Engineer by training, with an MBA obtained from the UNSW, I started my career as a transport and urban planning consultant and then worked for 14 years as a business strategy and policy advisor with a particular interest in transport, financial services and the arts. I have always been obsessed with how to design urban, business or policy systems that work and encourage successful collaboration.

The happiest times of my life have been spent on my grandparents' garden and agricultural lands in the flood plains of Northern Italy - now completely unsustainable, in the deep forests of Belgium, visiting Iban's villages in the Sarawak Jungle - an endangered miracle, exploring the saline ecosystems of Botany Bay, discovering a shade swale oasis nested inside Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory, learning about natural beekeeping with Tim Malfroy in a North Shore Sydney garden. "How can we design such things in a way that is sustainable and productive?" has been a question that has been with me all my life. I recently received a profound answer to this question, together with another 82 students from around the world, attending the PDC in Melbourne taught by Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton.

My experience is with the design of invisible infrastructure that will support successful permaculture projects, communities, systems and market places. My short-term intention is to extent my practical knowledge to the development of complete permaculture designs in urban and semi-rural environments. I have two dreams: 1) that the Sarawak rain forest will be worth more to the local populations, standing than cut down; 2) that people everywhere will understand the difference between impoverished and wholesome food and act accordingly.

Moving to the South of France

We are moving to Nice towards new Permaculture adventures