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My Life - Well, some of it
The best
thing about my life is that I have been lucky enough to pick and choose
my work so that I can take on interesting challenges. I may not be rich
but I have a great family, I have lived in different parts of the world
and I have had a range of very interesting jobs.
Some of the
most interesting include
- Doing
all the research to support the Australian Senate inquiry into 'Drugs
in Sport' - a lot of this experience has contributed to Light in
Dark Corners
- Playing
a major role in setting up the Middle East Broadcasting Centre in London
- an Arabic satellite television station that brought together Arabic
journalists and presenters with British journalists and technicians.
Some of this you will be able to read about in Drop the Dead Camel.
- Fighting
to introduce Random Breath Testing in New South Wales (Australia's most
populous state) in the face of stringent political opposition and the
doubts of my fellow researchers - leading to a 23% decrease in road
deaths every year since - I reckon this is the best thing I have ever
done!
- Developing
and making high budget road safety films for young drivers, large-scale
media campaigns and funding research in my 'pet' area of driver fatigue
- not only were lives saved, but I got to follow the making of films
through from scripts to distribution - I can't wait to do more in this
area (I wish).
- Representing
the interests of the poor and disavantaged in the Canberra community
as the Director of Social Justice for our local government - I think
I learned a lot about the contemporary issues in our society, but didn't
really contribute much I'm afraid, other than making sure that electricity
wasn't cut off from poor people just because they couldn't afford to
pay their bills.
- Working
really closely with people in organisations as a HR Director in the
IT industry for Japanese, American, Eurpoean and Australian companies
- I have come to the conclusion that all organisations are dysfunctional
- it is only a matter of degree - and that someone has to help people
survive the experience.
- Helping
the Australian Public Service, the Defence Department and the police
to identify what it takes to be an effective leader and how to develop
those skills and qualities in talented people. This has helped me to
see the big picture about why governments do what they do and how this
translates into action.
- Running
workshops and conferences in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and India
- what fanatastically interesting people - I learn more every time I
visit!
- Starting
my own company and builiding it up to employ a team of people and win
multi-million dollar contracts - nothing beats that phone call telling
you that you have won a large contract, except bringing the team together
and telling them.
Current
Life
I
am a struggling author and successful consultant. I work in Canberra,
mostly for the Australian Government. In between solving problems in people
management and working in organisations, I try to make time each day to
write.
I don't work
at home at all - I go to the office in another suburb so that I can concentrate
completely when writing. Between the cat and my daughter at home, it is
hard to maintain concentration.
I take every
opportunity to travel - I watch and learn from everyone I meet and every
city or country I explore. Any excuse, anytime, anywhere ...
Early
Life
Although
I was born in Sydney and love it dearly, I was brought up in Canberra
through school and university. This provided me with a great education
and a life-long love of sport. Unfortunately for an author, I had quite
a happy childhood - no major trauma or angst to draw on in my writing.
But Canberra is Australia's national capital and the home of the Federal
Government - politics and international affairs are the life blood of
the place and some of that blood flows in my veins.
I have moved
away from Canberra many times - mostly to Sydney or London - but I always
seem to end up back in Canberra for family reasons. My parents still live
here and it is one of the greatest places for children to grow up.
Other
Interests
I
have played and coached squash at a professional level, managed squash
courts and coached State representative teams. Although I still play at
a high level and sometimes against people in my own age group, I'm not
very good - I move like a wet sponge; but I love it.
My other
sporting passion is supporting the Brumbies - our regional rugby union
football team and one of the dominant teams in the Southern Hemisphere.
I used to be a season ticket holder from the time they were known as the
Kookaburras, but recently moved to arranging tickets in the last few days
to accommodate the widely varying group of friends who get together for
each game. After match drinks in the bar - that's my tribe!
As you might
guess I read books avidly and watch all the films and DVDs I can. And
when it is quiet in the my office building, I pull out my fender copy,
plug it into the amp and pretend I have some musical talent - loudly and
somewhere near the note.
And
the Extreme ...
I
don't fire guns, bungee jump or base jump off tall buildings. I don't
wander around the outback suffering from dehydration and disorientation,
or catching crocodiles or snakes with my bare hands. I don't have a jet
pilot's licence or climb snow capped peaks. (My wife and family won't
let me!)
I have always
ridden motor bikes and love high performance cars - although reading every
fatal traffic accident in the State each morning in my twenties means
that I am still pretty responsible in this area.
No, the real
risks I take are -
- The temptations
of great restaurants, fine wines and beautiful, interesting women -
one of those three will be the death of me I'm sure.
- Being
a metrosexual* in Australia - always at risk of being punched out by
some ignorant pig who feels threatened by conversation and a cutting
sense of humour. (*metrosexual - a man attracted to French women on
the underground)
- Writing
my thoughts and stories down for others to read, think about and make
comments. If you don't think that is a risk, try it some time and find
out!
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