After many years working in early childhood education a role on the Otago Regional Council seems a logical step to me. It’s a chance to lead the protection of our precious environment for our children and future generations. The New Zealand early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki continues to inspire me with its principles of relationships, empowerment, holistic development, and community.

I spent my early years in Green Island, Dunedin and completed my schooling in Napier. My parents – Rosalie, a pioneer in the New Zealand adult literacy movement and Tom, a Presbyterian minister – set examples of service to the community and care for those in need.

After study at Otago University and primary teaching in Huntly and London I returned to Dunedin in 1993 and have been here ever since.

My children introduced me to Playcentre nearly thirty years ago and I never got away, taking on roles in Playcentre locally, regionally and nationally and moving into the wider early childhood education sector. Somewhere in there I completed an M.A. in history as well. For over ten years I have been chair of Abbeyfield Dunedin, a local community housing provider.