First and foremost, I am a mum to three wonderful, caring daughters. My greatest learnings and my greatest growth are the results of my greatest challenges, particularly where my children have been involved.

I’m a qualified and experienced teacher with a postgraduate degree in Special Education. I’ve worked with children, parents, and families since I started in education over 40 years ago… but that is what seems like a lifetime ago.

My journey has led me to become a certified life coach through the Quantum Success Coaching Academy, and an authorized independent Parent Effectiveness Training Instructor through Thomas Gordon Training International. I am an author, presenter, and founding Principal of The Mindful and Wholehearted Parenting Academy.

I am passionate about helping you find your inner strength and authentic self as you meet the challenges of parenting.

I want you to thrive, come alive and feel empowered, while you build rich and rewarding relationships with your kids. You’ll discover how to replace power struggles, frustration and overwhelm, with calm, cooperation and loving connections.
My work involves showing you how to manage stress and anxiety, listen and talk with your kids with empathy, and learn how to better communicate and resolve problems effectively.

Parenting is the greatest act of courage.
To have courage is to lead with your heart.
I’m here to show you how to lead with your heart.

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I was born in the late 50s in a remote Queensland uranium mining town, now a ghost town. Raised in the 60s and 70s by a single mom, my childhood was shared with my two sisters, uncle, and grandmother. My mom was hardworking and practical, doing her best to manage the household within the constraints of her circumstances. While her parenting style was shaped by the norms of her time, with less emphasis on emotional openness and communication, these are the values I would later prioritize in my own approach to parenting.

I spent my entire schooling and college years in Brisbane, where I later taught, both in the city and in more remote “out bush” locations. It was during my time teaching that I met my husband, who was also a teacher at the same school.

Since marrying in the late ’80s, my husband David, and I have lived in 22 houses across 7 different countries, and visited about a dozen more. My love for travel has broadened my mind in countless enriching ways.

I’ve often toyed with the idea of writing a book called My Life in Boxes…

There’s so much more to my story than just moving from place to place. Every chapter of my life has been a transformative journey—shaped by challenges, growth, and learning.

While living in Australia, we raised our three children—and survived having twins (that’s a medical story).

In Malaysia, I studied Classical Feng Shui under two Grand Masters, adding Feng Shui consultancy to my skill set.
In Saudi Arabia, I endured bombings and pesticide poisoning.
In China, I not only walked on the Great Wall, but also explored a city made of ice and walked on a frozen river.
In India, I completed a 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat.
In the U.A.E., I wrapped up my teaching career and became a certified life coach.
In Vietnam, I wrote a parenting book and developed an online parenting program.

Each place, each experience, has taught me something invaluable—not just about the world, but about myself and my place in it. This journey continues to shape the way I connect with others, how I approach life, and the way I parent. It’s a story that continues to unfold.

My family brings me my greatest joy. My husband is my rock, my best friend and confidant. I love travelling with him, singing, dancing, beating him at cards and board games, and being merry 🙂
I have a natural affinity with animals and derive deep joy, companionship, and healing from the pets we care for.
I have a creative essence so I love to sketch, sew, design and decorate houses, take photographs, and admire art.
I love being in nature and gardening. I’m equally at home at the beach as I am in the mountains.
And I love to teach. I am in my element when I can make a difference in someone’s life. When I teach or coach I have the opportunity to inspire, support, and mentor while sharing the wisdom I have gained over the years.