What I Write About

Most of what I write comes from paying attention to how people, systems and decisions behave in the real world. I’m interested in the gap between how things are supposed to work and how they actually do, and in what that gap means for all of us.

A lot of my writing falls into a few broad areas:

People and the systems we live in

How everyday life is shaped by structures we didn’t design, and how people navigate those structures with the tools they have. I look at the pressures, incentives and behaviours that shape decisions – from individuals to organisations to government.

The practical realities of today

I write about the world as it is: the constraints, the complexity, the unintended consequences, and the way things actually work on the ground. My background across local government, charities, business and community work gives me a front‑row view of how decisions ripple through real lives.

How things could work tomorrow

I spend a lot of time thinking about what we could build if we were willing to rethink the assumptions we take for granted. Not in an abstract or idealistic way, but in a practical sense: clearer systems, better structures, more honest approaches to the challenges we face.

Food, Agriculture and the basics of life

Growing up with very little, working on farms, and later studying Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security has shaped how I see the role of food, land and resources in society. I write about how these fundamentals connect to wider social and economic issues, and why they matter more than we often realise.

Change – how it happens, and how it doesn’t

I’m interested in the slow, often invisible processes that shape communities, organisations and systems. I write about what helps change take root, what gets in the way, and how we can move forward without pretending we’re starting from a blank page.

Making sense of the world

I write to understand the patterns and choices that shape the world around us. If you’re drawn to making sense of things rather than accepting easy answers, you’ll likely feel at home here.