About me

I grew up in the Pilbara, which gave me resilience and a straight-talking edge. A colleague once described me as a “sledgehammer in cotton wool” - able to cut through complexity with force, but always with care. That toughness has been tempered by years working across regional and metropolitan contexts, from Northern Rivers flood reconstruction and Aboriginal engagement to national cultural institutions and major infrastructure programs, where driving outcomes requires a balance of diplomacy, persistence, and decisiveness. I bring strong opinions, but I hold them softly: confident in my judgement, and open to being persuaded when better ideas emerge.

I’m also an artist, which gives me a creative and intuitive lens on complex work. Instead of leaning on models or cookie-cutter methods, I work in the moment - listening, testing, and adapting to what’s actually needed. It’s a human, organic approach that surfaces insights, builds trust, and keeps people aligned while delivery keeps moving.

Breadth and insight

I’ve worked across government, private sector, NGOs, and cultural institutions. I’ve sat inside agencies, advised from the outside, partnered with builders, guided community groups, and steered capital pipelines. That breadth means I see patterns others miss, and I know how to keep momentum across whole organisations, as well as isolated projects.

I speak fluent government, business, and community. My strength is finding the angle that gets everyone on board, from ministers to investors to the people most affected. I know when to push, when to reframe, and how to build momentum without burning bridges.

Over the years, I’ve:

• Unlocked hundreds of millions in investment (e.g. securing museum and housing pipelines)

• Aligned major initiatives with ministerial, Treasury, and investor priorities

• Brokered trust in low-trust communities, including Aboriginal engagement in Northern Rivers

• Designed governance frameworks that kept delivery on track

• Unstuck stalled funding and accelerated timelines in politically sensitive environments

My philosophy

Success isn’t just about having a good plan, it’s about getting the right people to believe in it. That takes curiosity, patience, and the confidence to really listen. I work out what motivates people, find common ground, and negotiate outcomes everyone can live with.

I bring energy, creativity, and insight, and I’m comfortable meeting people where they are, speaking their language, and navigating the processes that keep delivery moving. From working with senior ministers on high-stakes policy to sitting in community halls with people who’ve lost trust in the process, I’ve seen the difference it makes when you connect the dots between vision, funding, and delivery.

Fast facts

Experience highlights

• 30+ years working with government, private enterprise, NGOs, and investors

• Hundreds of millions in infrastructure programs led and delivered

• Worked across housing, cultural infrastructure, disaster recovery, and social impact projects

Known for

• Getting people working well together across sectors

• Translating between government, business, and community

• Unlocking stalled funding and approvals

• Bringing clarity to complex, politically sensitive projects

Sectors

• Government and public sector

• Private sector and industry partnerships

• NGOs and community organisations

• Culture, arts, and philanthropy

• Complex multi-stakeholder programs