MEET THE team
We’re the ROW Crew. we’re vibrant, passionate, and practical. we bring our PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN APPROACH to all we do.
ROW CEO/Founder
Sarah McGuinness
BCS, BSc(Hons), GradDipPsych, DipProCoaching, Cert IV Training & Assessment, Cert III Fitness | CEO/Founder – Revolutionaries of Wellbeing
One of New Zealand’s leading workplace wellbeing experts
Sarah McGuinness is a wellbeing disruptor, burnout awareness advocate, and the driving force behind Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW). Combining authentic relatability with deep expertise and relatable storytelling, Sarah brings a unique blend of personal insight and professional acumen to her work. With a wealth of knowledge in human performance, workplace wellbeing, and behaviour change, she has advised and guided national and international organisations, including Sealord, Xylem, and Mitre 10, on enhancing the wellbeing of their people.
She draws on her honours degree in psychology and degree in communication, training in health behaviour, coaching, fitness and facilitation, plus two decades working in and with the corporate sector specialising in leadership and organisational development in Australia and New Zealand, across Government, the private sector and not-for-profit. This diverse experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of the nuances of workplace dynamics and the inherent challenges to overcome, including navigating organisational systems, managing competing priorities, and fostering effective communication strategies.
Her honours research on midlife eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction, published in the New Zealand Journal of Psychology, continues to be cited in leading literature.
Sarah is determined to reduce stigma around mental health and improve workplace wellbeing and performance. Her commitment is not only professional but also deeply personal. Her journey through burnout, ADHD, and fibromyalgia, coupled with her father’s struggle with chronic work stress as a Chief Financial Officer, has given her unique insights into the toll that workplace environments can take on individuals. These experiences drive her mission to foster open, supportive conversations about mental health.
Her insights are regularly sought after, with features in the media and frequent presentations at workplaces around the globe, where she inspires and motivates individuals and leaders alike to take proactive steps toward positive change.
As the founder of Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW), Sarah is on a mission to break burnout culture and unleash sustainable performance and potential in organisations worldwide. With expert-driven strategies and a commitment to making a difference, ROW is the go-to partner for companies aiming for excellence. We’re driving a global movement to ensure workplaces not only succeed but thrive, reshaping the narrative on what it means to truly work well.
Outside ROW, Sarah loves hiking in the mountains and doing yin yoga, and was once a fairly decent rower and road cyclist. She’s on the Board of the local Queenstown Coastguard unit in a marketing/fundraising capacity and is proud to support its vital work saving lives on the water. She’s mum to two kids and a cat, and partner to someone much fitter and much more adventurous.
ROW Executive Assistant
Jane Johnston
BCom in Marketing
Jane has a marketing and administration background with roles at Immigration NZ, The Court Theatre, and the Recreation & Sport Unit at Christchurch City Council.
She has mentored a young teen through the Big Brothers Big Sisters programme for four years. Jane is passionate about championing wellbeing having had lived experience of mental health challenges and has a newfound respect for working parents and the challenges of balancing their own wellbeing, after becoming a mum.
Jane also manages a successful online retailer with her husband.
ROW Commercial Partnerships Manager
Chris Hewitt
BA/BCom Politics and International Business
Chris brings almost 15 years of experience in the professional development and events fields, with the last 7 spent managing a commercial portfolio of publications and events in the health, safety and wellbeing industry. He brings a wealth of programme management and commercial partnership experience, and has strong networks across the health, safety and wellbeing sectors both in New Zealand and overseas.
He cares deeply about workplace wellbeing and is passionate about helping businesses lift their wellbeing performance.
ROW Communication Specialist - Korimako Communications
Cathie Bell
Cathie is ROW’s Communication Specialist.
Cathie is an award-winning journalist and an experienced communications professional, with a 30 year-long career in journalism and public sector communications. She was a press secretary for successive ministers of agriculture in the Labour-Progressive coalition government headed by Helen Clark, as well as in several government agencies, and has an appreciation for politics, public service, primary industry, and life in the regions.
A long-time Wellingtonian, Cathie now lives in sunny Marlborough and enjoys the vastly-better climate and Marlborough’s abundant food and drink scene.
She loves to write, whether it’s a good story, a report, or a media statement. She’d love to help you with your wellbeing-writing needs.
Email:gold@rowwellbeing.com