Welcome to Words for Change
I help organisations working in complex social and environmental contexts to understand how language shapes emotion, cognition and behaviour, and to apply that insight to build language systems that support positive change.
This is tangible action.
This is changing my thinking on communicating with impact.
Environmental Program Manager, NRM Region, Vic.
Working across social, ecological and technological systems, I bring together linguistics, social neuroscience and systems thinking to help organisations and communities reframe complex challenges, shift perspectives and open new possibilities for meaningful change.
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You can explore this work through four key areas:
Language Unearthed works with environmental scientists, policymakers and advocates to surface the language patterns, stories and values shaping our relationship with nature and place, reshaping how we talk about climate and ecological systems and our role as stewards within them.
Language Untapped helps research, policy and extension teams understand the hidden language patterns shaping responses to water issues, and use those insights to build shared understanding, trust and collaboration for resilient water futures.
Communication for Community Resilience and Connection helps community groups and organisations apply values-based, strategic communication that strengthens connection, builds social resilience and creates positive change in complex and uncertain times.
Language, AI and Change helps people and organisations work with AI as a thinking partner, strengthening human judgment, values-aligned communication and strategic clarity so language continues to serve meaningful change in complex contexts.
Change the conversation
In complex social and environmental contexts, language shapes how people feel about issues, how they understand what is happening, and how they decide to act.
These emotional, cognitive and behavioural dynamics are often set in place unintentionally, beneath the level of conscious attention. They are produced by the language systems and framing choices organisations adopt, repeat and sustain over time.
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My work focuses on helping organisations understand these dynamics so they are better placed to change the conversation with clarity and intent. I work with people, communities, agencies and organisations across social and environmental systems.
My recent work has spanned:
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community resilience, connection and leadership
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land, water and environmental stewardship
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climate adaptation and social-ecological change
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narrative, sensemaking and decision support
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values-based language analysis and applied linguistics for strategy
Why Words for Change?
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I work with people to understand and apply the science of language-driven change, building their capacity and confidence to create meaningful, values-aligned communication.
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My work draws on more than 30 years of experience, bringing together insights from cognitive linguistics, marketing communication, social neuroscience and ecological science, while engaging thoughtfully with the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI systems.
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My values-based approach centres compassion, connection and curiosity as foundations for individual and collective resilience, and as catalysts for positive change.