Dr Karina Joyce is the visionary Founder and CEO of NoLo Life. With an early career in organisational psychology, recruitment, and sales, Karina is an award-winning master coach with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and teams reach their full potential. She is also an author, public speaker, mentor, and community builder, with appearances on national TV and radio.

Karina created NoLo Life after participating in Dry July and noticing how non-drinkers were often overlooked by hospitality venues. Frustrated by the lack of options in restaurants and bars — and finding herself spending more time at home just to enjoy alcohol-free wine — she launched NoLo Life to spotlight the need for greater inclusion. Her mission is to provide information and resources to non-drinkers and the sober-curious, helping them live their best NoLo lives.

A lifelong wine lover, Karina’s favourite alcohol-free drink is Edenvale Sauvignon Blanc, though she also enjoys a good AF Dark & Stormy when she’s in the mood for a mocktail.

Fun fact: As a child, Karina dreamed of being a fashion designer, making doll clothes from her mother’s sewing cut-offs. Although a missed interview changed her career path, she’s grateful for the twist of fate that led her to where she is today.

Karina is incredibly proud of the NoLo Life board and her team for their dedication and talent in building a more inclusive Australian culture for those who choose to moderate or not drink alcohol.

Tri Duc Nguyen is a passionate advocate for social choice and inclusion, currently serving as Chair of the board.

With a distinguished background as a Non-Executive Director of the Indigenous Education Foundation, Independent Director of First Super, Trustee at Trust for Nature, and Special Legal Counsel and Company Secretary at genU, Tri brings a wealth of governance and community experience to the organisation. He also serves as Company Secretary at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

Tri joined this initiative because, in his words, “An organisation that promotes social choice and preferences while helping dispel ill-informed social stigmatisation…why the hell not?!”

A fun and surprising fact: Tri is a professional dumpster diver, collecting refundable containers to help fund Indigenous-led cultural education programs overseen by the dedicated team at the Indigenous Education Foundation. He’s also proud to have built a community of socially conscious, forward-thinking friends in the hospitality industry.

Tri’s advice? Get up early and see the sunrise, especially if you can do it while sitting on a surfboard at 13th Beach!

Ingrid Segota is an accomplished Executive Director and business strategist with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning professional services, education, publishing, and membership-based organisations. She brings deep expertise in governance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and organisational transformation.

As Executive Director of Partnerships at NoLo Life Foundation, Ingrid focuses on cultivating long-lasting strategic relationships that create sustainable value for both the organisation and its stakeholders. Her work is instrumental in driving growth, strengthening brand presence, and fostering collaboration.

Ingrid’s previous leadership roles include Executive Director of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Australia, Business Strategist at Portner Press Australia, and senior executive positions at CCH Australia (Wolters Kluwer). Across these roles, she has led high-performing teams, developed strategic alliances, and delivered business growth both nationally and internationally.

She joined NoLo Life because its vision deeply resonated with her. Having witnessed the impact of the no- and low-alcohol movement on how people connect, Ingrid was inspired to contribute to a cause that promotes health, balance, and positive social change.

While she finds it impossible to choose a favourite alcohol-free drink, her pick depends on the moment. Ingrid’s surprising superpower is her ability to make people feel comfortable enough to share their stories, often before the first coffee is finished.

Fun fact: Ingrid has travelled extensively through Europe and can hold meetings in three different languages… though she admits to occasionally mixing them up mid-sentence!

Her connection to the NoLo cause is rooted in a belief in healthier, more inclusive ways to connect, reshaping culture so that everyone feels they have a place at the table.

Kathryn Elliott is The Alcohol Mindset Coach, a certified Senior “This Naked Mind alcohol and binge drinking coach”. She specialises in helping high-achieving professionals redefine their relationship with alcohol.

After more than two decades in senior corporate and public relations roles, Kathryn made a powerful shift into coaching following her own transformation with alcohol. Through one-on-one coaching, group programs, and workplace wellbeing initiatives like her SipSmart workshops, Kathryn is changing lives.

Her work has been featured in national media including SBS Insight, The Age, Studio 10, and Body & Soul. Kathryn joined this initiative to amplify awareness of the health and lifestyle benefits of no/low alcohol options. Her lived experience with binge drinking, breast cancer, and the transformative power of living alcohol-free fuels her mission to show people that choosing differently can unlock freedom, confidence, and purpose.

Kathryn's favourite alcohol-free drink is pink grapefruit kombucha — a Friday ritual that began when she first stopped drinking and still feels like a celebratory treat.

Fun fact: Kathryn is a die-hard Carlton footy fan. She still treasures a newspaper clipping from the 1982 Grand Final when Carlton beat Richmond, and she’s holding out hope for another premiership win in her lifetime.

Kathryn believes it’s never too late to make a change — and that changing your relationship with alcohol isn’t about missing out. It’s about gaining back your energy, clarity, and self-belief.

Julie Reid brings over 25 years of expertise in marketing strategy, research, and education to the board.

Her career began with global brands like McDonald’s and DDB Advertising, where she mastered the art of impactful marketing. Since then, Julie has held senior roles in the airport and property sectors, delivered research projects for leading mining companies including BHP and Rio Tinto, and founded Genis Marketing and Digital. As an educator, she has earned multiple Higher Education Teaching Awards for her work in entrepreneurship, marketing, and strategy.

Julie joined this initiative to champion personal health and wellbeing and to support Karina’s vision for driving the organisation forward. “The poison was never forced, it was offered gently, until you forgot it was poison at all.” For Julie, this quote from Mark Twain reflects the subtle influence of substances like alcohol — and why offering healthier choices matters.

Julie believes in creating value-driven strategies that resonate with people and empower positive change. Her passion for sustainable growth and innovative thinking aligns perfectly with the mission to normalise no/low alcohol choices.

Her favourite alcohol-free drink? Hopr — refreshing, cold, and with a beer-like taste profile.

Fun fact: Julie is planning to release her first book this year, offering a framework for balancing ambition with practicality — or as she likes to say, “Give me wings but ensure I have the landing gear built first

Dr Karina Joyce is a sociologist, award-winning master coach, and the founder of NoLo Life. She’s published widely in academic and mainstream outlets and is a national media expert on relationships, wellbeing and human behaviour.

Annette’s knowledge of the hospitality and entertainment sector is second-to-none, having been instrumental in the creation, executive management, and content generation for TrueLocal, Dine Out Melbourne Restaurant Guide and Go Get Around Tours. Annette is a mover’n’shaker who packs a lot into her life, with 20+ years’ experience in digital marketing, ten-years’ service as Port Melbourne Colts Junior Football Club’s Secretary and then President, an experienced author and speaker involved in many business networks, and a fully engaged wife and mother of two to boot!

Kellie Floyd is a freelance writer, marketing and communications consultant and sessional academic at a Melbourne university. Whether crafting compelling...

Leah Wright is a personal trainer, health and wellbeing advisor, and co-director of LIFT Online. She brings together physical fitness, nutrition and motivational psychology to take a whole-of-person approach to health and wellbeing. Leah understands the stresses experienced in the excessively busy and ever-changing times we are living. She is passionate about sharing simple life hacks to help even the most time-challenged to find ways to maintain optimum health and fitness levels.

Rory Kinsella is a Vedic Meditation teacher and sober coach based in Sydney, Australia. A former hard-drinking musician and journalist, he quit alcohol in 2017 and has written widely about his experiences, including in the Sydney Morning Herald. He is the creator of the Wise Monkey Way online program to help people change their relationship with alcohol through meditation, has contributed meditations to apps such as Insight Timer and Meditation Studio and has taught meditation at some of Australia’s biggest companies. He teaches an effortless style of meditation using a mantra that allows the mind to move beyond thoughts to a place of stillness within.
Rory Kinsella Meditation: https://www.rorykinsellameditation.com/
Wise Monkey Way: https://www.wisemonkeyway.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rorykinsellameditation/

Melise Ammit is an addiction nurse specialist and sober coach.