Personal Biography

I was born in Perth, Western Australia in June 1986 in a family of 6. I was brought up to respect among other things, trust and honesty. This would have something to do with my interest in reporting corruption and whatnot.

Originally planning to become a computer technician, I found myself landing a spot at Edith Cowan University for a Bachelor of Communications. It was there that I found my love for journalism.

Studying two majors, the other being 'Film and Television', I began to learn not only how the trades work, but also how they work together in the media today. I still find the media a fascinating collaboration of skills and tricks of the trade.

During study, I would use my spare time to write for local publications, pitching where I could to test my newly learnt skills. A journalist, I soon learned, never sits still.

I was also shortlisted in the top 8 of students state-wide in the Journalism Ethics essay in 2004, which competed with journalists within Western Australia. With that boost of confidence, I wanted to head straight into the profession.

A few articles written for the university's online publication rewarded me with a semester of work experience at the state newspaper, The West Australian. Thrown into the deep end of journalism, my tasks for the day were simply put: "Get us a story by 3:30."

Since journalists never sit still, I started ringing people on the phone and asking questions. Stepping out of the comfort zone of the student life, I started to work on my own writing style, along with a few hints from the paper's editor.

I knew this career was for me once my first story hit page 3. The buzz of knowing the next day would have thousands of people reading was a real thrill. Sporting nine stories within a 15 day placement, I was offered a job as a Picture Clerk within the paper.

Not a very enthralling job for a wanna-be writer I soon learned. But this allowed first-rate access to the newest news stories, along with its pictures that I had to edit. Those photos would have to be the final poke for me to become involved with the media. The amount of events that happened on a daily basis was immense, and I was hooked.

I graduated from Edith Cowan University as a 'Bachelor of Communications', majoring in journalism and film, after which I began to freelance for a few publications.

After a couple of publications took my work, I decided to go travelling, as it was something I felt like all people had to do. I went around the world, seeing North America and Europe, and found myself amazed at the cultural diversity, and how overwhelming it could be for someone unprepared. I started writing everything I found interesting, and soon had almost 250 pages. This got me thinking.

"A journalist never sits still," I was always told. Well, neither does a travel writer, and six months after I returned to Perth, I was off again. Another six months, this pattern seemed to not stop, and with good reason.

There are two types of people, I've realised. There are those who want to spend every moment of their lives going anywhere and everywhere, and those who are happy to just read the first's stories. I just hope I'm not seen as too much of a lunatic, otherwise no one'd listen.

Experience

Publications written for:
Time Out Singapore
Fah Thai magazine
Eight magazine
Matador Travel
The West Australian
Official PlayStation Magazine Australia
Gameplayer.com.au
Safety First newsletter
Hotmag
Vibewire
Metior
Production companies worked for:
VJIAM.com
VancouverIAM.com
Launch Productions
Channel 9 Studios Perth
Radio stations worked for:
990 6RPH Information Radio

Education

Successful completion of a 'Bachelor of Communications' at Edith Cowan University. Majoring in 'Journalism' and 'Film and Video'.