About me

When I left home to attend university, I thought I’d study English and become a high school teacher, with some creative work on the side. Things took a different path. After completing degrees in English and Political Science, I worked across politics, public health, international development, and public education. Recently I’ve returned to creative projects, and this website brings together my artistic and civic interests in one place.

From Invercargill to University

I grew up in Invercargill, at the bottom of New Zealand. Mum worked as a cleaner and later spent twenty years in retail at KFC. Dad left school at 15 and worked at an abattoir and freezing works until retiring due to ill health. It was common for Mum to arrive home at 3am (sometimes with leftover fried chicken) and Dad to leave for work at 4.30am. My parents worked hard to give my brother, sisters and me opportunities they hadn’t had themselves.

At 18 I moved to Christchurch to study at the University of Canterbury, completing a BA (Hons) in English and Political Science. In my first year I met my husband, worked as a youth worker at a one-stop youth health centre, held a Godley singing scholarship with the Cathedral Choir, and joined the New Zealand Labour Party.

Working in Government

After graduating, Nic and I moved to Wellington, where I worked in Parliament for the Helen Clark Labour Government. Over five years I was an adviser to Labour MPs and Ministers, first in Wellington and later in Christchurch.

Public health and gambling harm reduction

From 2008 I spent six years as National Manager of Public Health at the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand. I led a team of health promoters across the country and worked on campaigns to reduce gambling harm. During this period, the number of pokie machines in New Zealand declined significantly.

International development and global poverty

In 2014 Nic and I moved to Melbourne when I was appointed Executive Officer of Make Poverty History Australia. For three years I led national campaigns advocating for stronger international aid and action on global poverty and climate impacts.

Campaigning for Public Education

From 2017 to 2022 I was the Federal Campaigns Officer at the Australian Education Union, leading national campaigns to strengthen funding for public schools, TAFE, and early childhood education. During this period, campaign work contributed to securing billions of dollars in additional federal funding for public education.

Back to the grassroots

I am currently Chief Executive Officer of the Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre in Melbourne. CNLC provides adult education and community support programs for people experiencing disadvantage, including migrants, refugees, and people with disability. The centre also works with the local community on waste reduction, circular economy initiatives, and climate resilien

Campaign experience

Alongside my professional roles, I have been involved in political and community campaigning for over two decades. This has included volunteering with the New Zealand Labour Party, serving on its governing board, standing as a parliamentary candidate, and working on campaigns for marriage equality, affordable housing, and local government. I also volunteered on Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign in Pennsylvania.