About Me
As an award-winning writer, educator, and researcher with a background in the arts and the health sciences — and a PhD from the University of Toronto — I’ve spent more than two decades helping people reframe complex ideas, shift narratives, and connect more meaningfully with others.
I’m deeply interested in how ideas shape our lives, and how we can communicate them in ways that feel grounded, ethical, and human.
My Approach
Whether I’m providing developmental feedback on a proposal, coaching a leader through a major project, or supporting a team to build the curiosity and creative capacity to work through a problem, my aim is always the same:
- Communication is relational — not just informational
- Human-centred storytelling can change how people understand complex ideas, each other, and themselves
- Creativity isn't a luxury or an extra— it's as essential to wellbeing as rest, exercise, and nature
- Curiosity, play and the willingness to fail are how people and teams grow and learn
- Complex ideas deserve clarity without losing nuance
- Meaningful work needs meaningful communication, and meaningful communication can sometimes take a little courage
My approach comes from two decades spent at the intersection of theatre, arts-based and qualitative research, and adult education — this work has taught me structure doesn’t have to come at the cost of humanity, and rigour doesn’t have to come at the cost of play.
This is the heart of my work.
My academic bio
I am an award-winning expert and educator on relational and collaborative working, care and learning.
I have authored academic and practice-oriented publications, as well as public facing writing, about collaboration, humanizing care and work, relational care in teaching and practice, and changing narratives/culture. This work is rooted in my decades-long practice as a community and performing artist. My academic and professional research in cultural practices, arts, and pedagogy from the University of Toronto introduced a framework – an aesthetic of relationality – that has transformed the way people engage in human-centred practices across industries. I have published and presented across disciplines, including health professions education, nursing, public health, education, aging, rehabilitation sciences, theatre and performance studies, qualitative and arts-based methods, and medical humanities & sociology.
I held an award-winning postdoctoral fellowship as an artist-researcher at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, was an 2021 Visiting Scholar at Sensorium in the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design at York University, and taught at the university and college levels, including when I was an Assistant Professor in health humanities at the University of Toronto Scarborough. My PhD dissertation won the 2017 ‘Joan Eakin Award for Methodological Excellence in a Qualitative Doctoral Dissertation’ (University of Toronto). I am an Adjunct Fellow with the Centre for Critical Qualitative Research (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto), and Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Theatre at York University. I sit on the Board of Directors for Red Nose Remedy.
My Experience
Over the years, I’ve worked across healthcare, education, arts & culture, and government — often bridging worlds that don’t typically speak to each other.
My work has included:
- Supporting interdisciplinary, creative academics and professionals to communicate clearly and confidently, leading to new funding, project breakthroughs, and stronger partnerships
- Guiding research and policy work addressing issues such as dementia stigma, equity in education, and social health
- Producing events, films, and plays that shift public conversations on health and social issues
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to transform complex or technical research into stories that resonate with the people who need it
I’m most at home in the space where ideas meet people — and where communication can open possibilities.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
My clients often tell me:
“
You helped me understand what I was really trying to say.
“
This process has been an absolute pleasure. I was feeling uncertain but you made it really fun.
“
I couldn’t have done it without you and it feels so great to have you in my corner.
When we work together, you can expect:
- A collaborative partner
- Someone who asks thoughtful questions
- A space that feels calm, curious, and grounded
- A commitment to accuracy, clarity, and care
- An approach rooted in sound ethics and genuine communication
You know your work inside out. My work is helping it be clear to your reader without losing the complexity.
What This Means for You
If you work with complex ideas, research, or specialised knowledge, you don’t need to be an expert in explaining it — that’s where I come in.
I help you:
- Clarify your writing and/or project
- Translate technical information so it resonates with the right audiences
- Build trust with the people who need your work
- Develop confidence in sharing your ideas
- Move from “I don’t know how to say this” to “This finally feels right”
If you want your work to land with clarity and impact — I’d love to help.
Fun Facts
I live in Toronto with my partner and our two hilarious and creative teenagers.
When I’m not writing or teaching, you’ll probably find me reading, in a hammock listening to a podcast, or wandering in nature. Also, milk chocolate over dark, continental knitting over English, and stick-shift over automatic (although an EV might turn me).
If you think we might be a good fit, visit my Services page → to see how I can help.
Let’s Stay Connected
Fair Play is my newsletter about creativity, communication, and meaningful work.
You’ll also get The Writing Roadmap, a simple guide to help you clarify your process.