Our Story

Our story begins with a single workshop for young girls on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia in 2003.

Marina Passalaris decided to create a fun and empowering experience after school for girls in her area. She had noticed that there weren’t any programs around that supported girls aged 7-14. 

At the time she was working at a yogurt factory and supplementing her income hosting women’s events.

Marina had a difficult time when she was that age. At one stage her severe anxiety and agoraphobia kept her in her house for an entire year.

The first workshops were fun, poppy and aspirational.

They covered topics like grooming, deportment, communication and make up. And featured high teas and other experiences that couldn’t be found anywhere else. 

The girls went wild for it.

A few years later, after seeing more and more anxiety, confidence and friendship issues, Marina began experimenting with a different style of workshop. 

Our beloved Beautiful Minds Australia workshops were born!

Due to the success of the workshops on the Sunshine Coast, Marina expanded to Sydney and quickly become a market leader in female education.

Beautiful Minds now had a school division offering well-being sessions around Australia and was hosting parent and child experiences.

This period also saw creation of BU Day in partnership with Girlfriend Magazine.

BU Day would see over 800 girls packing into auditoriums to listen to well-being advice and hear from inspirational female Australians.

2019

In 2019, Marina met Brendon A.J Rademakers. Brendon was working in the film industry in the United States at the time. They quickly became life partners and business partners.

Brendon had strong personal relationships with some of the world’s best well-being experts, and with their support, they decided to embark on a risky business venture that would sit at the intersection of entertainment, well-being and education.

Our Team

Today, Beautiful Minds Australia® operates in four Australian states. Working with 935 schools across the country. Our parent and child retreats and camps for Mums and daughters, Mums and sons, and Fathers and sons are the market leader in the country. And our programs and experiences are launching in the United States in 2025.

Starting with the single workshop on the Sunshine Coast, we have now served over 1.6 million Australian kids and their families.

Beautiful Minds Australia®, and its brands are growing businesses with incredible opportunities to to serve the community.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Click here to read about Marina’s story in The Daily Mail

Click here to read about Marina and our girls workshops in The Washington Post

Connect with Marina on Linkedin.