I am a landscape architect and urban designer by profession, and a multi-disciplinary creative collaborator by natural inclination.

I trained as both architect and landscape architect, and spent 11 years sharing my craft with the next generation as sessional lecturer in Masters of Landscape Architecture at RMIT and Melbourne Universities. 

For a decade I worked as a Senior Landscape Architect on some of Australia’s significant landscape architecture and urban design projects- most notably several years spent managing the design and construction of The Australian Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

I am an ardent flower lover and experience maker.

Taking two years out to join the ‘the school of life’, I indulged in that rare opportunity to focus on the things I love most. This included working with some of Melbourne's most sought after florists and event designers, immersing myself entirely in the world of floristry and bespoke events.

I am a gardener and grower, a forager and preserver.

This school of life lead me to a major tree change with my young family in 2014, moving from urban Melbourne to rural Spargo Creek, just outside of Daylesford in Victoria’s Central Highlands. Here I designed and created a ‘productive’ focussed garden on our ,then, 5-acre property lovingly named Oak & Monkey Puzzle after the beautiful specimen trees found on our land. It’s been an incredible journey learning to live with the seasons - growing, gathering, foraging, flowering, making and preserving. 

I am a place maker and country life creator.

Transforming a dream into reality, Oak & Monkey Puzzle has become internationally renowned.

Oak & Monkey Puzzle not only provided an evolving special hub for, garden design, artisans and craftspeople by way of workshops, collaborations, and bespoke events. It engendered a warm sense of community, sparked dynamic conversations, fostered collaborative connections, cultivated creativity and provided a place for meeting of the minds. 

It is here that I also began my journey creating a way of life I had long yearned for. Rooted in my flower, berry and kitchen gardens, orchards and forest surrounds, I have learnt to live with the land, the shifting season’s, and how to live ‘well’. 

I am an adventure maker.

In 2022, my family and I moved on from the idyllic property I created in Oak & Monkey Puzzle.

In this newest adventure, I have set myself the challenge of taking the best of the lessons learnt at Oak & Monkey Puzzle’s 5 acres, combined with my love for gardens, growing, harvesting, cooking and preserving, and distilling this in the design of beautifully productive and sustainably focussed gardens at our new 515 square metre Daylesford property, Little Cottage on a Hill.

The success of Oak and Monkey Puzzle leaves me even more passionately intent on creating an evolving hub in this next iteration at Little Cottage On A Hill.

Through my experience as a landscape architect and urban designer, and now as an established and respected member of a vibrant country community of creatives, artisans, craftspeople and country dwellers, I continue to create, share and build upon a joyful work in progress. 

My hope is that Little Cottage On A Hill will be a special place to visit, to experience and learn, to share skills - and further engender a community that’s welcomed me with open arms.

I am a public speaker, workshop teacher and facilitator, and creative collaboration partner. 

I share my inspiring story of tree change, garden design, and country life, through guest speaker events, writing, my workshop offerings, social media following, print and digital media. 

I have been widely featured both locally and internationally, including Australian Woman’s Weekly, The Design Files, Country Style magazine, Homes to Love, Better Homes & Gardens (Channel 7),  The Block (Channel 9), and most recently as key note speaker and masterclass host at the Ballarat Begonia Festival.