I have spent more than thirty years immersed in the world of communications - first as a practitioner, then as a consultant - helping organisations craft messages that resonate. Today, I bring that experience to my work with u3a, a charity dedicated to helping older people continue to learn and have fun through member-led groups. I also help curate our local newsletter, weaving together the voices and stories of our community.
In 2016, everything shifted. A trip to Edinburgh opened my eyes to the transformative power of storytelling. What had once been marketing campaigns and press releases suddenly expanded into something far richer: the art of narrative in all its forms. I began experimenting with written and spoken word, fiction and memoir, personal tales, and business narratives - discovering that storytelling is both endlessly adaptable and deeply human.
For me, storytelling isn’t just an art - it’s a way of seeing, of connecting, of making meaning. And the journey, I’m delighted to say, is still unfolding.
That journey led me to the MA, Storytelling at Loughborough. Unlike any course I’d found before, it gave me the chance to blend theory and practice: to experiment with performance, design, and multimedia, while also engaging in deep philosophical debate. The collaborative spirit of the program meant that every project became both a creative challenge and an intellectual adventure. My dissertation reconnected me with business storytelling, exploring how stories serve as vital sense-making tools in every part of life.
Now, I’ve come full circle - back to Edinburgh, the city where this chapter began. Here, in the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, I continue to deepen my craft, exploring new ways of writing and performing, and hope to start a Narrative Futures course at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. I remain connected to Loughborough as an Alumni and am excited to join the new reading group, keeping that spirit of collaboration alive.