About my current job
I am the Co-founder of the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection; Vice chair of Ending Loneliness Together (Australia); and Adjunct Professor of the School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia.
My research examines the assessment, mechanisms, and impact of loneliness on health and wellbeing in the general population, in clinical groups, and in healthcare providers. A major focus of my work for state, national and international organisations tackling loneliness involves translating research into policy, training and practice, to ensure that the best available evidence is accessible, understandable and of benefit to those who need it most.
How did my education influence my career path?
Undergraduate training in Experimental Psychology provided the foundation for my whole career. I went on to complete a Masters in Clinical Psychology and a PhD in Psychology (both at the University of Melbourne in Australia) and have been working as a psychological scientist ever since.
Did you have a favourite tutor/lecturer/prof, and how did they inspire you?
Undoubtedly, lectures by Alan Cowie were a highlight and not to be missed. You always left the lecture room feeling that you had a better grasp on how the visual system worked, but also wanting to know more about the mechanisms involved. Hearing Gordon Claridge lecture on abnormal psychology also sparked my interest in individual differences and mental illness and continued to influence my own research on psychotic symptoms and disorders.
How did friends made during your time at EP influence your life?
I met my husband, David, in EP. We have been happily married ever since, and continue to work together on shared research interests.
