I would love to say that I am a writer and for that to be the beginning and end of it. Sadly, though, writing doesn’t pay the bills. Nor does it tell the full story.

To earn my keep, I am Lecturer in Practical Theology at Whitley College, the Baptist Seminary of Victoria, a position I’ve held since 2001. Truth be told, without the discipline of teaching and my life-long formation within the Christian faith, I would probably have little to write about.

Before my ordination to the Baptist ministry and ten years in church planting and pastoral leadership, I trained and worked as a chef. Specializing in patissier and garde-manger, I found in cooking a wonderful avenue for creativity and self-expression. I still do.

Following postgraduate study at the Fuller Graduate School of Theology in Los Angeles, I have spent the last 10 years teaching, primarily in spirituality, ethics and pastoral theology, first at Macquarie Christian Studies Institute in Sydney, and now at Whitley.

My research and writing interests include the ethics of everyday life, the theology of food and hospitality, and the nature of Christian mission in suburbia. In 2008, my book God Next Door: Spirituality and Mission in the Neighbourhood (Acorn Press) was awarded Australian Christian Book of the Year by the Australian Society for Christian Literature. My current long- term project is a book called Eating Heaven: Spirituality at the Table, an exploration of the role eating plays in our quest for meaning and community.

My partner is Dr Brenda Southerland Holt, Chief of Staff at Trinity College, University of Melbourne. Together we have two school-aged children, Ali and Nathaniel, and enjoy our home in the heart of Melbourne, a vibrant and gracious city for which I have a deep affection.

I am part of the community of St Kilda Baptist Church, a paid up member of Slow Food Australia, and a loiterer in cafes and bookshops. As a happy introvert, I love walking, especially at night. As a committed Christian, I am fascinated with the adventure of discovering the presence and purposes of God in everyday life.