“As a person living with a diagnosis of a younger onset dementia, I am an advocate, activist and agitator for change, and for the voice of people with dementia. Also an innovator and past care partner for three people with dementia, I am co-founder and current Chair of Dementia Alliance International, the peak body and also the voice of people with dementia.
I am using my brain to reduce the symptoms of my own dementia by continuing to study at university and am about to apply for a PhD with the University of Wollongong in Australia. I promote education and awareness with a daily blog and have just started a new website called Living Beyond Dementia.
Since being diagnosed, I have achieved three tertiary degrees; a MSc (Dementia Care), BPsych and a BA. Prior to dementia I had a Grad Dip Grief Counseling, have been a Chef, and am a Retired Nurse. I hold a current position as Honorary Associate Fellow with the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, and work as an Author, Advocate, Speaker, and consultant in dementia. I continue to live beyond a diagnosis of dementia. I am also a Board member of Alzheimer’s Disease International and Chair of the Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Advisory Committee.”