Speakers & Moderators

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It is extremely rare for these lifetime students to gather together at one event. This is a unique opportunity to hear from Syd’s earliest students but much more importantly, it is an opportunity for all of us to explore and uncover the mysteries that Syd described.

Together, we can find new insights for ourselves and perhaps create a feeling that could change the world.

Meet the Speakers

Mark Howard

Sandra Krot

George Pransky

Linda Pransky

Judith Sedgeman

Dicken Bettinger

Joe Bailey

Cathy Casey

Shane Kennedy

Rita Shuford

Christine Heath

Jack Pransky

Elsie Spittle

Although Elsie will not be present in person at the Vancouver Gathering, we are deeply grateful to share a special pre-recorded video conversation with her. This will be presented for the first time in Vancouver as part of our time together.

Diversity Statement

Friends and Students from Salt Spring Island

In addition to the principal speakers, many of the early students and friends of Sydney Banks who were present on Salt Spring Island will be joining us in Vancouver. They were there during the formative years when this understanding was first emerging and beginning to spread throughout the world.

Over the past five decades, these individuals have carried what they learned into many walks of life. Some became professionals in mental health, coaching, and education. Others brought these insights into nursing, business, law, media, community development, and international aid. What connects them is not their profession, but the lasting impact this understanding has had on the way they live and the happiness they share with their families and friends.

There is something special about spending time with people who have quietly lived these principles for decades. Their experience offers insight, humour, and a wealth of stories from both the early days and the years that followed.

Most of all, they remind us that wisdom is not merely something to discuss—it is something that can be lived. 

We hope you will take the opportunity to meet them, share a meal, ask questions, and enjoy their company. Some of the most meaningful moments of the Gathering may happen in these simple conversations.

Guided by Aaron Turner and Erika Bugbee, whose long and deep history with Sydney Banks brings a rare depth, clarity, and heart to this gathering.

Meet the moderators

Erika Bugbee

Aaron Turner

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Dr. Mark Howard is founder of the Three Principles Institute in Brentwood, California, USA. He is recognized as one of the pioneers who first brought the three principles into the field of psychology. Since 1982, Dr Howard has been teaching private clients, families, business professionals. He is now devoting his time to mentoring and supporting anyone who wishes to share the principles with love, clarity and impact. Dr. Mark Howard serves at the Honorary Board of 3PGC.

Sandy is a pioneer in translating a principled understanding of human thought to leadership and organizational effectiveness. Her vision has been to make the workplace a setting for creative performance as well as the elevation of the human spirit. Sandy met Sydney Banks in 1982 and with his guidance, began a life-altering journey of discovery into the pure potential that is the human mind. The early years of her career were dedicated to counseling and human development. She was the Executive Director of one of the first clinics specializing in sharing the Three Principles. She is certified by the Three Principles Foundation to teach the Three Principles as discovered and taught by Sydney Banks. She worked with Pransky and Associates for fifteen years and with Insight Principles since 2010. Over her long career with Fortune 100 executives, leadership teams, and working groups she helped achieve extraordinary results by unleashing the power of insight. Sandy coauthored with Ken Manning and Robin Charbit, Invisible Power: Insight Principles at Work. Sandy shares her life with her partner Peter Remick, together they built their net-zero-energy home in northwest Washington. They get out into the awesome Pacific Northwest wilderness as often as they can sea kayaking, hiking, and backpacking with their dog, Henry.

Dr. George Pransky is a founding professional of the Three Principles of Mind, Thought, and Consciousness. For almost 50 years, he has shared this understanding with individuals, couples, businesses, and colleagues, helping them realize new possibilities in their lives and
work. He is the author of several books including The Relationship Handbook, The Secret to Mental Health, and Unbreak Your Heart and has created over sixty audio recordings. Throughout his career, Dr. Pransky has developed and mentored many of the leaders in this field and continues to offer guidance to help people understand the human factor in their lives. His unique perspective on human interaction has earned him national recognition as a speaker and thought leader. He is co-founder, along with his wife Linda, of Pransky & Associates and a member of the Executive Committee of the Three Principles Global Community.

Linda Pransky brings decades of experience in guiding individuals and couples toward profound and lasting change. As one of the original teachers of the Three Principles, Linda has spent her career helping people uncover the simplicity and wisdom within their lives and relationships. Linda’s journey began at the University of Washington, where she studied Psychosocial Nursing
with a desire to understand how people change. In 1976, she met Sydney Banks, whose insights into the principles of human experience transformed her perspective and became the foundation of her life’s work. She is the author of Unbreak Your Heart and A Book About
Happiness. As co-founder, along with her husband George, of Pransky and Associates, Linda has worked with a diverse range of clients, from couples wanting a deeper connection to organizations seeking more effective teamwork. She has also mentored many of today’s prominent principles-based teachers, solidifying her reputation as a teacher of teachers.

Judith A. Sedgeman, EdD has been dedicated to sharing the Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought professionally for 40 years. Dr. Sedgeman has worked over the years with many other practitioners of the Three Principles throughout the United States and around the world. Previously, she was a newspaper reporter and Editor and an entrepreneur who  created a Medical Practice Management business. 

Collaboration and partnership are the keys to extending the power of the Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought to awaken health and well-being across diverse populations. Dr. Sedgeman has long been a leader in mentoring, teaching and practicing leadership in the presentation and development of Three Principles education and services. Visit Dr. Sedgeman’s website at three-principles.com or contact her at jsedgeman@three-principles.com.

Dicken Bettinger, Ed.D., received his doctorate in counseling psychology and has worked during his career as a licensed clinical psychologist. Dicken’s entire career has focused on psychological well-being. In 1986 he met Sydney Banks, who shared a profound new understanding of the human mind called the Three Principles that unifies our connection to a deeper intelligence called wisdom and our psychological nature. While living in Vermont, Dicken co-founded one of the first Three Principles training, counseling, and education centers. Later Dicken served as a senior staff at Pransky and Associates in La Conner, Washington for 16 years, where he developed and led corporate and university leadership trainings, team development, and executive coaching. In 2012 Dicken founded his private practice, 3 Principles Mentoring. He offers 4-day immersion retreats for individuals; practitioner development; and advanced training programs. He enjoys leading group seminars in the US and Europe. Dicken is the co-author of a book on the Three Principles called Coming Home: Uncovering the Foundations of Psychological Well-being. Dicken has been happily married for since 1969. He has two adult children and four adored grandchildren.  He enjoys photography, hiking, canoeing, and exploring new places, especially in nature.

Joe Bailey, M.A., L.P. (75) is an author, seminar leader, consultant to organizations, public speaker, psychotherapist and a licensed psychologist.

Joe’s life purpose is to help people find true happiness and peace of mind. Towards this end, he studied psychology at the undergraduate and graduate levels, eventually becoming a licensed psychologist.  For the past thirty years, Joe’s desire to understand the connection between the psychological, physical and spiritual facets of human beings has pulled him into a deeper understanding of the whole person and away from the current fragmented view.  His search led to a health-based approach to counseling, prevention programs, workplace wellness and the attainment of a personal life of peace, joy and fulfillment for all people.

His work in the addictions field has included the Texas Department of Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Division as a trainer of CD counselors; Texas Commission on Alcoholism as the state prevention director of alcohol abuse and alcoholism prevention; The Johnson Institute as a trainer and coordinator the family school with Sharon Wegsheider-Cruz. He has spoken around the world and the USA to various treatment centers and professional conferences on his Three Principles Psychology approach to addiction and mental health issues.

Joe has worked for over thirty years as a psychotherapist, trainer, administrator, supervisor and consultant to clinics, hospitals, businesses and other government groups. He has done extensive training on resilience at the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota Inner Life of Healers Program.

He is author of six books including the best seller, Slowing Down to the Speed of Life with Dr. Richard Carlson, The Serenity Principle,, The Speed Trap, Slowing Down to the Speed of Love, Fearproof Your Life: How to Thrive in a World Addicted to Fear, and his latest book Thriving the Eye of the Hurricane. You can learn more about Joe and his work at www.joebaileyandassociates.com.

Catherine has been conducting “3Principle’s Based Programs” to a wide range of people in many different environments throughout the world for the past 27 years. Notably, Catherine developed/implemented one of the first “3 Principles Program” in the Santa Clara County, CA Criminal Justice System which lasted over15 years, serving incarcerated Adult men & women. Thousands of inmates have been exposed to the teachings of Sydney Banks. Catherine also provided Principles classes to inmates in the” infamous” San Quentin Prison. And most importantly, the 3 Principles program was set up in the Santa Clara County, CA Juvenile Justice System (Juvenile Hall) .

Catherine developed/ implemented a Resiliency Program for health care professionals in Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California, one of the largest public hospitals in the United States Many of the environments that Catherine has provided her consulting services include: Fortune 500 Corporations, i.e.: Dow Chemical, BAE Defense Systems, Chlorox, and Boston Scientific. Medical Centers, Religious Organizations, State and County Government Organizations, Adult and Juvenile Criminal Justice Systems (including San Quentin Prison), Educational Institutions (Elementary through College), Psychiatric Residential Facilities, Addiction Treatment Programs. She has also shared the principles to LGBT individuals and groups. Persons wanting to advance their consulting/coaching careers also seek her out for her mentoring services.

Catherine’s passion and vision is to reignite the resiliency and wisdom in all persons in any environment. Catherine is currently providing Trainer of Trainer Programs and Mentoring Programs. She currently is happy grandma living in San Jose, California.

Shane Kennedy moved to Salt Spring Island at an early age to learn from Sydney Banks. He later became the editor and publisher of the books of Sydney Banks as well as publishing over 2,500 other titles through his company Lone Pine Publishing.

He is the director/producer of the videos of interviews and talks given by Sydney Banks that are on the Sydney Banks YouTube channel and the 3PGC website.
Although Shane studied psychology and the Three Principles under Roger Mills, he chose to contribute to sharing this understanding by helping Sydney Banks and others communicate to the growing communities through books, audio recordings and videos.

He also has experience in film and television, creating series and current affairs programs for ABC, PBS and BBC. He has made films in Papua New Guinea, the Amazon, the high Arctic, Borneo, the Dairen rainforest, Easter Island and the Andes. Shane is of Aboriginal heritage.

Dr. Shuford is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Practitioner of the Three Principles. She met Sydney Banks in 1977. Dr. Shuford received her M.A. (1971) and her Ph.D. (1986) in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oregon. For 49 years Dr. Shuford has been a student and teacher of the Three Principles, Mind, Thought and Consciousness. Dr. Shuford has worked successfully in a variety of settings including business, public schools, universities, hospitals, community and private mental health clinics. She has served as Chair and Vice Chair on Community Mental Health Boards in Oregon and Hawaii. Her rich career has included successfully coordinating a Federally funded Juvenile Delinquency prevention program in Oregon and being honored for her work with chronically and terminally ill ventilator dependent patients in Florida. She has been recognized as providing excellent supervision, training and support as Director of Clinical Services in three clinics in Florida and Hawai’i. Dr. Shuford is currently President and Founding Partner of Three Principles Hawaii, LLC, formerly Turning Corners Group, LLC providing coaching, mentoring, supervision, training and education locally and internationally to students, colleagues, individuals, business and community organizations. She is a respected member of the Hawaii Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association. One of her passions is singing which she enjoys as a member of the acclaimed Windward Choral Society. She has served on the WCS Board of Directors for 17 years. In her spare time Dr. Shuford enjoys relaxing, walking, singing, laughing and hanging out with family and friends.

Christine Heath, the co-founder and executive director of the Hawaii Counseling and Education Center since 1985, has nearly 40 years’ experience as a marriage and family therapist. She met Sidney Banks in 1981 and has been sharing her understanding of the Three Principles since then. She was instrumental in setting up one of the first Three Principles-based clinics in the world.

Christine developed HCEC’s Three Principles-based domestic violence/anger management, outpatient substance abuse, adolescent anger management and victim impact programs. She is certified as a substance abuse counselor and she is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. She provides training programs for graduate and postgraduate therapists. She offers training, coaching, consultation and seminars based on the Three Principles locally and internationally to professionals and lay people alike.

She has served on the Board of Directors of the 3PGC since its inception and dedicates her life to sharing the Principles with the world.

Elsie Spittle is an internationally recognized speaker, mentor and author.
She is in the unique position of having known Sydney Banks, originator of
the Three Principles, before he had his epiphany. She witnessed the extraordinary change that occurred in him and the unprecedented impact his
work had on thousands of people, and how this has brought about a new paradigm in the fields of psychology and psychiatry.

Elsie had the privilege of receiving “on the job” training directly from Mr.
Banks. She is considered the first formal teacher of the Principles, after
Sydney Banks.

Elsie has published eight books, available on Amazon. Her books share stories
of her journey after meeting Syd and of her work mentoring others to a new life of peaceful success. Elsie has a wonderful way of showcasing the true meaning of living in our true nature. The feeling of this touches others in a way that draws out their best self.
For over five decades she has devoted her life to sharing the Principles with the
world. She is retired now and enjoying a quiet life on Salt Spring Island with her
husband of sixty two years.

Elsie’s website: www.3phd.net

This event includes many pioneers of the early Three Principles movement. The speakers represented here reflect some of the early students directly mentored by Syd Banks. Today, the 3PGC is growing and the richness we experience continues to shape and deepen the understanding and application of this work across cultures, professions, and fields worldwide.

Erika Bugbee, M.A. is the founder of Erika Bugbee Coaching outside Seattle, Washington. She specializes in coaching teens, young adults, and parents, as well as training and mentoring practitioners. She works with couples and individuals as well and is a frequent international webinar and conference presenter. 

She provides 1:1 coaching and training programs via Zoom and 4-Day Intensives via Zoom and in-person. 

Since 1998 Erika has worked with people individually, facilitating programs, and teaching groups that include organizations including BAE Systems, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Island Hospital, Kids4Kids, and the University of Washington Mental Health Center. 

As the daughter of George and Linda Pransky, Erika grew up learning the Three Principles and ultimately became a partner at Pransky and Associates where she worked for 20 years. She co-founded the company’s online learning division creating courses that teach the Three Principles from the ground-up to a global audience across 38 countries.

Erika was certified by Sydney Banks as a Three Principles practitioner and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology through University of Oregon and City University of Seattle, respectively. When she’s not working, Erika loves hanging with her husband of 26 years, their two grown kids, and two dogs.

Aaron Turner earned his Ph.D in Anthropology from London’s Brunel University and joined Pransky and Associates, a world leader in the pioneering approach to human potential. During his decade-long tenure there, Aaron worked as a counselor and consultant working with individuals, couples, families, leaders, teams and organisations.

In 2010 he moved back to London and founded One Thought to bring an understanding of The Three Principles to the mainstream through his work with businesses and organisations. Since 2010 Aaron has worked with many businesses, governmental and military organisations the National Health service to help individuals and their organisations function better in clearer deeper states of mind. He also runs introductory and professional practitioner programmes, speaks at events and conferences internationally. He is a founding board member of the 3PGC, the board’s president from 2016-2025, currently residing as honorary board member and he is an organiser of the 3PUK conference.

The speakers listed for A Gathering of Pioneers reflect those who are currently confirmed and who have generously said yes to being part of this shared exploration. Our speakers are just a sampling of the many people who were early students of Syd.

At the same time, we hold this Gathering in the understanding that life does not always move according to plans. Health, personal circumstances, and the natural unfolding of life may sometimes make it necessary for changes to occur.

Should a speaker be unable to participate as planned, we trust that what replaces it will be in service of the same spirit of depth, presence, and connection that this Gathering is dedicated to.

This Gathering is less about a fixed lineup and more about the shared space we create together.