Tender professional, social sustainability trailblazer and writer.

A career in working with people and words.

I started my career with words back in the late 90s editing Melbourne dance music street press Zebra (Inpress) and was editorial assistant to Don Watson for his memoir on his time as speechwriter to Paul Keating ‘Recollections of a Bleeding Heart’, and Hilary McPhee for her memoir ‘Other People’s Words’.

After a few years based in the UK and exploring Europe, I returned in 2005 and have since held a variety of positions across Australia with a focus on ensuring business readiness to meet tender requirements in order to win work. From bid management, tender writing and policy and plan development (particularly in line with Government requirements), I have worked in the PPP space with Plenary Group, architecture and with a number of construction companies including a Tier 1 contractor.

With a passion for social justice, my work in the social sustainability space includes:

• Development of overall Social Procurement Policy and Framework as well as Social Sustainability Plans for specific projects in line with Victorian Government requirements including organisation-wide and project-specific Gender Equality Action Plans under the Building Equality Policy, Local Industry Development Plans under Local Jobs First and Major Project Skills Guarantee.

• Engagement of local artists for a Council project to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in establishing a very special mural to be enjoyed by community and further engagement of a local filmmaker to document this.

• Working with Uncle Jack Charles to recognise the profound Aboriginal heritage and significance of a specific site location and create a plan to value the ongoing contribution of Aboriginal people and communities, and how this contribution has a positive influence on us all. This Plan included engagement of an Aboriginal owned and operated Victorian-based contractor who provide meaningful long-term economic independence and career opportunities for Aboriginal people and their communities, to create the Uncle Jack Charles Place of Belonging – a courtyard space to provide an ongoing and lasting outcome.

• A partnership with Registered Charity Youth Projects to develop a direct skill development and employment model for disadvantaged young people.

• A collaboration with Registered Charity I’m Still Learning to organise donation of materials to the organisation for use in their Basic Home Maintenance courses as well as arranging volunteers to input as Handy Persons/Instructors for the courses.

• Development of Reconciliation Action Plans, and subsequent implementation through engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and heading up Working Groups.

I have also enhanced my skills through studies in social sustainability, developing high impact proposals, public speaking, writing and editing.

I’m based in Melbourne, Australia (when not taking regular visits to Tokyo), and open to working with clients based anywhere via the world wide web!