Mel

I love to facilitate refreshing experiences that combine creative thinking and well-being with nature and sustainability themes.Collaborative Creative As a workshop facilitator, independent curator, and community-based organizer, I specialize in delivering public workshops and exhibitions with environmental and community themes. In Sydney, London, and Bath, my showcases have popped up in residential and public gardens, galleries, cafes, youth clubs, London City Hall, primary schools, festivals, pubs, art colleges, and universities. I have curated sculpture, painting, drawing, mixed media, cartooning, music, printmaking, dance, theatre, photography, and poetry.Founder of Art Hut in London's Battersea Park In London I enjoyed a five-year public engagement partnership with a horticulture therapy charity. In their delightful English garden, I delivered nature-inspired exhibitions and creativity workshops in collaboration with a vast range of artists and performers.My Creative Process I regularly stretch my creative insight by going beyond my comfort zone. For example, taking singing, music composition, contemporary and lyrical dance, devised theatre, and theatre writing workshops. Noticing NatureNature sustains us all by providing our food, air, water and natural beauty. I believe that the endangered natural world relies on far greater care at an individual level for meaningful improvements. Nature protection and restoration depend on collaborative and community mindsets. The dominance of extractive and competitive behaviours, focused on financial gains, are a nature risk and therefore a societal risk - the most harmful impacts on nature being land clearing for agriculture and development, excessive water use, excessive greenhouse gas emissions, and unnecessary pollution.The Australian government's nature strategy (2024–2030) sets out goals to achieve much-needed recovery of a precious megadiverse environment that has been in decline for decades. A goal in that strategy is to enhance our connection with nature and therefore our desire to care more for the environment, thereby contributing to community well-being. Individual-by-individual, my workshop can help to achieve this crucial connection in a lasting way. Creative breakthroughs and nature connection are powerful. The combination is a catalyst for change. Environmental & Community PurposeI am a communications and engagement specialist for environmental and community-involved initiatives. My professional experiences spans public, private, and community sector organizations. Recent training includes:

• Cultivating Well-Being in Gardens and Nature (Thrive Learn, UK)
• Workshop Facilitation & Social Action (UK National Citizenship Service)
• Independent Curation (University of the Arts, London)
• Leadership Skills for Healthy River Action and Community-based Action (Thames21, London)
• Cert IV in Entrepreneurship & Small Business (Australia)
• B.A.-BA du Climat et de la Biodiversité, Super Badge (2024) | Centre national d'enseignement à distance (France)
• Global Reporting Initiative Certificate, UK Sustainability Reporting Process | GRI Certified Training Course (London)