Academic + Industry Expertise
I hold a PhD in Sociology from the University of Sydney.
My thesis was titled “‘Oh My God, how did I spend all that money?’: Lived experiences in two commodified fandom communities”.
You can click the above link to learn more about my project, but all you really need to know is that I basically got my PhD in Taylor Swift Studies.
I’m a qualitative researcher with a passion for speaking to fans instead of speaking about fans.
In addition to my research, I’ve also worked as a casual tutor in Sociology and Criminology, and presented guest lectures on fandom, celebrity, and celebrity interactions.
I also have over six years experience as a publicist, working for a major fan convention, and two major publishing houses. While publicists are media facing rather than consumer facing, these organisations attract journalists, bloggers, and influencers who are also fans of our products and events.
Within these roles, I have extensive experience managing local and international celebrity talent for media days, appearance tours, and VIP experiences, as well as on the ground media management and talent handling at major events.
I’ve also worked in tight-knit marketing teams, sharing social media responsibilities and creating influencer campaigns, as well as spending a year working as a community and social media manager and strategist at a digital marketing agency, running social media for major healthcare and consumer brands.