© Elena Neri
Mother, wife, former investment banker, spiritual seeker—and now, author. Sasha Wakefield was born to immigrant parents and raised in the beachside suburb of Bronte, Sydney, where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood. At the age of ten, she began questioning the meaning of life, setting her on a lifelong search through various spiritual traditions and a yearning for a spiritual teacher.
Although drawn to a spiritual path early on, she pursued a conventional career, completing bachelor's and master's degrees in Economics, Finance, and International Development. She then became an investment banker, working for over a decade as a derivative strategist. Eventually, the call to follow the spiritual path became too strong to ignore, and she left the corporate world behind.
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Years later, during a chance visit to Bhutan, a series of serendipitous encounters led her to the teacher she had long been seeking. As she puts it, “the rest is history.”
For the past nineteen years, Sasha has divided her time between Australia and Bhutan. She continues to deepen her spiritual practice under her teacher’s guidance and is committed to serving Bhutan and supporting the preservation of its spiritual and cultural heritage.
Recognition
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In December 2025, Sasha was conferred the highest honour by the Zhung Dratshang Khenlop Duetshog (the Je Khenpo, the five High Lamas and all the sangha of the Central Monastic Body) in recognition of her fifteen years of dedicated service to the institution. This historic acknowledgement marks the first time the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan has awarded its highest seal and letter of recognition to a foreign national.
Press
Bhutan’s national newspaper