I'm a researcher, educator, and observer of the human, looking at the world through parted fingers. 

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Sometimes I do both.

I was born in the decade of bell bottoms, flowery shirts and oil shocks. I came of age in the decade of neoliberalism, Reagan's 'star wars' and blockbuster movies.

Working life began as the Cold War came to an end. The 90s was the decade of uniform wearing, weapons training and trench building for me. It was also the last decade when we had some hope for the future. 

I served on my last of three overseas UN missions in 2000, witnessing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from South Lebanon in the summer of that year. 

It was also the decade of another pivot. 

I started my academic journey in the winter of 2000-2001 and graduated with my BA (Hons) in 2004, an MA in 2005, a Higher Diploma in 2007, and a PhD in 2009.  During Covid, I added to this with a PGCEi in Education and a Teaching Diploma in the International Baccalaureate. 

Since 2012 I have been teaching and living in Asia.

I'm still in Asia, dividing my time between the city of Bangkok and my home in Northwest Ireland.

I am primarily a scholar of the human. My interests intersect at the meeting point of three spheres: Language, Conflict & Power.

The world is a strange place. We are living the Chinese curse. We live in 'interesting times'.

I've seen the world from both the gritty vantage point of UN foot patrols through baking Lebanese villages and the zoomed out 'macro' vantage point of the ivory tower of academia.

Like most people throughout their lives, I've become many things at the same time.

I left school with six D grades.

I went on to become a nerdy academic.

I've learned one thing along the way.

Wing it. 

Because everyone else is.

Trust me.