I decided to become a journalist while travelling in Nepal in 1995. I was 22-years-old and wanted to change the world. As you do. I wanted to inspire others by sharing the extraordinary stories of ordinary people.
I wrote my first article about the impact tourism was having in Ladakh. This remote region, known as ‘Little Tibet’, is on the Tibetan plateau in India. My writing was untrained and impassioned. My first 2000-word feature was published in Nova Magazine with two of my travel photos in 1996. I had become a published writer and photographer!
This inspired me to go to university and study journalism. I started my undergraduate degree part-time when my son was one. He was eight when I graduated in 2005. I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (Public Relations and Journalism). My results placed me within the top five per cent of Murdoch University students.
I found my calling in feature writing. I had a portfolio of 50 published articles when I graduated. My dream was to have a feature published in National Geographic magazine.
I moved to Darwin to break into journalism. I worked as a features journalist and business reporter for the NT News. I also freelanced for ABC Radio Darwin, Darwin Life, Shop til you Drop, and the Northern Territory Government.
I loved journalism, but it was a difficult career choice as a sole parent. I was offered an opportunity to manage digital content, including social media, at Charles Darwin University in 2009. I loved the online world and have never looked back.
I did postgraduate studies in digital marketing in 2014. I see myself as a writer who has moved with technology. I’ve been writing for more than 25 years now, and I still love it.
I have been in leadership roles for the past 15 years. I lead creative teams to deliver strategic, engaging and accessible research communications. I’ve led digital and social teams at Swinburne University of Technology, Yarra Trams and Green Hat digital marketing agency. I led the digital and content strategy for CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, for more than five years.
I am currently leading the research communications and marketing strategy at the University of Melbourne. I provide strategic advice and coaching to executive leadership and lead a creative team to deliver trusted, relevant and compelling research storytelling.
I became interested in coaching when I completed executive leadership training in 2018. I became a certified organisational coach in 2020. I’ll continue to progress my training to become an accredited coach with the International Coaching Federation.