Greetings from sunny Armidale! Actually, as I write this ‘sunny’ isn’t exactly appropriate - there’s an amazing hail storm in progress outside my window. Apologies for not writing a proper note of introduction until now - I’ve been running round like a mad idiot over the last few days trying to confirm my attendance on this awesome little excursion of ours.

A brief introduction...

I was born in Adelaide, grew up in Albury-Wodonga, did undergraduate degrees at ANU from 93-97, and then worked for the Australian Local Government Association for 18 months as an environmental policy officer. I quit that job earlier this year to take up PhD scholarship here in Armidale. My research project relates to Local Government, environmental impact assessment and the development of techniques for more effective, efficient (and democratic?) forms of community participation in local decision making. Be assured that I’ll bore you all senseless at a later date with all the gory details. My scholarship is supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Armidale City Council (ACC). I work ‘in house’ with Armidale City Council a couple of days each week.

But that’s all pretty boring, no?. My ‘spare-time’ passions include:

Australian music - especially you am I, custard and Mr. Paul Kelly.

I play guitar in my spare time (quite poorly);

I play and coach a lot of hockey. Also play AFL, waterpolo, cricket, golf and squash whenever I can find a game;

I am obsessed with the ocean and the coastal zone - probably because I’ve lived my entire life inland (Wodonga, Canberra, Armidale). It’s only 3hrs to Coffs and 5hrs to Byron so I try to get down there for some swimming, fishing and surfing a least once a month. NB/ I can’t surf to save myself :)

I’ve travelled a fair bit - 3 weeks in Japan in ‘93, and a memorable 10 days in the Galapagos Islands in ‘90. Went skiing and wandering in NZ last year, and did some trekking with my dad and two younger brothers in Nepal in ‘96;

Australian politics (particularly relating to environmental policy).

My interest in environmental issues probably started during my Galapagos Islands trip. I hope to work in the environment area once I finish up here.

I’ve lived in residential colleges a fair bit during my time at Uni - 4 years at Ursula College while I was at ANU and I’m now living at Mary White College (UNE). I occasionally find college somewhat claustrophobic but it’s also a fantastic place to meet people and to get involved in sporting, social and cultural activities.

http://www.une.edu.au/cwpr/people/sam.htm