How I came into teaching mindfulness

I was introduced to mindfulness at 15, living alone while in my last two years of high school and navigating challenges that could have shaped my life very differently. Instead, those early practices became a foundation that has sustained me over the 40 years since then. Mindfulness was presented to me as something practical, grounding, and incredibly helpful. It stayed with me.

My path to teaching mindfulness wound through diverse territory, from starting my career as a classical musician before moving into corporate roles focused on people and organisational development. I earned my MBA and built a career in learning and development, change management, and coaching. Throughout it all, mindfulness remained my anchor.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I took the time to reflect on what truly mattered. I realised I wanted to dedicate myself fully to sharing the evidence-based practices that had supported me through so many of life's challenges – the difficult ones and the joyful ones alike. That's when I committed to becoming a certified, trauma-sensitive mindfulness teacher.

What draws me to this work is the honesty of it. MBSR doesn't promise to make everything easy; it offers people ways to meet their lives with greater presence, clarity, and compassion. I've sat with groups navigating anxiety, burnout, grief, chronic illness, and profound life transitions. I've also worked with high-performing teams learning to lead with wisdom rather than just drive. Every group teaches me something new about human resilience and our capacity for change.

Background

I teach across both community and organisational settings. In my community-based work, I facilitate public MBSR courses, while my organisational work spans small not-for-profits to large multinationals and government departments. My background in learning and development, organisational coaching, and change management informs how I create psychologically safe, inclusive learning environments where people feel genuinely welcomed and supported in their exploration.

• MBA, Grad Cert HR, Grad Dip HR, Grad Cert Project Management
• Diploma of Mindfulness & Compassion
• Certified MBSR Teacher (MTIA)
• Certified Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness Practitioner
• Certified Organisational Coach (IECL Level 2)
• UCLA-trained Mindfulness Facilitator
• 40+ years of personal mindfulness practice
• Annual 10-day silent meditation retreats
  

Specialisation

I bring trauma-sensitive mindfulness to diverse populations, drawing on both my corporate background and lived experience with trauma to create safe, responsive spaces for healing and growth. My corporate expertise allows me to bridge awareness, wisdom and compassion practices with workplace realities, while supporting community participants seeking relief from anxiety, chronic pain, or life transitions. Whether teaching publicly or in organisational contexts, I prioritise psychological safety and meet people exactly where they are.

Teaching Philosophy

I don't have the answers – I'm there to walk alongside participants as they discover their own inner wisdom and path to a calmer life. My aspiration is for everyone who attends my courses to feel incredibly welcomed and to know they belong, exactly as they are. I care deeply about creating that space. The joy of this work is witnessing people find calm amidst the turbulence of life, not because everything becomes easy, but because they've learned to meet themselves and their experience with greater kindness and clarity.