A little about me... I grew up with two younger sisters on a small property south of Perth, Western Australia. We had an array of animals including dogs, cats, chickens and a couple of pet sheep named Snowy and Fizzy.
When my now-grown children were young, we had the privilege to do much travelling including to Europe, the USA and various parts of Asia.
On one of those trips, to Bali, Indonesia, I was chatting with one of the hotel workers when our conversation started to move beyond everyday chit-chat. Limited by my inability to speak her language, that was where it ended. It was where our words ended, but it was where
my Indonesia story began.
That moment sparked the beginning of my journey into
Learning Bahasa Indonesia which opened my eyes to a country rich in culture and diversity that I'd grown up knowing nothing about.
Outside of work you might find me at a local cafe with a cup of coffee, at home exploring a new subject that has captured my attention, or reading on the couch with my husband, Brett. We share our home in Perth with our fluffy ragdoll cat Magnolia (sometimes simply referred to as 'cat'), who has a remarkable ability to know exactly when dinner time is and loudly let us know about it!
My Indonesian language studies remain a constant in the background - a regular ritual and a bridge to the culture I've come to love.
When I'm working, I draw on a foundation in psychology, human-centred research, and cross-cultural communication, underpinned by various tertiary studies including a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology and more than 15 years of Indonesian language and cultural study. I've spent many years helping individuals and groups navigate values-driven conversations, passion projects, and meaningful transitions. My work spans coaching, negotiation, facilitation, teaching, and program design - a blend that allows me to bring both interpersonal depth and strategic clarity to the spaces I hold.
My committment to the Australia-Indonesia relationship is reflected in my role as a board member of
Balai Bahasa Indonesia Perth, my writing, and active involvement in local and cultural learning groups. I focus on collaborations which are built on mutual respect,
rasa dan rukun (relational feeling and harmony).
My voice and work have been shared nationally and internationally through online publications, guest appearances on ABC Perth Radio, and MC roles for Australia-Indonesia cultural events attended by diplomats, international audiences, and provincial royalty.
