What do you do in your role at TACSI?
I think of my role as a strategic weaver - connecting people, ideas, and possibilities to make change real. Sometimes that looks like sitting with community leaders on Country to reimagine futures, and other times it’s shaping partnerships across sectors so we can do together what none of us could do alone.
It’s about supporting our team to do their best work, staying well in the big challenges they tackle, and making sure TACSI keeps learning and adapting – because if we want to change the world, we need to live that change too.
When you're not at work, what do you get up to?
When I’m not at work, I’m raising my twin boys with my hubby through a mix of adventure, family, and community. One of my sons calls this photo 'Mum Adventure Mode' – outdoors, messy hair, lots of laughs and always a story to tell later!
I also love exploring rural and regional communities: understanding cultural history (the true history, especially the stories held in land, waters, and skies), rummaging through second-hand books (I'm an avid reader and there is nothing like a good story that has passed through many hands), browsing local markets – even the tiny ones with just a handful of stalls, and finding local producers. My pantry, shelves, and wardrobe are full of treasures with a story behind them.
What change would you like to see in the world, and why?
The change I want to see is a world built on care and connection. For me, that means what I try to foster in my boys: deep respect and friendship with Aboriginal people and cultural ways of being (we have so much to learn), strong bonds with nature, and being part of communities that truly value diversity and nurture the many.
What were you doing before working at TACSI?
Before TACSI, I spent two decades in the disability employment sector, helping people with disability find their ideal job in the workforce – and helping employers see the benefits of inclusive workplaces. That work shaped my belief in the potential of people and the communities around them.
One highlight was developing a school-to-work transition program where every student with disability found employment or a post-school pathway. That experience consolidated for me that when you remove barriers and believe in people, great things happen.
Who inspires you, and why?
My parents inspire me. Wherever they go, they build community and show up for family – including stepping into caring roles. They also sparked my love for adventure and gratitude for life’s simple joys.
In my work, I’m most inspired by people with living experience. Their stories, ideas and leadership in creating change are powerful. There’s nothing quite like the moment someone shifts your understanding because of the wisdom they carry through experience.
Looking back at your career, what’s been the highlight?
There are many, but the common thread is: moments where quiet or unheard voices were deeply listened to, where together we changed something that felt stuck. Times when unlikely connections formed, doubts turned into belief, and we celebrated real change we made together. Those are the highlights I cherish.
What are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to the 20th Anniversary Collection of Conversations on ABC. I love the unexpected stories – perspectives I’d never seek out on my own. It keeps me open and curious and I love discovering unexpected connections to things I'm working on or pursuing outside of work.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you 'grew up'?
I wanted to be a dancer – I loved the freedom and joy it brought. While a dance career wasn’t my path, I’ve kept that spark alive over the years through classes for fun in salsa, belly dancing and hip hop and through choreographing for Scout show performances and high school musicals with my dear friend Julie. Movement, creativity, and a little bit of stage magic never really left me!
What's a book, film or resource that you would recommend to someone interested in social impact?
I turned to my bookcase for this question. Here are a few that have shaped my thinking over the years:
The Art of Belonging (Hugh Mackay): Thought-provoking insights on community and connection from an Australian social researcher. In fact, all his books help put social change into context.
How to Be an Explorer of the World (Keri Smith): A playful guide to perspective-taking and breaking inhibitions – essential skills for social impact. Actually I'd recommend all her books :-)
Tell Me I’m Here (Anne Deveson): A powerful personal story that calls you on your compassion for experiences often not shared so intimately and reflect on the systems that impact our lives.
Wintering (Katherine May): A reminder of the importance of rest and retreat in the work of change. Recommended to me during a time I needed this reminder.
What's something on your bucket list?
Fresh from a family road trip, I’m craving more of what Australia offers – those vast skies that make you feel small, the clear waters that slow your breath, and landscapes that change with every turn. My bucket list is wide open for more of that magic!