About me

When I left home to attend University I thought I’d do a degree in English and become a high school English teacher while doing some creative stuff on the side. Instead, after finishing a degree in English and Political Science, I worked in politics and campaigns, public health, global aid and development, and public education trying to change the world. Recently I’ve been getting back into creative endeavors and this website combines my artistic and political interests in one location.

From Invercargill to University

I grew up in Invercargill, at the bottom of New Zealand. Mum was a cleaner and then worked for 20 years as a retail worker at KFC. Dad left school at 15 and worked at an abattoir and freezing works until he retired sick when he was 64. It was pretty common for mum to arrive home (with some left over KFC chicken!) from work at 3am and dad to leave for work at 4.30am. My parents worked hard to give my brother, sisters and I a good life and opportunities.

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

Working for the Helen Clark Government

After finishing my degree Nic and I moved to Wellington and I worked in Parliament for the Helen Clark Labour government. I worked for five years as an adviser to Labour MPs and Ministers in Wellington and then in Christchurch.

Reducing gambling harm as a public health expert

From 2008 I spent six years as the National Manager of Public Health for the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand. I managed a team of health promoters across New Zealand and led public campaigns to reduce the number of and harm from gambling machines. The number of pokie machine declined from over 26,000 in 2004 to just over 16,000 by 2014.

Leading the Make Poverty History movement

In late 2014 I was appointed Executive Officer of Make Poverty History Australia and Nic and I moved to Melbourne. For three years I led the campaign for more and better aid in order to help end global poverty and tackle climate change.

Campaigning for Public Education

From 2017-2022 I was the Federal Campaigns Officer at the Australian Education Union. I lead the AEU’s campaigns including working to increase funding for public schools and TAFE and to extend and fund preschool for 3 and 4-year-olds.

Back to the grassroots

I am currently the Executive Officer of the Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre. CNLC has 28 staff and provides a broad range of adult education and social support programs to people experiencing disadvantage, including migrants, refugees and people with disability. CNLC supports the community of Carlton to minimise waste through a circular economy, to reduce carbon emissions and to be resilient to climate change.

Experienced campaigner

From 2000 I volunteered for the New Zealand Labour Party, including several years on the governing board of the party, was part of the successful 2005 election campaign committee, and was Labour’s candidate for Christchurch Central in the 2014 election. I’ve worked on dozens of campaigns such as the successful Civil Unions and Marriage Equality campaigns in New Zealand; stopping the Christchurch City Council increasing Council housing rents by 24%; Campaign Manager of former Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton’s campaign for the Christchurch Mayoralty; and volunteering on the Barack Obama campaign in Pennsylvania in 2008.