My background is in ecology as a science: BSc from the University of East Anglia and a masters in Tropical Coastal Management from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This lead to conservation and fisheries work on the Red Sea coasts of Egypt and Eritrea. Later, with a young family, came the need for more stability and I got into teaching. In between, I've travelled extensively in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia; everywhere the signs of environmental destruction and looming crisis are all too apparent.

After a certain disillusion with the possibility of making a positive contribution through consultancy and aid work, permaculture was a inspiring. Bill Mollison's combination of science, practice and simple but powerful ethics give the individual the power to change the world.

Over the last 3 years I have been working on a small plot on the north-west coast of Mallorca, admittedly as a "weekend permie". In January 2014 I completed the PDC with Tom Kendall at Maungaraeeda; a brilliant, empowering experience. I'm aiming to keep learning and practicing, and work towards teaching this brilliant interdisciplinary field.