About Me
People are sometimes confused by what I do. As a multi-passionate, and founder of multiple organisations and projects, it might seem that I lack focus. But there’s a red thread that connects everything. My desire for everyone to live into the best version of themselves and fulfil their true potential.
For me that happens in MUSIC - as a singer, workshop leader and performing artist.
In THERAPY and COACHING - as a trauma specialist, mentor and High Performance Coach.
In PROJECTS and PARTNERSHIPS - with individuals, teams and communities across the world.
And sharing my knowledge and skills through TRAINING artists, activists and ChangeMakers to make a difference wherever they are.
In everything I do my main Purpose is to create the best conditions for transformation to occur and without too much imposition, to support the emergence of whatever comes.
Singer
Singing is my first love. According to my parents I started singing non stop when I was about three years old and I've hardly stopped since then. For 13 years I was a professional opera singer, performing for companies like the ROH, ENO, the Young Vic and Teatro Communale di Bologna. During the course of my career I played everything from a Count to a dog to the dirtiest man in Damascus.
Since leaving my full time opera career I've been exploring lots of different repertoire and I now sing all kinds of music in many different settings. In 2023 I co-founded the One World Orchestra, an inter-cultural ensemble of 18 musicians from all over the world and together we're exploring our musical heritages to make a new sound for 21st century Britain
Working as a singer has made me flexible, taught me to be a team player and trained me in the mastery of split level focus. It also taught me that it often takes the different skills of many people working together to create something meaningful.
Come and see me in concert at a venue near you soon.
Photographer: Corrina McDermott
Photographer: Ed Holland
Trainer
Much of my work is focused on empowering, supporting and training other ChangeMakers. I have been designing and running training programmes for over a decade - from trauma informed arts to self managed learning and in places as diverse as company board rooms, school classrooms and temporary refugee camps.
Through The Human Hive, the CIC I co-founded with Kate McAllister in 2015, I now train ChangeMakers around the world to set up and run their own regenerative projects and support all kinds of organisations to develop better Wellbeing practices to protect the mental health of their teams.
At around the same time I joined the team at Musicians Without Borders and designed the Music and the Nervous System module of their training programme. I now train musicians and other artists all over the world, to build community, regulate trauma and resolve conflict using the arts.
I am currently part of an international team, led by Professor Nigel Osborne, designing and delivering a trauma informed arts programme for Ukrainian universities.
Therapist / Coach / Mentor
I've had a private practice as a therapist, coach and mentor since 2011 and love the deep transformation that takes place when working with someone one on one or in small groups over time.
I’m a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (trauma therapist), a Brainspotter, a Sound Healer and a Certified High Performance Coach. I’m also co-creator with artist Joellen Lily, of Circular Sounds, a transformational process using the power of symbols to expand potential, build teams and unlock human capital.
Whether you wish to heal from past trauma, remove inner blocks preventing you from flourishing, start your own project or take what you're doing to the next level, I'll use all my skills to support you to reach your fullest potential.
My main focus is ChangeMaker Leaders - people working hard to make the world a better place. If that's you and you're looking for support, hit the button to find out more about how to work with me.
Project Leader / Facilitator
Like many creatives, my life revolves around projects - short or long term collaborations with other artists or organisations to create or change something. From converting a double decker bus into a mobile school for asylum seekers, to social entrepreneurship programmes for young people, I've been designing and running large scale projects for more than a decade.
All projects are built from successful relationships. For many years I have collaborated with Tina Ellen Lee, Artistic Director of Opera Circus, on the long running youth leadership programme The Complete Freedom of Truth and in more recent years, with Glyndebourne Opera's Learning and Engagement department, on transformative arts programmes for young people.
I'm an experienced workshop leader and have been running creative workshops since I was a teenager. Since 2015 I've been running music and creative workshops for people experiencing displacement and the communities that serve them, most recently with One World Orchestra. I'm incredibly fortunate to spend many of my working days making music, playing games and hanging out with wonderful people while we create and learn together.