Working with language, meaning and change in living systems
I help people working in complex social and environmental contexts to understand how language shapes:
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how we feel
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what we know
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and how we act.
Through workshops, mentoring and strategy work, I support teams to apply these insights, build shared capability and strengthen the language systems that underpin positive change.​
This is tangible action.
This is changing my thinking on communicating with impact.
Environmental Program Manager, NRM Region, Vic.
Working across social, ecological and technological systems, I bring together insights from linguistics, social neuroscience and systems thinking to help people, organisations and agencies engage more thoughtfully and impactfully with the language shaping their change efforts.
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My work spans a wide range of social–ecological and institutional settings, including:
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environmental research and stewardship
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water and catchment management
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community leadership, connection and resilience
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climate adaptation and social–ecological change
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rapidly changing information and communication systems shaped by generative AI.
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In each of these contexts, language plays a central yet under-appreciated role in shaping emotion, cognition and behaviour.
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Intentional shifts in language can change the parameters of thought, reframing complex challenges, shifting perspectives and opening new possibilities for meaningful change.
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Change the conversation
I work with communities, teams and organisations through a range of tailored learning, analysis and strategic support formats, depending on your context and goals.
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These include:
Introductory workshops (90 minutes)
A focused introduction to how language shapes emotion, cognition and behaviour, with practical examples and tools participants can apply immediately.
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Half-day workshops (3 hours)
A deeper exploration of language, values and sensemaking, with hands-on analysis and guided application to participants’ real communication challenges.
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Full-day intensives
An immersive program supporting teams to examine their existing language systems, redesign key messages and build shared capability for ongoing change.
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Language analysis, synthesis and research
In-depth linguistic analysis of reports, policies, strategies and communication materials, drawing on discourse analysis, cognitive linguistics and emerging computational linguistic approaches to surface patterns, values signals and underlying assumptions. This work identifies opportunities for reframing in line with organisational objectives, and can include support with long- and short-form writing, message development and reflective learning.
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Language, AI and change advisoryGuidance on working with large language models as thinking partners for analysis, sensemaking and writing, supporting reflective human judgement, values alignment and ethical communication in complex change contexts.
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Ongoing mentoring and strategic support
Follow-up support and learning processes to help individuals and teams embed insights and sustain change over time.
All programs are designed collaboratively and adapted to suit organisational, domain and community contexts.
