The personal journey behind Lovely Messy Humans

I haven’t always lived the life I do now.

At university, I struggled with my mental health. On the outside, things looked fine, but inside I felt lost, disconnected and full of self-doubt. I didn’t know how to express it, let alone understand it. I ended up self-harming, not because I wanted to, but because I couldn’t cope with how I felt. I didn’t have the tools, language or support I needed to make sense of what was happening.

That experience left a deep imprint and a burning desire to understand why we do what we do. Not just for myself, but for all of us.

Academic and professional foundations:

  • I studied Zoology (BSc) and completed a Master’s in Ecology and Environmental Management.

  • For the next 25 years, I worked in corporate sustainability and transparency, helping global brands navigate complex environmental and social issues.

  • I became known for translating complexity into clarity, facilitating honest conversations, and sparking change through communication.

Alongside this work, I was on a quieter mission: understanding the human experience.

A deep dive into what makes us human

I began immersing myself in the worlds of:

  • Neuroscience and trauma

  • Nervous system regulation

  • Human evolution and attachment theory

  • Emotional development, self-compassion and healing

In 2010, I became a parent to my son, followed by my daughter in 2012. Motherhood opened me up even further. Around that time, I began to engage in the transformational work of the Concord Institute for Integral Studies while also exploring therapy and embodiment coaching.

These experiences invited me to meet myself in new ways through awareness and deep – sometimes uncomfortable – truth. It shifted everything.

Lovely Messy Humans was born from that understanding. It’s where I bring together everything I’ve learned – personally and professionally – to help others make sense of their patterns, regulate their emotions, free themselves from their conditioning and reconnect with their power.

In 2024, I became a certified Havening Techniques Practitioner and trained to be a Resilience Coach with the Leadership Wellnexx Group, deepening my ability to support others through evidence-based, compassionate approaches.

Whether I’m working with educators, individuals or business leaders, my mission is the same: to translate the science of being human into tools that actually help. Tools that bring understanding, choice, freedom and growth.

Because when we understand ourselves, we stop fighting who we are. And that’s when life really begins.

How we can work together

  • Each month, I host live sessions exploring the science of being human— how our brains, bodies and conditioning shape us. At the moment, these talks are focused on the neuroscience of self-harm and emotional regulation. More topics will be coming soon!

  • I design and deliver tailored sessions for schools, organisations and teams who want to deepen emotional understanding, improve wellbeing, and create environments where people can thrive. Whether it’s emotional regulation, self-harm awareness, or leadership through a human lens, I bring science and compassion together in ways support transformation and create lasting impact.

  • I work 1:1 and in small groups with people who want to better understand themselves, move through challenges or grow into new possibilities – whether personally or professionally. My approach combines neuroscience, lived experience and gentle accountability to support meaningful, lasting change.

    Contact me to find out more

  • I love sharing ideas and stories that help people feel seen, understood and empowered. Whether it’s a podcast conversation, panel discussion or keynote talk, I bring warmth, insight and a fresh take on what it means to be human in today’s world. I also candidly share my own lived experience and understanding of self-harm.