisational growth, financial services and governance across Australia, the Middle East and Asia. He brings deep expertise in strengthening organisational capability, enhancing governance frameworks and supporting mission-driven organisations through growth and transition. Bruce is also a Board Member of The Victorian Homeless Fund Ltd, and was most recently Group Chief Executive, Financial Restructuring for National Bank of Bahrain. He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Applied Science from QUT, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mandy Xie
Board Member
Mandy (she/her) is a strategic leader and business development expert with a passion for transforming complexity into clarity. With experience spanning commercial and social-impact sectors, she specialises in driving growth, forging partnerships and delivering sustainable outcomes for purpose-driven organisations. Her background includes senior roles at SquareTrade (an Allstate company) and PwC. An ex-amateur boxer and lifelong advocate for women's empowerment, Mandy is deeply committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces for women and trauma survivors to reclaim confidence and community through martial arts. She holds an Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Bachelor of Business from Swinburne University.