Work History

I love change, variety and new challenges. Although I have mostly worked as an English teacher, I have had many other types of jobs, all of which have helped to shape me into the kind of teacher I am today.

 Department of Conservation

I've just completed two seasons working as a Hut Ranger for DOC Fiordland. 


October 2019 - May 2020: DOC Hut Ranger  

My second season was at Luxmore Hut on the Kepler Track.

October 2018 - May 2019: DOC Hut Ranger 


 My first season was at Iris Burn Hut on the Kepler Track. 

 Teaching English as a second language

I have extensive experience teaching English as a second language, with over 12 years working at a successful English school in Nelson (New Zealand) as well as shorter periods teaching in other locations. I have taught English to children, teenagers and adults. 

August - October 2019: English Teacher, Nelson English Centre, a language school for adults.

 2017 -  2018: English Teacher, Nelson English Centre, a language school for adults.

I have also been involved in some marketing projects for the school. I was responsible for the written content and some of the photography for the school’s new large-format brochure (to be taken to international education fairs). I am part of a small team developing an online video resource for Cambridge Exam classes.

2015: English Teacher, Lorosa’e English Language Institute in Dili, Timor-Leste. A great language school in an interesting and challenging location. I left the door wide open to return for future short contracts. (5 months)

July to September 2013: Private English tutoring

Istanbul, Turkey.

2012/13: Programme Developer for a new ESL programme at NorthTec in Whangarei

As well as the short programme development contract, I had a stint of ESL teaching during this time. I also seemed to spend a lot of time proofreading and editing for management!

2009 to 2011: English Teacher, Nelson English Centre (a language school for adults)

I worked part-time, while studying full-time for my BA degree.  


2008: English Teacher in a private school in Seoul, Korea. 

I taught both primary and high school students. (7 months)


2008: English Teacher in a residential holiday school in Cornwall, England

 I taught Korean children aged 8 - 14. (2 months)

2007: English Teacher and activities leader at Village Camps, Switzerland


 I taught English to young international students at a residential language and outdoor activities camp in the French Swiss alps. (4 months)

2007: English Teacher at Inlingua, in Brescia, Italy

I taught mainly business English to adults, in-company. (3 months) 


1997-2007: English Teacher, Nelson English Centre, New Zealand

I taught full-time at Nelson English Centre. For 5 of these years I also co-ordinated the activities programme and guided groups of international students on weekend trips to places in the  South Island such as Kaikoura, the West Coast and Golden Bay.D


1995 to 1997: English Teacher, Greymouth High School, New Zealand


I taught English as a Second Language to Japanese and Thai students. I also did some relief teaching - mainly English and Drama. In addition, for a couple of months I shared the supervisor position for a boy who was only permitted to attend school with one-on-one supervision due to his history of high risk behavioural problems.


1995: Completed a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults (CTEFLA) in Christchurch, NZ.

 Primary school tutor
2014/15: Tutor on Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia


I was a correspondence school tutor for 3 children, aged 5, 8 and 11 for the whole of the 2014 school year. They were also enrolled in Carnarvon School of the Air for short daily on-line lessons. Unfortunately the family lost their funding for remote education at the start of 2015, so I returned just for the first term (Feb to April) to give us all time to work out a Plan B. For me, this was a job in paradise!





1994 to 1995: Teacher aide and relief teacher, Blackball Primary School 


I  worked as a teacher aide at Blackball Primary School on the West Coast. Also did some Principal’s Release teaching, with an emphasis on English and Drama.

 1980: Tutor on outback cattle station

 Correspondence school tutor to 3 children (aged 7,10 and 14) on an outback cattle station in SW Queensland, Australia (1 year)

Trip leader


2009 - 2012: Small group travel leader, Pacific Discovery

Pacific Discovery is a Nelson-based tour company which focuses on environmental and culture awareness and incorporates voluntary work in all their itineraries.

I led various trips with New Zealand secondary school students and American university students in Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia. 


2000-2005: Activity Programme Leader, Nelson English Centre, New Zealand.


I coordinated the Nelson English Centre activities programme. In summer there are between 150 - 180 students enrolled in the school, and many of them choose to take part in weekend activities. I led the majority of weekend and day trips myself, but also supervised other staff who were involved in the activity programme from time to time. 

Writing and photography
2017/18: Writing, photography and video projects for the marketing team of Nelson English Centre


I was responsible for the written content and some of the photography for the school’s new large-format brochure (to be taken to international education fairs). I am currently part of a small team developing an online video resource for Cambridge Exam classes.


2006: Newspaper Reporter and Photographer for the Waimea Weekly (a community newspaper in the Nelson region, New Zealand). 


I was responsible for all the writing and photography in the newspaper, with the exception of advertisements. The newspaper dealt with only local news, achievements and stories of interest.

Other jobs - mostly while travelling
  • Rations and Kitchen Manager for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) August 2015 to February 2017, NZ and Alaska bases.
  • Manager of Alpine Guides cafe, Fox Glacier, West Coast, New Zealand  (1year)
  • Cook in an international residential 6th form college in England
  • Assistant instructor in an outdoor education centre in Wales
  • Waitress/cook in a mountain guesthouse in the Swiss Alps for 2 summers
  • Waitress in a restaurant in Arthurs Pass, New Zealand
  • Cook on a ski field near Arthurs Pass, New Zealand
  • Deckhand and cook on a diving boat based in Cairns, Australia

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