Biography

My career began in radio, as an announcer and producer for Triple J and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Around this time, in the mid-1990s, I started designing and publishing on the web. My first website combined my passion for music and journalism — The Hangout of Unknown Bands.

"I have been building on the internet from its earliest days."

I studied at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, made guest appearances on radio in Holland and New Zealand, and hosted internet radio programs in the USA (many years before podcasts became a thing).

I worked as a freelance music journalist for Addicted to Noise, a progressive internet publication founded by ex-Rolling Stone editor Michael Goldberg. I also worked with Australian music labels, including Blak Yak Records founded by Tim Freedman of The Whitlams.

And after a decade in radio and music, I entered a completely new field — early childhood education. I trained as a teacher, became a children's service director, and later a trainer and assessor. I worked with respected organisations including Gowrie, KU and SDN.

"I know how to design effective systems for communicating complex ideas."

Early childhood education aligned with my interest in human-centred stories and knowledge systems. Children's learning is not linear, yet teachers are required to document it with clarity. I spent many years exploring methods for identifying, organising and communicating complex ideas and their relationships.

Simultaneously, I maintained my freelance work in digital communications. My clients were small businesses, publications, and SEO agencies that taught me their strategies.

As a journalist, I wrote for The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, SBS, and news.com.au. My background in teaching allowed me to write about early childhood education for ECA and CELA, and my experience as a competitive boxer allowed me to write as a sports reporter. One of my favourite moments was live reporting during the Olympic trials.

"Writing and designing allowed me to live the digital nomad lifestyle."

I worked and travelled across Australia, Asia and Russia. While on the road, I returned to university to study internet communications and fine arts at Curtin University. I then studied photography and videography through private tuition. I worked briefly as a family and documentary photographer.

Out of all the places I travelled to, I finally settled in Goolwa on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula. My life is a lot slower and quieter here, but I’m in a rural community that aligns with my love for slow living. I do my best to grow my own food and spend time in nature with my family. We have a Labrador, a cat, and a flock of chickens.

Since moving here, I have been exploring new technologies involving language. I've built large websites, written hundreds of thousands of words, and discovered patterns I can use for ontologies and data-to-text generation.

I recognise the web is undergoing a disruptive, unprecedented shift that is unlike anything I've seen since it was first introduced to me over three decades ago. I am using this opportunity to embrace change and work on projects that push the boundaries of designing and publishing on the web — without forgetting the fundamentals of effective communication and core human values.