I grew up in post-apartheid South Africa, a country still learning how to rebuild itself after generations of division. Where I’m from, policy wasn’t an abstract concept, it shaped everyday life. Governance changes affected livelihoods, community trust, and how resources were shared. It was impossible not to notice the connection between geology, land, politics, water, and people.

As a young geoscientist, I spent a year working as an exploration geologist in the Kalahari, a landscape as beautiful as it is fragile. That environment taught me more than textbooks ever could: science exists within a social world, and resource decisions carry real human consequences. I learned that good engagement isn’t a “nice idea”; it’s the difference between solutions that last and solutions that fail.

After moving to Ireland, I faced a new challenge: decarbonisation! Different place, different history, same truth - policies only work when people understand them, feel heard, and trust the process. This principle guided my work across academia, government, and NGOs, contributing to national strategies and research programmes, engaging directly with members of the Irish Parliament, and publishing extensively on sustainability, mineral resources, and energy policy.

My professional journey spans field studies, structural geology, geochemical analysis, 3D resource evaluation, and advanced exploration tools. Early in my career, I engaged closely with rural communities, learning to listen before speaking and to understand local pressures when global industries enter local lives. Over time, my work expanded beyond traditional geoscience into renewable energy, sustainability, and large-scale project and programme management, where I led interdisciplinary teams, coordinated complex research initiatives, and contributed to evidence-based policy development. These experiences laid the foundation for my career as a professional geoscientist who bridges science, policy, engagement, and strategic programme delivery.

Through workshops, lectures, school visits, and public presentations, I’ve worked to make complex science not just understandable, but meaningful. All of these experiences have shaped the way I work today. I help audiences navigate the human dimensions of science, sustainability, and decision-making. My approach is grounded in rigour, empathy, and an understanding that impact is only real when people are truly part of the process.