I’m looking to tell a good story, and put my creative, visual and communication skills to work. My toolkit is diverse, packed along the way with such skills as photography, writing, project management, documentary making, creative facilitation, event management, development education,  teaching and exhibition curation. They all come wrapped up with a broad knowledge of international development issues and social innovation. I’ll travel too, camera and documentary tools in tow, and I’m happy to speak publically about the experiences- on radio, TV, at conferences, in schools, in universities.
I’ve worked around the globe, from Tonga to China, from Kenya to Dublin: the world is my home, and while Ireland will always have a place deep in my soul, the flexible streak in me allows me to adapt and learn quickly. Being chatty with strangers means I can create networks and make friends just about anywhere.
So, if you know of an opportunity, in Ireland or elsewhere, which you think may tickle my interests and broadly match my profile, please do send it along. I’ll in turn, provide a more detailed CV, a pat on the back and a twinkle in my eye, as together we weave a better world.

The Official Hats:

Writer: One Wild Life went International
Photographer: Particular focus of documenting the work of NGOs and social innovations. Portfolio is here.
Social Entrepreneur: Got an award from this crowd
Programme Manager: I’ve worked a lot with Suas over the years, including Volunteer Programme Manger for three years.
Development Educator: I’ve worked with Irish Aid, and as a freelance facilitator
‘A Creative”: I’ve been called this quite a lot. I love ideas and a knack for looking a things in new ways.

A few curious facts you may not know:

-    I’m published in China, I wrote an English language text book while working as a lecturer at Peking University.
-    I love reading. Bedside reading often includes recipe and children’s books. (I’d like to work on both of those in the future)
-    I got scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge. Oxford won, and what a privilige it was.
-    I have a thing for journals and have been keeping once since I was 11. Blank pages work best for me.
-    There is a novel I wrote sitting in a drawer. I am glad it has stayed there. Sometimes you just need to write.

Things I love:
Yoga, books, photography, documentary, seeing someone alive with passion, travel, Philip Glass, cooking, puppets, BBC World Service, coffee, big ideas, squash, Dave Eggers, raspberries, TED, baking with my niece, taking pictures while baking with my niece, people watching, Jeanette Winterson, dogs, ‘The Hours’, swimming (in Vava’u), hearing the click of a camera shutter, the sea… and the list goes on with each day and each insight.

We took ourselves to the rocks last week, Mari Kennedy and I, photo session and laughs in hand. The sun came out to accompany us, as fisherman swarmed in on the mackerel shoals below, and the view of Dalkey Island stood supremely beautiful beyond us.

The portrait session was a result of a little reciprocal spree Mari and I have been going on over the last few months. Mari is a coach, yoga teacher and project guide. Spirited, dynamic and wise she has a way of asking questions which gently guide and shape ideas into action and a manner which brings a level of clarity to even fuzzy thoughts. What’s more, her yoga practice helps to keep it all grounded in an graceful reality, underpinned with an understanding of flow and balanced pace. Mari has been helping me, offering her coaching skills from a place of belief in potential. It has been a beautiful thing.

So, in return for her remarkable generosity, I offered her a photo shoot- some of the results can be seen below. It is good to be operating in the spirit of barter and reciprocity. You give and get and get and give, and as the spiral does its whirl, you grow.

I’m so happy to have met her, and am delighted to be able to recommend her…

Information on Mari’s coaching services can her found here, at TransformationalSpace

She teaches Yoga in Oscailt, more information about which can be found here

‘There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats’- Kenneth Grahame.

A few weeks back to took a visit back home to the Shannon, and came across some old family friends on the river. The spirit of community and generosity among boaters always warms and amazes me. If you are ever in need of a healthy dose of both escapism and friendly banter, I do recommend a trip.

Sometimes I think things are so much more interesting when turned upside down- new perspectives and outcomes occur, new options emerge.
When turned upside down this image sparked a whole new set of stories for me. I saw animals, children’s books, and a whole host of animated characters.

I love the way imagery can do that! How you can spin an image in another way, and get a whole new angle on a situation. Seeing problems through a different lens can equally help to focus the eye on an alternative solution or direction. So, when things seem a little upside down at times, try turning it another way, and see what story emerges!

Portrait session slots are available in August for anyone interested! They make a lovely birthday or anniversary gift idea.

And thinking of portraits, this is one of my all time favourites. I took it on the same day as the photo shoot mentioned below. Her name is Afsana Khatum, and lives on the outskirts of Kolkata, India.

To me she is the essence of beauty and elegance.

I had a little wander down memory’s path this week, when Suas posted a link to an audio slideshow with images and sound from my last trip to Kolkata, India. One morning last August I followed the lovely Hasif Seikh from his home in Guitary Sharif along the railway line to his school, documenting the sights and sounds he hears along the way. The school is run by one of Suas’ partner organisations, Sabju Sangha. Hasif is just one of the 12,000 children Suas helped to send to school last year.

Hasif was not feeling the best that day (I learned after the event!), but he was so gracious and polite. His mother, Halima, was also beautiful and eager to share some of her own story. You can view the show here:

http://vimeo.com/13514783

And you can view some more images from that trip here

(Slideshow edited in collaboration with Sam Whelan-Curtin)

Thanks Suas for the reminding me of the experience.

In particular, Hospice Uganda has been a pioneer in affordable patient treatment and pain relief. They have developed an innovative morphine production and treatment system: using recycled water bottles, food colouring, and low cost production methods, they can now produce the licenced morphine for the price of a loaf of bread. As a result, thousands more can access pain relief, especially in HIV and cancer treatment.

Dr. Anne includes some song lyrics in her final chapter of her book which seems to capture the beautiful philospohy behind Hospice:

‘When my life is finally measured in month, weeks, days, hours
I want to live free of pain, free of indignity, free of loneliness

Give me your hand, give me your understanding,
Give me your love
And let me go peacefully
And help my family to understand,
To understand.

‘The Audacity to Hope’ promises to be an enlightening read. It is available for purchase in Eason,
and you can read more about the book launch here, via the Irish Hospice Foundation.
I am also happy to say that one of my images has been used in the book, and am pleased that Dr. Anne found it useful.

More about Hospice here, including a link to a short video (with more images).. and a bit more insight into the fantastic story behind Hospice:

Below are  a few pictures from my return visit to Uganda in 2008, where I spent a few days with Hospice, documenting their work.

To Clare, stories are what make us. Seeing them as a tool to bring people together, irrespective of nationality or background, she hosts an open mic story night, where people can come to share their tales. 50+ participants packed into the cosy Blue Teapot theatre on Tuesday, to listen, learn and laugh. (There was plenty of laughter).

‘Stories can make a difference in the world in so many ways’, said Clare, ‘Stories build community. It is a communal experience, of experiencing emotion together. It bonds people’.

A master in the art herself, Clare uses her talent to bring diverse groups together. She has worked with marginalised groups, asylum seekers and refugees, the elderly, teenagers, children of all ages. She runs workshops and training programmes, and tours internationally with her craft. Clare indeed is a believer in the art of story.

With a bounce in her step, and a glint in her eye, she tells me, ‘Storytelling awakens wonder and wonder keeps us young’.

She is not the only one who left the evening with renewed bounce and a few more stories to tell. I think I may be a convert too!
*Storytelling night in Galway takes place the first Tuesday of every month at the Blue Teapot Theatre, Munster Avenue. A donation of €3 Euro is requested. Refreshments provided.

*Clare’s website is currently underdevelopment, but I’ll post an update once it is live.

* I took some portraits of Clare for her publicity material while I was passing through Galway, and also continued the ‘One Wild Life Series’. It was fun to be shooting in front of the backdrop to ‘A Mid-summers’ Night’s Dream’, currently in production in the Theatre. Thanks to Clare for being such a gracious host.

Gisela is off on a new adventure this week,  across America and Canada to volunteer at a host of new festivals and film her travels en route. She is a documentary maker in the making, and I’m looking forward to tracking her progress. Good luck Ms. Festival Hunter.

Gisela also has one of the best t-shirts ever!

Check out http://www.volunteeringireland.com/ for more information on volunteering opportunities in Ireland.

A few of the wonderful faces at the Festival of World Culture this weekend in Dun Laoighre, Dublin. FAB!!