WHO WE ARE
About Project Peace
We are a registered Australian not-for-profit built on the belief that there is a universal philosophy that can bring about change at many levels in society.
Raf Adams – Global Thought Leader, Author of The Suited Monk
Co-Founder
Born in Belgium and now based in Australia, Raf Adams has spent his career building bridges between outer success and inner purpose — and turning that philosophy into enterprises that serve others.
At 27, Raf was ticking every box — an expat career across China and Hong Kong, with titles, bonuses, and momentum. But one quiet question kept surfacing: Is this it?
The financial crisis of 2008 became the turning point. Living in China, Raf realised he had spent years building a life that looked right from the outside but felt empty on the inside. That moment of awakening led him to leave behind what no longer served him and follow his instincts toward something more aligned.
For nearly two decades, Raf has helped thousands of leaders in Fortune 500 companies across Asia, Europe, and Australia close that Gap. His work has been featured in Forbes India, The Economist Intelligence Unit, and Korea Times. He is a TEDx speaker and author of The Suited Monk book series, published in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
Today, Raf’s focus is Project Peace — an Australia-based initiative he co-founded with Dirk Rossey, dedicated to helping people live an integrated life. Project Peace brings The Suited Monk’s framework into community, education, and workplace settings, giving individuals and organisations practical tools to align ambition with wellbeing, leadership with humanity, and action with meaning. Through workshops, volunteer programs, and a growing global network of facilitators, Project Peace is building a movement for a more conscious, connected way of living and working.
Proudly carrying his Belgian heritage into his Australian home, Raf continues to prove that entrepreneurship, innovation and inner peace can — and should — live in the same person.
Dirk Rossey – Former Head of L&D, JP Morgan APAC
Co-Founder
Born in Belgium and now based in Australia, Dirk Rossey has built a career as a serial entrepreneur and global leadership expert — turning strategic insight into ventures that develop people and organisations.
His entrepreneurial leadership emerged early when as a student at RUCA, Dirk was elected President for Europe of AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run organisation. Shortly after, he established the Centre for Management Consultancy in Brussels, delivering leadership effectiveness programs to major Belgian clients.
Dirk was named a Laureate of the Prince Albert Foundation (PAF), during which he was tasked with setting up the offices for TransUrb Consult Belgium in Sydney. This shaped his Belgian-Australian connection.
Over the following decades, Dirk held senior roles across Asia, the Middle East, and Australia while repeatedly stepping into entrepreneurial challenges. At JPMorgan Asia Pacific, he led a major merger change program, earning the Best Change Management Award. As CHRO at Dubai Holding, he drove leadership development across iconic projects including Universal Studios Dubai, Dubai Healthcare City and Dubai Bank.
After getting an MBA from Deakin University, Dirk set up his next entrepreneurial venture in Sydney called ‘Be Real’; a change management consulting company that has delivered transformative solutions for organisations including Telstra, NSW Healthcare, and Sydney Airports.
Another strong entrepreneurial chapter came at Arowana International — an entrepreneurial investment group dedicated to growing companies. Dirk served as Managing Director for HRM Asia in Singapore which he transformed it into a regional HR media and events company, achieving record revenues and profits with a 100% IRR, culminating in a successful trade sale.
Today, Dirk’s focus is Project Peace — an Australia-based initiative he co-founded with Raf Adams, dedicated to helping people live an integrated life. Project Peace brings The Suited Monk’s framework into community, education, and workplace settings, giving individuals and organisations practical tools to align ambition with wellbeing, leadership with humanity, and action with meaning. Through workshops, volunteer programs, and a growing global network of facilitators, Project Peace is building a movement for a more conscious, connected way of living and working.
Michelle Chung – Ambassador
Michelle’s greatest strengths are fast adaptability and a rapid learning curve and decision making. Personal growth, training, development, and leadership are content that Michelle coaches and trains her clients on.
As an entrepreneur, Michelle had a successful 18 year career in product development and manufacturing as an Industrial Designer, was published in a Fashion book for students in 2010 and ran a business selling her own footwear ranges, the unique design which was patented in 2009. Also a successful property investor, renovating and flipping several properties in Australia between 2020 – 2008. After dealing with her own health issues, Michelle studied Kinesiology and Mind Body Medicine in 2015 and continues to advocate natural health and therapies. Being a multipotentialite means that Michelle also has great talents in portrait painting and studied with the Barcelona Academy of Arts and has won art awards during her early art career.
Michelle is fluent in English (growing up in Sydney, Australia), conversational Spanish and Mandarin, and has travelled to over 40 countries, living in 12 cities.
Michelle’s personal and professional coaching and training goal is to increase awareness for the importance of Personal and Leadership Growth to make permanent and true transformation for her clients and the world.
Our Team
Miquel Canut – Ambassador
Is An Entrepreneur And The Founder Of Veltia Hand Dryers. He Holds Several Patents For New Hand Drying Systems And Exports His Products To Over 85 Countries. He Has Established Factories In Venezuela, Morocco, South Africa And Commercial Offices In South Korea And China. He Is An Active Member Of His Community And Since 2008 Has Been Member Of The Board For The Sabadell Chamber Of Commerce.
Miquel Is Often Invited To Speak To Companies And Events On Subjects Of: Entrepreneurship, Business Growth And Internationalization, And Developing Businesses With Social Values.
He Also Serves As A Board Member For A Non-Profit Organization Distributing Food To Over 2,300 Struggling Families In Sabadell And Is Rotary Club Member – Previous President From 2013-2014.
Miquel Is A Firm Believer Of Living Life And Doing Business For The Common Good. He Has Been Actively Integrating His Spirit And Purpose In Daily Life, Relationships And Business. For The Past 14 Years He Has Been Coaching And Mentoring People To Help Them Find Their Purpose In Life And Realize Their True Potential.
Miquel Canut Has Translated The Suited Monk In Spanish, El Monje Con Traje. He Facilitates Suited Monk Workshops Globally.
Ils Verheyen – Ambassador
Is a Partner at Break-Through, a consultancy, where she works as a coach, consultant, and facilitator for individuals, teams, and organisations navigating change.
Her focus is helping people get conscious of their mindset and feelings so they can make new choices and achieve different outcomes. She facilitates change processes across all levels — individual, team, and company-wide.
Over the years, she has built expertise in creative thinking, change management, and the coaching of teams and individuals, drawing on a broad and diversified professional background. Her particular strength lies in registering energy flows, patterns, dynamics, and counter-pressure in both individuals and teams — and working with an empathic and respectful approach that often creates breakthroughs at critical moments, enabling permanent behaviour change.
THE PHILOSOPHY
The Suit. The Monk. The Gap.
Every cohort pairs a corporate professional with a person who is unable to afford a high quality personal development program.
The course navigates The Gap — the space between the Monk and the Suit — where real, lasting change happens through honest conversation, shared vulnerability, and guided practice.