Professional Experience
Freelance journalist and editor, London, United Kingdom ▪ 2011 – present ▪ Freelance newspaper, magazine and online journalist writing for outlets including CNN International, TIME, The Wall Street Journal Europe, The Guardian, The Independent and Monocle. Writer for CNN’s “Inside the Middle East” and digital producer for CNN International’s homepage.
Senior writer, Sunday Star-Times, Auckland, New Zealand ▪ 2007 – 2011 ▪ Writing investigative features, news stories and profiles for a leading national broadsheet and New Zealand’s top news website.
Reporter, Sunday Star-Times, Auckland, New Zealand ▪ 2004 — 2006 ▪ News reporter and feature writer, covering social issues, crime, politics and the arts.
Reporter, The Press, Christchurch, New Zealand▪ 2003 – 2004 ▪ Social issues and local government reporter on the South Island’s major daily newspaper.
Education
Master of Science (in Journalism), Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York City, United States ▪ 2006 – 2007
Graduate Diploma in Journalism (with Distinction), University of Canterbury Graduate School of Journalism, Christchurch, New Zealand ▪ 2003
Bachelor of Arts (English, political science), University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand ▪ 1998 – 2000
Awards
Fulbright Graduate Scholarship; Fulbright Sir Wallace Rowling Memorial Award 2006
Newspaper feature writer of the year, Qantas Media Awards (New Zealand Newspaper Publishers’ Association Awards) 2006
Best crime feature, Qantas Media Awards (New Zealand Newspaper Publishers’ Association Awards) 2010
Shell New Zealand best environment story, Qantas Media Awards (New Zealand Newspaper Publishers’ Association Awards) 2007
Best government, diplomacy and foreign affairs feature, Qantas Media Awards (New Zealand Newspaper Publishers’ Association Awards) 2006
Junior newspaper feature writer of the year, Qantas Media Awards (New Zealand Newspaper Publishers’ Association Awards) 2006
New Zealand Newspaper Publishers’ Association Awards finalist: reporter of the year 2007; feature writer of the year 2010; best investigation 2011; best general feature 2011; best crime story 2010; junior reporter of the year 2005
Rory Peck Trust Middle East Safety Training Bursary, 2012
Other experience
Asia New Zealand Foundation media travel grant to cover Indonesia, reporting from Banda Aceh on the city’s recovery five years on from the Indian Ocean tsunami, and the shooting of a Red Cross worker; from Padang on the humanitarian crisis following the recent Sumatran earthquake; and from Jakarta on the plight of a New Zealander awaiting extradition ▪ Nov 2009
Intern for Chuck Hagel (then a Republican Senator for Nebraska, now the U.S. Secretary of Defense), as recipient of inaugural Fulbright Sir Wallace Rowling Memorial Award. Washington D.C., United States▪ Jul – Aug 2007
Language teacher, Tokyo, Japan ▪ 2001 – 2002
Volunteer development worker, Solomon Islands Development Trust, Honiara, Solomon Islands ▪ Feb – Oct 1997
