I have always had an interest in the science of the natural world. I hold a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Soil and Horticulture) and Graduate Diploma of Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology and Management, both from The University of Adelaide. To further my knowledge of agricultural ecology I have completed courses in IPM, Permaculture and Biodynamics. I have worked in consulting and educational roles for businesses and NGO’s involved in integrated urban pest management, toxic chemical consulting, organic agriculture, and farm forestry. Working as a specialist Biodynamic gardening teacher fuelled my interest in learning and lead to a Graduate Diploma of Education (UNE) and subsequent employment as a science and agriculture teacher. To complement and cement this background I have recently completed the Master of Sustainable Agriculture course at CSU in the Extension and Capacity Building stream. My Dissertation research combined both my passions and investigated the role of ecological agricultural systems in NSW High Schools.

During my Agriculture Degree I gained a bit of a reputation for being a 'black sheep' through challenging the conventional thinking and industrialised agricultural system. Permaculture had always been something that made sense to me and I realised that I was a 'systems thinker' in a predominantly reductionist field. I chose to do my PDC in Bali as it gave me an opportunity to experience food growing in an entirely different climate, growing a whole range of crops I had never seen before. An experience I will never forget and hope to have again some time.

I am currently operating a sustainable living education business called LightFoot Education. I have been a guest presenter for PDC's in the Southern Highlands of NSW (2006, 2012) and Goulburn (2012) and look forward to the opportunity to teach Permaculture again in the future. The majority of my Permaculture design and implementation experience has been on the Urban scale, however, I am keen to explore the application of Permaculture principles on a larger landscape scale. I also have an interest in the capacity building aspects of Permaculture and have been involved in creating community resilience through activities in various community gardening settings.