After earning my BA (Hons) in International Development from the University of Guelph in 2008, I wasn't quite ready to leave school - so I decided to move across the country to pursue a gaduate degree. In December 2010, I successfully defended my Master's thesis and this past June (2011), I traveled back to Vancouver Island to receive my Master's of Public Administration (Co-op Designation, Thesis Option) from the University of Victoria. It was such an honour to share the convocation ceremony with Mum and Dad and show them a taste of life in Victoria. 

I have been back in Ontario for just over a year, after a wonderful 2 years on the West Coast. I'm in the exciting early days of what I hope to be a long and interesting professional career as a public servant. In July, I accepted a position in the Ontario Municipal Internship Program and am working as an AMCTO Municipal Management Intern with the City of London. I'm grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to learn from leaders in municipal government through the exposure and experience offered by the program. I'm excited to "learn-by-doing" and gain more knowledge and insight into the various departments, services, and corporate initiatives managed by the City of London. Additionally, I'm looking forward to gaining the provincial perspective on municipal affairs during the time I will spend with an Ontario Municipal Services Office, as part of the program. I'm fortunate to be receiving mentoring from the senior management team and other leaders within the corporation. I'm looking forward to completing a full-but-flexible work term that will see me busy, engaged and involved in meaningful projects and connected to the broader municipal administration professional community.

Playing the bagpipes has been a large part of my world since I was ten. I have competed as both a soloist and band member for nearly 15 years, and have been fortunate to enjoy success as a competitor and performer across a wide variety of venues. Previously, I have been awarded Ontario Champion Supreme in Grade 1 solos and been an invitee to several prestigious amateur competitive events. As a band-member, I have competed provincially, nationally and internationally, with multiple appearances at the Canadian Championships, American Championships, North American Championships, and World Championships. I have also performed in a sold-out concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with the 78th Fraser Highlanders and on stage with Sir Paul McCartney in Toronto with the Peel Regional Police Pipe Band. In the last few years I have enjoyed taking on both formal and informal leadership roles as a Pipe Major of the Penetangore Pipe Band (Gr 3 and Gr. 4; Kincardine, Ontario) and as President of the Penetangore Pipe Band Board of Directors (Kincardine, Ontario). I hope to get back to competing as a soloist again in 2012.

While I'm not working or piping, I can be found up at our family cottage in Southampton, soaking up the beautiful Bruce County sunshine on the shores of Lake Huron, or popping in to make sure all is well at "The Ranch".