Born, raised and resident in West Auckland on the land of Te Kawerau-a-Maki – I am unreasonably passionate about the West’s landscapes of ecology, culture and history. I live with my partner Annette and we are blessed with 2 children aged 18 and 25. I am committed to the notion that environmental sustainability, locally empowered community development, and social justice are inextricably linked. I have a working background in a wide range of arenas including: Nursing, work with families as a social worker counselor and family therapist; work with perpetrators of domestic violence and work with children who have witnessed violence. I have also been involved in political advocacy for children’s wellbeing with Unicef and then the office of the Children’s Commissioner. I am currently employed teaching social practice at Unitec and have started a Phd focused on sustainability and people in place. I am involved with a number of community organizations in governance roles. When I look back over my life of work and interests; there is a clear pattern of a passion for the well-being of people; inherited from my mother’s side of the family who have been social activists for generations. (Thanks Mum) What has shifted over the years is the focus; from working with individuals toward - in more recent years a passion for understanding and affecting the larger systems in which our lives take place. My education rather reflects this journey. From a Diploma in enrolled nursing started when I was 17; to a chunk of my 20s exploring counseling; to work with young people with mental health disabilities leading to a diploma in social work and community development; followed by my political bones rattling and my undertaking a Masters in social policy. The latest focus of my interests is broader still - a PhD seeking to enquire about how people in the future may live in ways more mutually sustaining ways between people and place. It will be interesting to see where things go next.