I studied English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia from 2000 to 2003, and have worked as a journalist, teacher, storyteller, gardener, editorial assistant and assistant mental health act administrator. I’ve lived and worked in Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, Spain, Finland, Ethiopia and India. I currently live in London.
I have a TEFL qualification, and speak Spanish.
Copywriter for Project MINA (autumn 2011)
I wrote the captions and publicity for a photographic exhibition about the work of Project MINA, a three-year research project investigating the links between migration, nutrition and ageing in the UK’s Bangladeshi population.
Oral historian and researcher (summer 2010 to summer 2011)
I volunteered as an oral historian for Rowan Arts, an Islington-based arts charity, recording people’s stories and researching local history for their Plunging Into History project: stories from Ironmonger Row Baths and beyond.
Radio 4 documentary (summer 2010)
In the wake of the economic crash, I travelled from Dubai to India to record the journey of returning migrant workers for the BBC Radio 4/ Royal Geographical Society Journey of a Lifetime award. (See Audio).
Creative writing and journalism course, Ethiopia (summer 2009)
I taught a three-month writing course to high school students in a city in northern Ethiopia, producing a magazine to showcase the students’ work (See Ethiopia: politics and culture, Brief encounters).
Expedition to Finnish Lapland (winter 2008)
I visited Finland’s Arctic Circle to research and write about the phenomenon of language loss among indigenous Sámi communities (See Language Loss in Lapland).
Editorial assistant for TV & Satellite Week (London, summer 2008 to summer 2009)
This role involved copy-writing, feature writing, research and conducting interviews with TV actors, producers and directors.
Expedition to Kashmir (India, summer 2008 )
I travelled to Kashmir to write about climate change and glacial retreat in the Himalayas. This involved joining a Hindu pilgrimage to the sacred ice stalagmite at Amarnath, as well as a scientific expedition to the melting glacier of Kolahoi (See Melting gods and glaciers, Sacred sites and biocultural diversity, Brief encounters).
Internship at Green Futures magazine (London, autumn 2007)
Copy-writing, research and editorial admin for the quarterly publication of the sustainable development charity Forum for the Future. (Articles: Green shares, Cradle-to-cradle, Carbon hero).
Internship at Campaign Against Climate Change (London, summer 2007)
Volunteering here involved coordinating between local, national and international branches, and helping to organise the National Demonstration on Climate Change in December 2007.
English teacher at The English Academy (Madrid, spring/summer 2007)
Working as a TEFL teacher, teaching English conversation, grammar and poetry to Spanish children and adults.
Travelling storyteller for Moving Parts Theatre Company (Madrid and Central Spain, spring/summer 2007)
Performing interactive stories in English to children in rural areas around Central Spain.
Feature-writer and copywriter at Venue (Bristol, autumn 2005 to summer 2006)
Writing news, reviews and features for Bristol’s most popular arts and events magazine.
WWOOF volunteer and farm worker (Central America, summer 2004 to summer 2005)
Volunteering on six different organic farm projects in Mexico and Guatemala, I developed a working knowledge of permaculture, renewable energy and sustainable building techniques, looked after some pigs, and learnt to speak Spanish (See Travels in the Mayan lands, The freak diaspora).