MSc Sustainability
Graduating summer 2023, I have an MSc Sustainability with distinction undertaken with the Eden Project and Anglia Ruskin University. I also won the university award for sustainability and was highly commended as the course representative (nerd alert).
My dissertation explored the concept of “futures thinking” as a communications tool to shape emotional attitudes to climate change. Essentially, I examined how we can better engage people by articulating a future to aim for, as opposed to a future to prevent.
Nature was the gateway
I’m lucky enough to have grown up in beautiful places: first Kent, known as the “Garden of England”, then moving to the Norfolk countryside. Dense woodland, sweeping fields and wide skies are the backdrops to my fondest childhood memories, and to this day I still need a daily dose of the outdoors to keep me centred. As I grew up, my enthusiasm for insects has stayed with me, as has my compulsion to abduct every shiny beetle I see. I’m seeing far less insects as I get older which, although I know is because of climate change, pesticides and habitat loss, I can’t help but think it’s because they see me coming and hide.
I’ll always cite nature as the reason I gravitated towards a career in sustainability, but I don’t think that sentiment is unique. I think everybody has a story from their childhood that involves the natural world; playing in the woods, the first time they found an ants nest, feeding the ducks; I believe that nature-based stories, if told right, can resonate deeply and are a good gateway for building an emotional connection to the climate and biodiversity crises.
I am a music industry expat
I spent 10 years working as a musician, music producer, songwriter, artist liaison and general music and events freelancer. I founded a sustainable music merchandise company during the coronavirus era, saving garments from landfill and upcycling them into new merch for artists and festivals. It was going down this rabbit hole that ultimately led me to a complete career change.
I still have a hand in music and occasionally get summoned to work in artist liaison or shoot content for bands.
I have a fluid way of working (but it’s good for everyone)
Although I have a small office in the Norfolk countryside, I love to work from everywhere and especially from coffee shops. I’ve been known to work on the beach, on the plane, in the hotel bar, on the train, and any time. This ultra-flexible way of working also works well for my clients, most of whom also travel a lot and enjoy the flexibility to schedule calls across different timezones.
