Tell us about yourself and what you do?
Well I am originally English but I have now lived most of my life as an expat – both as a child in the U.S.
for a few years, and as an adult I lived for many years in Dubai before coming to Fiji in 2019. I am a
University lecturer, I currently run the psychology programs at USP and try to support the development
of mental health services and the psychology industry here in whatever way I can.
Outside of work my ‘Personal Brand’ (i.e. my social media posts) tend to center around my sporting
pursuits and my work to SPCA by fostering kittens. In that respect I guess I am the very stereotypical
middle-aged single female who has ALL the cats at home!
Tell us about your business/consultancy.
As you can see from the above I don’t have a business to promote and I am not one of the inspirational
entrepreneurs or digital nomad consultants that frequent the tables around me at Greenhouse. I have
spent most of my career focused on student teaching and support, school management and curriculum
development (in both UAE and Fiji) as well as working with applied psychologists to helps develop
professional practice. At various times I have done some of the ‘fun’ media stuff as well – I once even
had a little radio slot and did regular TV interviews on psychology related topics. So it is probably fair to
say I see myself on the lighter side of ‘academia’ and think a priority should be working with students
and to have strong links between the psychological science and the community we are in.
Describe yourself in three words.
Well I guess I must have reflected on this question many years ago when I got a tattoo on my wrist with
symbols of my 3 passions in life: Psychology, Music, and Fitness!
Best advice you have ever received?
I have received a lot of good advice over the years specific to my job and the nature of my work, but in
fact, it is the less formal ‘hashtag’ style life advice that I tend to fall back on more often. Saying to myself
things like ‘the only way out is through’ and ‘this too shall pass’ have genuinely helped me cope and get
through hard times.
Why did you choose Greenhouse Coworking?
Sometimes I think I may be the unicorn at the ‘Greenhouse atrium’ as I of course do have a perfectly
adequate office space at the otherwise very beautiful USP campus but I just realized during COVID that I am far more productive and comfortable working in spaces that I choose for myself and that give me a
sense of creativity (whether that be at home or in public spaces). And since my courses are all online
mode (they were even before COVID) and I have a range of other work tasks beyond working directly with students, the membership at Greenhouse gives me an ideal option for a couple of days in the week.
However it is more than that – I really feel energised being at Greenhouse. This is partly because it is
such as well-designed and ‘modern’ space, and partly because it is full of people who are all busy and
focused (and In my mind must all be doing very interesting and important things for the world!)…so you
feel both socially engaged and entirely focused and not distracted at the same time.
(plus coffee, music in the background, occasional shared food….and right down the road from the gym
and public pool helps!)
