My Bio

I’m academic who loves to teach undergraduates

I am both a research affiliate and work as a Teaching Associate at Monash University. As a TA since 2019 I’ve run undergraduate classes in various disciplines including Japanese Studies, Journalism, Media and Communications, and Global Studies. In 2021 my teaching work was recognised through a Monash University Dean’s Sessional Commendation, Faculty of Arts award which recognised ‘an exceptional contribution to teaching and learning’.

I love to research and write

I have a PhD in Creative Writing (specialising in journalism practice) from Monash University. I’m also a freelance nonfiction writer whose work has been published in Meanjin, The Lifted Brow, Kill Your Darlings and more. I have a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing from RMIT, a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Media and Australian studies from Swinburne University and a Diploma in Photography, majoring in Fine Arts from the Australian College of Photography, Art and Communication.

I love to research and write stories about people and culture – some of the topics I’ve covered include why we like signed books (Meanjin) and what ‘defines’ creativity (Open Manifesto). My goal is to take readers into the worlds that I explore. See more of my writing.

My PhD and academic research considers the need for more nonfiction writing about disaster recovery. The artefact for my PhD was a manuscript (intended as a trade book) that described long term lived experiences of rebuilding and recovery in Miyagi, Japan after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The exegesis considered interdisciplinary precedents of practice in journalism, anthropology, sociology, folklore, oral history and creative nonfiction. It discussed the limitations of existing, often sensationalist, reporting on disaster while arguing the case for more writing about disaster recoveries. It covered ideas such as the paradox of bearing witness, narrative ‘emplotment’ and the burden of resolution. It explored issues of geopolitics, cultural framing in western reporting about Japan and transculturalism. See my writing already published on the topic and as well as Awards and Achievements below for more information.

Awards and Achievements

In 2015, based on my work-in-progress manuscript that focused on recovery in Japan after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown, I was awarded a place in the final 10 of the ACT Writers Centre HARDCOPY Program.

In 2013 I was awarded a Hotdesk Fellowship at the Wheeler Centre.

In 2012 my blog was selected as an Official Emerging Blog for the Melbourne Writers Festival and an Official Blog for the NonfictioNow Conference.

Future of Long Form

For several years I created an online research project (via a blog) for writers of long form non-fiction. The Future of Long Form explored the space between writers and readers in the new media galaxy of the early 2010s. It also provided information and inspiration for writers.

Freelance Work

These days I spend most of my time teaching. But I’m still available for freelance writing and project management work including proposal/tender/grant writing, research and analysis, report writing and more. My commercial experience includes working as General Manager at the international digital agency, Reactive, which has since been acquired by Accenture. In the 2000s I led their 35-employee strong Melbourne Studio. During my seven (+) years at Reactive I gained a strong business background and developed my interest in the people side of business (what the business sector likes to call Human Resources). I continue to work with other agencies on a freelance basis.

I’ve worked in project management/production in both advertising (at Grey Interactive) and Web portals (such as realestate.com.au and seek.com.au) as well as the general media and arts industries for over twenty years.

Contact me with any assignments!