About Me
I am obsessed by the stories surrounding our food, the people that make it and the places we grow and cook it!
​
As a consumer behaviour expert and geographer, I bring together an understanding of people and place to the design of food experiences, culinary arts and design curricula and food and beverage strategies.
​
I am a social scientist, learning designer, experience designer, strategist, writer, story-teller and photographer.
​
Over the last two decades I have been active as:
​
-
an academic researcher (more than 150 academic outputs);
​
-
a learning designer (a wide range learning experiences and curriculum including course and instructional design, classroom experiences, work-based learning workshops, facilitation and mentoring, learning affordances & well-being programs. My work spans pedagogic, androgogic and heutagogic approaches);
​
-
a creative director and experience designer (over 30 experiences ranging from international food design conferences to bespoke experiences for clients such as a professional theatre, UNESCO City of Literature, Otago Museum and the Dunedin City Council);
​
-
a food and beverage business strategist (from individual organisations to national promotional bodies);
​
-
a presenter and public speaker (more than 60 presentations in 11 countries on a range of topics including consumer behaviour, place branding, regional development, design, culinary arts and education and learning);
​
-
a food writer and judge (for leading local and national publications and large food companies), and;
​
-
a food photographer (as the photographer for the Food Design Institute and freelancer).
​