What I’ve learned: I completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at UQ in 1997 and swore I was done with uni. A clinician at heart – a few small yes’es later, I somehow ended up teaching at a university myself. I have published several academic papers and love helping others get excited about research. My clinical specialty relates to lymphoedema and other conditions that require compression garments, but I am also experienced across a wide range of occupational therapy practice areas.

My not-so-formal education: I know I’m not alone in believing that authentic learning unfolds when we pause and tune into the silence within. The “Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, changed my life completely. Podcasts that I love to tune into include “Know Thyself” by Andre Duqum, “the Lex Friedman podcast”, “Modern Wisdom” by Chris Williamson, “Impact Theory” by David Bayer, and “Diary of a CEO” by Steven Bartlett. Right now, I’m a huge fan of Annaka Harris and Donald Hoffman, who have some pretty compelling evidence that consciousness is fundamental. I think that they might be on to something.

Till the day I die: As a single mother to three amazing humans, my heart is full. Two have flown the coop, and now it’s just me and my twenty-year-old flapping around in the nest. Thank goodness for FaceTime. It’s almost like they’re all still here.

What I can do: I can ‘paint a pretty picture’. I worked for 2 years in an art gallery on the Gold Coast, assisting the main artist, Jeff Gilberthorpe; renowned for his themed series of paintings, and embellishing them with portraits of customers. I now paint only for friends and for fun. Large-scale portraits are my favorite.  I’m also working hard on getting my first novel (actually a trilogy) published. It was accepted by a publishing house some years ago, but I’ve recently been successful at getting the rights reverted back to me, so now I’m looking for a publisher. If I could paint and write for a living – I would.

I am not afraid to try new things. I achieved a black belt in karate in my thirties, but my forties were when I went a bit ‘nuts’ – taking up motorbiking, mountain biking, and skiing. I admit that I’m not particularly skilled at any of them, but I’ve still given them all a red-hot shot. Over the years, I’ve shredded some epic mountain bike trails, though I quickly invested in a full-face helmet when I realized that I have a tendency to land on my head. Skiing has taken me to some amazing places, and while I can finally claim a small degree of competence, nothing compares to the humility of being overtaken by a two-year-old.

What’s next: Now that I’ve hit my fifties, my goal is to spend as much time hiking as possible, and chase those moments of ‘flow-state‘ that make me feel alive. I’m also a little obsessed with exploring all things related to consciousness. I maintain a near-daily meditation practice, which helps me stay present, curious, and occasionally quiet.