Work Bio
PROFESSIONAL INFO
Being a writer who creates different voices for business communications, websites and collateral, be it a real estate agency, government agency, engineering company or not-for-profit, is a bit like being an actor who understands tone, pitch and clarity. Having written for a wide variety of audiences, I have worked with everything from highly technical material to product information copy for advertorial newspaper supplements.
As a newspaper and magazine journalist, I’ve tackled almost every topic - from architecture, design and property, to ballet dancers, sporting heroes, and health and lifestyle activities. I’ve authored six non-fiction books, and my seriously humorous blog (now defunct) on wellbeing attracted a global following.
"Writing is its own reward"
Henry Miller
WORK EXPERIENCE
2011-Present
Author, journalist, marketing consulting, copy-writing,
screenwriting
I immigrated to the US, specifically Kauai, Hawaii, in 2011 and returned Jan, 2017.
-
Retail Pharmacy Magazine – Feature writer
-
Dept of Education and Training (DET) - Reviewing awards applications, writing biographies of nominees, write scripts for videos and podcasts
-
CK Architecture - Wrote stories for magazines including Architecture Australia, for the company
-
Column for Rotary clubs, Progress Leader papers, fortnightly
-
Wrote a screenplay (action thriller based on real events) and two comedy series.
-
Conducted writing workshops
-
Author - book on Australian comedians
-
Ghost writer - Memoir. Published by Wild Dingo Press 2019
-
Alannah Waterman Communications Consultant - Copywriting and press releases
-
Life Coach, Brigitte Esswein; Created a brand for a life coach, and using the WIX platform, I designed the website, sourced images, wrote the copy and promoted her work across social networks https://www.clarityworks1.com/
-
Medical Doctors; Provided strategic and branding advice to 2 doctors in Kauai who were starting up new clinics across America utilising revolutionary restorative process for healing ruptured ligaments and tendons
-
Comedian Jack Levi; Creating marketing strategy for renowned Australian comedian Jack Levi (aka Elliot Goblet); includes assessing and rewriting website content
-
Fletchers Real Estate - Writing real estate copy for advertising materials
-
Gary Peer & Associates, Real Estate - Writing real estate copy for advertising materials
-
Belly Bands – (Compression wear) - Wrote marketing materials including blogs, brochures, product information leaflets and rewrote website copy
-
CK Architecture – Writing magazine articles, including Architecture Australia, and press releases
1997-2011
Newspaper and magazine features and newspaper column, blog, authored books
The Age newspaper;
-
-
Feature stories on areas including health, trends in architecture, property, real estate, renovation, home safety, retirement homes, building materials, conservation architecture, landscaping, gardens, exhibitions, artisans, artists, health, lifestyle, profiles. Worked across various sections including Education Age and Today/Culture sections, Weekend Magazine
-
Domain section; Wrote highly successful column for three years titled, Urban Edge, then changed to My Home
-
Production of special supplements including Father’s/Mother’s Day, Valentines, Christmas, Luxury Essentials. This required sourcing great products to feature plus photos and writing copy
-
The Herald Sun newspaper; Features and renovation column for Saturday Real Estate section
Magazines;
-
Vital Magazine, Jewish News, Your Life Your Retirement, Italy Down Under, Arts + Medicine, Conscious Living, Om Times; Feature stories
Kidsafe Victoria; I was on the editorial committee as well as being a feature writer for Kidsafe Magazine
Executive Media; Wrote stories for various industry publications, for instance, I wrote a story on Australia’s infrastructure issues featuring the views of Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese
Published books;
-
The Natural Health Directory, Hill of Content Publishing, 2001
-
Deep Vein Thrombosis - The condition you don’t have to have, published by Pennon Publishing, 2002. Co-author, natural therapist Monica Jane Shalit
-
Maxine Stripped Naked, Tales from the sex industry, Pennon Publishing, 2004 (Biography)
-
Managing Aches and Pains – a comprehensive guide to prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal problems, B Jain Publishers, 2011, Co-author, Dr Patrick Mudge
-
Defeat Insomnia, B Jain Publishers, 2012 Published, 2011, Co-author, Monica Jane Shalit
Blog
-
whatshealthy.com.au, blog - 2010 – 2017 USA and Melbourne
My blog, www.whatshealthy.com.au is no longer active but it was a seriously humorous approach to what’s good for you. Although designed to elicit laughter, the material was thought-provoking and inspirational with the view to showing people what it takes to be healthy. My philosophy as a health writer and advocate is, how can you make the best decisions when you don’t know about all the available options?
2004-2011
Marketing, communications, copywriting
Sinclair Knight Merz, Marketing Manager, South East Australia Region - 2007 - 2011
In this role, I oversaw the marketing and publishing needs for Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Canberra, including:
-
Providing strategic advice to internal clients about their marketing needs for both internal and external communications
-
Corporate writing including thought leadership stories, press releases, brochures, press releases, award submissions, stories for newsletters and bulletins (This often involved turning engineering speak into lay material)
-
Production of corporate videos
-
Briefing and art direction for graphic designers
-
Producing videos for internal and external use
South East Water, Marketing and Communications Advisor - 2005 – 2007, Melbourne
-
Responsible for managing communications and marketing for Sustainable Water Solutions group specialising in the recycled water area
-
Created and wrote communication strategies for delivery of recycled water for use in residential estates in Victoria
-
Development of branded brochure and fact sheet suites for housing estates and agriculture and horticulture, regarding the use of recycled water
-
Developed risk management strategies, which were vital for a product with this level of sensitivity
-
Involved in development of a recycled water tanker service to industrial and agricultural customers
-
Created strategies and marketing plan for education of plumbing, building and design industries for the installation of recycled water infrastructure for dual reticulation. Included production of instructional DVD. I received a company award for this initiative
Australian Tax Office, Communications Consultant, GST – 2005, Melbourne
-
Editing and writing for internal and external publications including newsletters, trade magazines and media releases. Editing taxation materials such as brochures and fact sheets. This involved turning complex legal and taxation information into readable literature
-
Assisting with the preparation and development of internal communication strategies
-
Working with taxation teams on communications with external clients
Asthma Foundations of Australia, P/T Communications - 2004 – 2005, Melbourne
-
Produced and published magazine, Asthma Update. This involved liaising with the board, consisting of medical experts, and Asthma Foundations in each state.
-
Wrote and produced national suite of brochures
-
Managed development of new arm to the web site called Asthma Friendly Schools.
-
Assisted Media Liaison Officer with publicity campaigns
-
Wrote and produced the annual report
Archicentre, Consultant Marketing and Communications Advisor - 1999 – 2004, Melbourne
-
Research: I researched and wrote reports for 3 major issues in the building industry; National Town Planning Survey, Regulation of the Housing Construction Sector and Related Issues Report, and A National Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Reference Guide
-
Media liaison for housing faults and inspection issues
-
Created promotional material for various products and services
-
Event production – Designed and created the Smart Home Design Seminar at Malthouse Theatre. This included booking and briefing speakers and celebrity MC, publicity, coordinating set up, devising questions for panel Q&A
-
Report writing including national survey of architects on town planning process, and national survey of housing faults (data collection, collation, analysis, interviews, writing government and media report)
-
Production and editing of technical training manuals
QUALIFICATIONS
B Ed - Rusden SCV
Dip Professional Writing and Editing - Holmesglen College
ORGANISATIONS
Ex member, Rotary
Ex board member, Zonta
Ex board member, Australian Institute of Comedy
Ex member Kidsafe Victoria