The personal is political.

I grew up in Orakei, Tāmaki Makau Rau (Auckland) overlooking Rangitoto Island and Okahu Bay. I have four siblings. Our parents died in 1968 when I was nine and we were informally adopted by our fathers eldest brother. Being part of a big Irish Catholic working class family and community instilled in me a strong sense of social justice.

I initially trained as a nurse and went on to work in youth and community health education and health promotion including HIV/AIDs sexual health and community health.

I got the storytelling bug when as a member of Women’s Community Media, we made a film about teenage pregnancy, using streetkids and youth workers to write the script from their lived experiences.

I worked with American New Zealand artist Daisey Bingham and sculptor Bridget Nawalowalo to show the story of their redesign of the entranceway to the Wellington Homeless women’s shelter, Te Mahana, the warmth of the home. 

In 2015 I was Digital Artist in Residence with The Big Idea collaborating with my son, designer Sam O’Leary , hospice workers, and creative practitioners on The Solace Initiative, where people showed or told what brings them solace in times of loss or grief. 

My short film Music for Life explores the power of music in the lives of people living with dementia, with music therapist Rani Heath in association with Dementia NZ (Wellington branch)

I completed a Masters in Communications degree at Victoria University of Wellington focused on digital content and gender issues and went on to work across the creative economy, cluster methodology and digital innovation.

I was the first Digital Content Manager at NZTE facilitating many workshops and symposia on the interface between creative and critical thinking and the emerging digital sector including, games, design thinking and films.

I worked on national and sector strategies with  NZTE , National Library of NZ and NZ On Air and digitla content economic reports with economists NZEIR.

In 2008 I was the founding Content Director of NZ On Screen and established ScreenTalk. Further film work can be viewed on these sites here.

I worked Te Tahu Hauora, Health Quality & Safety Commission on a national campaign, tō tatou reo, advance care planning, to encourage conversations and communication about death and dying with Māori, Pacific, Asian and LGBGTQI+ voices recognising diverse needs and rituals of our cultures and communities.

During this time I also worked with the Mental Health & Addiction team at HQSC to gather lived experience of seclusion in mental health facilities. The bravery of people telling their authentic stories is humbling and powerful.

I am currently involved in a research project at the Faculty of Health, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, working towards improving the coronial process for whānau bereaved by sudden death of a loved one. This is funded for three years through the Health Research Council lead by Dr Clive Aspin.

I am currently the NZ representative on the International Committee for LGBT+ History Months founded by history teacher Rodney C Wilson – inspired by Black History Month and Women’s History Months – to reposition LGBTQIA+ voices in our classrooms and history books.

As the NZ representative I co-curated our first Queer History Month Aotearoa in July this year, in partnership with the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.

Past Trustee Kawe Mahara Queer Archives Aotearoa.

Past Trustee St Joseph’s Home of Compassion Board during a time of transition and governance shifts.

Film & Literature & Review Board – Ministerial appointment, four years (2007-2011).