I share my time between media, copywriting and work in the academic sector. My research training gives journalism work an edge. Writing for a general audience keeps academic thinking relevant and fresh. Please get in touch about future projects that draw upon the skills you see here too.
Portfolio
Working as a media professional requires multiple skill sets. These include writing, research, content strategy, photography, web editing, sub-editing, social media and project management.
Each new project brings together unique perspectives on people, places and experiences. Done well, a collection of stories develops that generate insights, appreciation and inspiration in others.
From The Blog
Lighthouse interview: challenges for athletes at an Olympics with no spectators (and five billion other Covid-related factors)
Athletes who succeed at the top levels go through an ongoing process of dealing with change, challenge and fluctuation.
Embodied intelligence in skilled performance. New journal article published in the Review of Philosophy and Psychology
Successful performance involves working with anxiety and bodily variability, not against it.
On learning from experts’ embodied experience, in the situations where they thrive. New book chapter with John Sutton.
We can learn so much from people who are really good at what they do. So how do we do this? And why does it matter?
Watch: 7 years of research on embodied cognition and vulnerability in skilled performance. One friendly seminar.
My recent talk, ‘Staying alert to risk and bodily vulnerability in performance and training: a cognitive ethnography study’ is available via YouTube. How exciting!
Lighthouse Interview: the mental side of high-performance sport
This story was published on Macquarie University’s Lighthouse Website as part of Brain Awareness week and reflects the kinds of questions we ask, and research we get excited by, in the Cognitive Ecologies Lab in the University’s Department of Cognitive Science.
SBS News interview: women in high risk sports
“Parkour is not as dangerous as it looks from the outside. Part of it is looking at a challenge and breaking down the risk, and then building up the skills to mitigate those risks.”
A brief reflection on love, loveliness, and the first year of grief
Grief is so different for everyone, which is as much to do with the person they are, as the person they lost, and the circumstances that surround that loss.
A beautiful obituary for my mum, Anne Bicknell
I always described Anne to other people as like winning the mum jackpot. She had so many skills, passions and interests, and had such a warm, excited and encouraging way of bringing these out in others.
Trail therapy
There’s nothing quite like a day out on the trails for shaking out one lot of feelings and replacing them with others.
Long Term Review: Bontrager Ajna Pro Carbon Saddle
A saddle to try if you’re struggling with the narrow sweet spot on others.
What can mountain biking teach philosophers and psychologists about action and perception?
The answer: as many things as there are trails, bike designs and ways to enjoy them!
Published: Affordances and the Anticipatory Control of Action
My partner always laughs at academic work in the humanities due to the large number of made up words…
Associate Member of the Centre for Elite Performance, Expertise and Training
The Centre for Elite Performance, Expertise and Training (CEPET) brings together the collective wisdom, research and interdisciplinary enthusiasm of outstanding researchers at Macquarie University.
Do I need a women’s specific bike?
Or perhaps the better question: what are the most important considerations when it comes to person-specific bike fit, regardless of gender?
Media, cognitive science and career advice for students
How do the skills you’re exploring now relate to the things you might do in the future?
Humbled to be named as one of Ride Guide’s Top 50 influential people and events in mountain biking
But most of all, thank you to Ride Guide for considering the writers. No one ever thinks of the writers!
Reviewed: Specialized Women’s S-Works Epic
The Specialized Epic is one of the world’s most lusted-over cross-country (XC) mountain bikes.
Published: Technology, Equipment and the Mountain Biker’s Taskscape
What do we mean when we talk about the connection between bike, body and trail? How do small changes in bike set up change the way you move?
Yes Day: Tropical North Queensland
Imagine if you said ‘Yes’ to every surreal opportunity that came your way for a day. What would you do? And where would you base yourself to do it?
Reviewed: Trek Remedy 9.8 for Australian Mountain Bike
The Trek Remedy offers riders so many of the best things about mountain biking right now.
Like a Local: Tropical North Queensland
A film about riding and not-riding with Tokyo Swim Team. We’re particularly proud of this one.
Trek Bikes inaugural Women’s Summit, Wisconsin
Three things I love: being invited to learn new and exciting things, somewhere far away, surrounded by interesting people.
Read it or grieve it. Why media on women in sport needs your support.
Every time you engage with an article, you’re casting a small but important vote.
What questions would you ask an Olympian?
Three Olympians. Three cyclists. Three Canberrans. Three very different athletes.
