People often ask how a zoologist ended up working with nervous system literacy. For me, it all comes back to the same question:

What does it mean to be human?

I've been asking that question for as long as I can remember.

As a child, I was curious, capable and deeply sensitive. I questioned everything, and I loved understanding how the world worked.

I went on to study Zoology before completing a Master's in Ecology and Environmental Management, driven by a desire to understand how living systems work and how organisms adapt to survive.

While studying for my Master's degree, life became much more personal. Although things looked fine from the outside, inside I was struggling with self-doubt and a growing sense of unease that I didn't understand. I found myself caught in a cycle of self-harm without the language, knowledge or support to make sense of what was happening.

That experience changed the course of my life. It left me with an enduring curiosity about why humans think, feel and behave the way we do. Later, as a parent of two teenagers, I felt called to explore how we can better support the many young people who are struggling with self-harm today. I wanted to give them the understanding that I wish someone had given me.

I’ve worked in sustainability communications for 25 years, helping some of the world's largest organisations explain complex environmental and social issues. It taught me how to translate complexity into clarity, facilitate honest conversations and help people navigate change.

Alongside this, I immersed myself in neuroscience, nervous system regulation, trauma, attachment, human evolution, consciousness and behavioural science. I worked with an exceptional psychotherapist and some of the world's leading coaches.

Each experience added another piece to the puzzle, and then something clicked.

I realised that whether I was writing about climate change, supporting someone through self-harm, working with a leadership team or talking to teachers, I was really exploring the same thing.

Humans attempting to meet their needs in an environment that is very different from the one we evolved in.

Lovely Messy Humans was born from that understanding.

Whether I'm working with educators, organisations or individuals, my mission is the same:

To translate the science of being human into understanding, practical tools and lasting change in a way that’s accessible to everyone.