About Us
We are a global industry leader, partnering global organisations to achieve breakthrough results in safety, mental health and leadership
We are committed to making a lasting difference that fundamentally shifts the lives of the people we work with. We believe every person has the right to live an extraordinary life that they love. Safety is the foundation, mental health and wellbeing the access, and leadership the catalyst. It’s our passion.
Our Story
At the Jonah Group, we work with you at a personal level to understand the DNA of your organisation. We deliver sustainable results by providing solutions that will become deeply embedded and thrive throughout your organisation. Our intent is authentic and our story personal. It stems from our founders’ personal experiences.
Director Nada Wentzel was working in the crisis management team at Esso Australia when the Longford incident occurred in 1998. Two people died and seven were severely burnt. She knew the people affected and saw the effects on the people around them both at work and at home.
Less than six months later, both Nada and Robert were themselves involved in a horrific personal accident. Nada suffered burns to 35% of her body, requiring several skin graft operations and months of rehab. It took her months to learn to walk again and 10 years to have the confidence to wear skirts without opaque stockings.
Nada says, “Rob and I were both mechanical engineers at the time working in the oil, gas and mining industry. The incident involved camping; it wasn’t work-related. Logically, I can see how it could have been prevented, but when you’re exhausted, cold, hungry and distracted, nothing is logical. People have incidents because their brains are not always in logical mode. Safety is not rational. It is a complex weave of logic and emotion”
Nada remembers thinking, “How can two intelligent people, two mechanical engineers, not connect the dots?”
About Our Team
Robert Wentzel
CEO
Robert founded The Jonah Group in 2003 underpinned by a belief that every human life is important, and everyone deserves access to live an extraordinary life. Rob’s approach is practical and nurturing. He started his career as a Mechanical Engineer in Holland.
He is passionate about his family, AFL, diving and cheese. He looks forward to one day owning his own goat and making his own cheese whilst drinking a full-bodied Rioja.
Nada Wentzel
Global Solutions Director
Nada is a charismatic master coach, facilitator and international speaker. Her passion and energy are contagious. With qualifications in Mechanical Engineering, Neuroscience and Organisational Psychology, Nada brings a unique fusion of knowledge and experience.
Nada loves the beach, her fur baby, travelling with her family and volunteering her time working with young women to activate their dreams.
Jimmy Thomson
Head of Operations & Principal Consultant
Jimmy has over 25 years international experience across a range of sectors including resources, power and manufacturing. His strong passion for leadership, team, safety and mental health and wellbeing development spans across four continents and many cultures.
Jimmy emigrated from his native Scotland to Sydney in 2003 and enjoys spending time at home with his wife and 2 young children, cooking, watching sport and re-discovering his passion for snooker.
Anna Feringa
Head of Mental Health & Principal Consultant
Anna is an award-winning International Speaker, Trainer and Workplace Mental Health Consultant. She is a leading expert in topics including Mental Health awareness, leadership and Mental Health, and best practice workplace Mental Health. With over 17-years’ consulting experience, Anna supports employers by helping them see that embracing Mental Health in the workplace can help prevent injury and drive a great culture.
Anna enjoys good wine, good company and spending time with her family.
Our Values
Love what we do
We’re passionate and committed to making a difference and connecting people to the very essence of what it means to be human. We love what we do. We pour our hearts into helping people realise that the choices and decisions they make can save lives.
Take Ownership
We’re up to big things. Causing behavioural and mindset shifts requires muscle and resilience. It involves having the hard conversations, owning the results and delivering on our promises. It’s not always easy, but it is what our reputation is built on.
Authentic Partnership
Gone are the days when a single person holds all the answers. Collaboration and collective mastery are a key part of how we work with each other and our clients. It’s why we’re known for generating results that thrive well after we’ve left the room.
Respect Your Business
We value honesty, transparency and are super conscious of making sure you get absolute value for money. Our people are awesome. Each and everyone one of us acts as the owner of our business. We are accountable for actions and take pride in building strong and honest relationships. Sounds awesome? It is.
In The Community
The Jonah Group has a commitment to making a profound difference in our local and global community.
At a local level, we support initiatives through sponsorships, donations, and workshops & presentations to schools and business forums.
At a global level, The Jonah Group have been active supporters and proud investors in The Hunger Project since 2003 where Rob sits on the NSW Advisory Board.
About The Hunger Project
We know it’s possible for hunger to end, and that our generation has the power to end it once and for all. In our experience, people who live in poverty are not the problem – they are the solution. We don’t see a billion mouths to feed, we see a billion human beings who are enterprising and resilient.
The work, therefore, is to unlock their capacity, creativity and leadership so they can end their own hunger.
The Hunger Project empowers women and men living in rural villages in Africa, India, Bangladesh and Latin America to end their own hunger. They reach more than 18 million people who are transforming themselves, their families and their communities, and are bringing about the end of hunger by 2030. www.thp.org.
Future Dreamers
Nada is also active in the development and empowerment of young girls through the Future Dreamers and Kind-Hearted Rebels Programs designed to stimulate curiosity and provide confidence and growth for young girls.
Future Dreamers is a girl’s club in the heart of Byron Bay. It aims to empower young women to dare to dream, activate their creativity and achieve business success. Learn More
http://futuredreamers.com.au/girls-club/khr
Confidence in Public Speaking
The Jonah Group team also volunteer their time helping young people develop their confidence in public speaking. We do this by providing dynamic and engaging key note presentations and training schoolteachers to deliver the programs in a class room environment. Since inception thousands of kids have been impacted. To learn more or nominate your school to access this free service, please contact us.
