I hail from the Kentish village of Harrietsham, which lies at the foot of the North Downs. Grand Sour is a main focal point, and a well worn public footpath takes ramblers from the ancient Pilgrms Way, up the chalk hillside to a vista. I was born in Maidstone, and spent my childhood exploring the Kentish countryside before studying a degree at agricultural college in Shropshire. I moved to Oxfordshire as a young adult and enjoyed working on several environmental projects including national park designation, before emigrating to Hawke's Bay on the East Coast of New Zealand's North Island in 2002. 

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My passions lie in supporting individuals to make authentic and sustainable connections with our natural and cultural heritage through collaborative projects, education, research, and storytelling. I strive to inspire and engage our communities so that we can all gain a deeper understanding of how our environment and society are inextricably linked. I am currently focusing on this through my formal research (PhD study).

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Harnessing my experience in environmental sociology and policy, my current research explores how our environmental values have developed and the significance of environmental storytelling. This will support New Zealand's commitment to achieving international and national environmental obligations, contribute to halting the decline of biodiversity and achieve sustainability goals, making a significant contribution to a sustainable future.

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READ MY BLOG!

In parallel to my formal research, I am also writing a blog. If you are passionate about the environment and our communities, and like reading short stories, then make yourself a coffee, find a comfy chair and read my blog: Reflections of an Environmental Tub-thumper. Have a read, make a comment and let's get the conversations started!

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