Date and place of birth 21st February 1969, Clitheroe, England

Ethnicity Irish

Current residence and electorate Dunedin, Dunedin North

Educational and vocational qualifications BA (Hons) English and Linguistics. University College Dublin, Post Grad Diploma Theoretical Linguistics (Distinction) University College Dublin, Post Grad Diploma Speech and Language Processing, Edinburgh University.

Current occupation IT Support Specialist, University of Otago

Previous occupations Research Assistant at University of York and Edinburgh University, Web Developer, Second Language Teacher (English).

Other work experience (including voluntary/unpaid) Waiter in various restaurants, Organised Historical reenactment groups in Ireland, Member of Youth Forest Action

Community connections Union activist

Policy Interests/Expertise Policy interests - Climate Change, Energy, Sustainable Economics, Environment, Education (Tertiary), Social Justice and Industrial Relations

My broad political issues On a social and economic justice level I want to see greater economic equality in New Zealand. Many social, political and environmental problems will be alleviated through this single action and will have a profound effect on the overall health of our society. Environmentally I am most interested in securing our energy needs in the near future through twin programs of energy efficiency programs and developing renewable energy generation. On an international level I believe New Zealand needs to assert itself more vigorously in defence of the environment, human rights and indigenous peoples.

Additional information I have been interested and concerned about the environment all my life. The environment for me means the planet, our society, our culture and how they all interrelate. I have traveled a fair bit - I have lived in Ireland, Scotland, England, the USA, France, Belgium and Spain as well as in New Zealand.

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