My journey to founding Intercultural Connections began fifteen years ago in refugee resettlement and migrant settlement work. Working alongside displaced communities, I witnessed the power of cross-cultural connection firsthand — not as a “nice to have,” but as something that can shape safety, dignity, and the possibility of a future.

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I bring a strong human rights foundation to this work and a passion for interculturalism, with a Master’s in Human Rights and an academic  background in International Studies and Conflict Resolution. Over time, my practice has been shaped not only by study, but by lived experience across countries in peace education environments, youth development, community building, the community arts sector, and corporate and institutional settings.

 

Across these different worlds, I’ve seen a consistent pattern: when people aren’t given the right conditions to engage, diversity becomes a surface concept — and inclusion becomes performative. When the process is designed well, real relationship becomes possible.

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A turning point came eight years ago when I co-founded Ethno New Zealand / Arts Connections Oceania, connecting artists across global communities. In those rooms, creativity wasn’t decoration — it was the practice. Through music, storytelling, and shared making, people could feel difference, listen differently, and meet each other beyond the usual scripts. I began to shape an approach that’s stayed true ever since: human-centred processes that invite full participation and meaningful exchange.

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Intercultural Connections grew from that learning. My work now supports individuals, organisations and communities to move beyond one-off training and into lived practices of inclusion — the everyday ways people communicate, make decisions, share power, and repair when things get hard. I use reflective practice, storytelling, and facilitated kōrero to help groups build trust, name power dynamics with clarity, and have honest conversations without shame or jargon.

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I’m also a lifelong learner. Alongside this work, I’m studying Counselling and Guidance, and as my studies progress I’m expanding my practice into coaching and counselling-informed ways of working — weaving in stronger listening, clearer boundaries, and deeper tools for reflection and growth, while staying grounded in what is appropriate and genuinely useful in each context.

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While I’m often the first point of contact, I work in close collaboration with a diverse network of professionals. Their collective expertise, unique insights, and lived experience deeply strengthen this work. Together, we bridge divides, amplify voices, and support more just and inclusive communities — grounded in understanding, accountability, and collaboration. I’m always keen to work collaboratively, so please get in touch if you’d like to explore working together.

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In today’s increasingly polarised landscape, conversations about identity, belonging, and equity can quickly become charged. I don’t shy away from complexity. I offer steady facilitation and tested approaches that help people stay human with each other — to work with difference, power, and conflict with care, and to find practical pathways forward.