“To contribute to the world and others, to have passion for life and learning and to be inspired and inspire others is why I get out of bed and do the work that I do.”

A few years ago now my life was headed in a very different direction – I was focused, I worked hard, I was ‘comfortable’ and I was bored with a capital B. I wasn’t connected to me and what I really wanted. The trouble was, for a long while I didn’t even realise I was on a ‘ladder of success’ leaned up against the wrong wall!

I decided I wanted to travel and escape from the mundane – what I got was a life changing adventure and a newfound connection, purpose and passion to my life. And years later I couldn’t be happier with the wall my ladder is now resting against.

I established The Butterfly Movement Ltd (now trading as Soles4Souls Australia) in 2011 which is based on the theory that when a butterfly flaps its wings on one side of the world it can create a hurricane on the other side. It is about making our impact on the world and the lives of others, whether they live next door or across oceans, a positive one. At Soles4Souls Australia we provide life supporting footwear to individuals and micro-enterprise traders around the world which are donated by individuals and businesses Australia-wide.

Establishing Soles4Souls Australia is my highest career and personal achievement and a great deal has been achieved by the organisation and community in the past two years including first and foremost the re-distribution of 100,000 pairs of shoes around the world to people in need in Australia, Tanzania, Vanuatu and Guatemala.

I started the organisaton after travelling and volunteering in Kenya for three months with a great Australian organisation called World Youth International. Living and working in rural Kenya alongside my team for three months with little to no ‘western comforts’ was a defining leadership opportunity and life experience. This experience has been the strength of the foundation for the work I have gone on to achieve with Soles4Souls Australia and I am very grateful to the organisation and my team for the opportunity to lead such an important volunteer and development program.

Today my goal and vision for The Butterfly Movement Ltd. is to have a positive impact on the lives of others and the world – one person at a time. Using Soles4Souls Australia as a conduit I also hope to inspire others through the powerful impact they can and do have in this world creating connection, purpose and passion.

What if?
What if… a simple pair of shoes was the key to reducing the risk of infection and improving the health of an 8 year old girl, allowing her to attend school, gain an education and play with her friends?

What if… this girl, because of her school education, grew up to go to university or gain employment in her community, giving her the skills and means to support herself and her family?

What if… because of her employment she was then able to invest more in her children in turn, improving their health, education and future opportunities?

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi”