Am I Complicated? Maybe. But Here’s How It All Connects.

People often ask, “What do you actually do?” I laugh when my husband or friends try to explain it—it must seem a bit… well, complicated. Someone even said, “You are complicated.” But to me, it makes perfect sense.

Here’s my attempt to uncomplicate it.

I grew up on a farm. My dad was a farmer, my mum a social worker. Their influence shaped me—I’ve always wanted to help people live healthier, better lives. But I wasn’t drawn to traditional paths like medicine or teaching. Instead, I studied Recreation Management, which led to roles as a youth officer, recreation planner, and senior project manager in regional development.

But bureaucracy wasn’t for me. So, I stepped outside the box, grabbed my sister (Penny Terry), and started a business to help communities in practical, effective ways. We began with community programs—physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation. Soon, people asked how we did what we did: running a for-purpose business, understanding community needs, writing grants, engaging small businesses, and measuring success. So, we started teaching others through training packages.

Over time, we tailored our support. Penny focused on storytelling and influential communication, helping people drive change. I focused on "How do you do what you do?"—helping people design impactful programs.

At first, I worked on community programs (Healthy & Connected Communities™ and Community Project Mastery™). Then boards asked for governance support to better serve their communities. I created governance training (Healthy Governance™), followed by strategic planning (Healthy Planning™) and leadership workshops (Healthy Leadership™)—all grounded in real-world experience.

What I love most is applying these frameworks not only in health and community sectors but also across law, agriculture, education, and more. It keeps me engaged, challenged, and always learning.

While it might seem complex, it’s an example of Complexity Theory in action—adapting to challenges, creating connections, and evolving. When we have the right connections, we have choice, and that choice gives us control over how we support ourselves, our organisations, and our communities.

And that’s what I do: I help people, boards, and organisations navigate complexity to create better lives and stronger communities.

Clear as mud? 😆