I grew up in Dublin, but have spent most of my adult life working and living in the Netherlands. My parents are Irish and Dutch and I tend to think of myself as Irish at heart, Dutch in process.

I attained a first-class honours degree in International Politics and Anthropology from Maynooth University in 2016. My thesis project was a narrative examination of dialogue from Seanad Éireann regarding policy change on sex work in Ireland, which eventually led to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017.

Following this degree, I wanted to learn how to apply the knowledge I’d gained in culture, human behaviour and global systems to making social change. I decided to study a master of science in Social Policy and Social Interventions at Utrecht University.

As a part of the programme, I completed a research internship with Aidsfonds’ Hands Off! project and investigated perceptions of HIV self-testing as an intervention for sex work communities in South Africa. The project utilised participatory research methodologies in collaboration with sex workers and sex workers’ rights organisations. I conducted an ethnographic field visit mainly based in de Wits Reproductive Health and HIV institute in inner city Johannesburg.

From here my career has always been focused on progressing a social agenda. I put my values at the forefront of my work and am committed to weaving feminism, anti-racism and localisation into my everyday practice.