Hi!
I’m Andrea founder of Learning from Life, partner, mum of two, and all-round lover of tea, reading, asking questions, sharing, and learning.
I started Learning from Life after an inspiring overnight retreat with the fabulous Kristina Karlsson, founder of kikki.k and Dream Life.
At 44, a contract recently finished, and a career spent doing what I truly loved, I also knew it was time for my paid work (as opposed to the unpaid we do everyday) to be something different.
How, I wasn’t quite sure.
Across a bowl of soup, cups of tea, and breakfast the next morning, we talked about what I loved doing, what I was passionate about, and what my own Dream Life could look like, which (to be honest) was pretty darn close to how I wanted.
Kristina: Well, you love writing and speaking and interviewing people?
Me: Yes
Krisitna: And you’re passionate and have a story to tell?
Me: Yes
Kristina: And you want to continue to help and inspire people?
Me: Yes
Kristina: Then do that.
So I am.
Learning from Life’s Values
Authenticity: the quality of being real or genuine
Curiosity: the desire to know or learn
Honesty: showing respect towards others while maintaining integrity and self-awareness; often requires vulnerability
Kindness: the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate
And of course,
Learning: the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviours, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences
Big Plans
Call it enthusiasm, over-achieving, or unrealistic, but I’ve got big plans for Learning from Life.
Between speaking engagements, creating a series of journals, planners, and notebooks, writing A Daybook of Reflection and Learning from Life (part-reflection, part-learning, part-(realistic)-inspiration, with all-honest entries), prepping and scheduling guests for The Learning from Life Podcast, I’ll also be setting up inclusive online and eventually in-person spaces for women to learn, connect, share, and feel safe and supported with others.
Having said all this, I’m also a mother of two fantastic kids, partnered with a guy I rather enjoy (fact: we met on a three-day bus tour of Ireland, but that’s a story for another time), family on the other side of the world, have bipolar and functional neurological disorder, in addition to all the other “stuff” life throws at us, so who knows!
The Long (& Professional) Bio
Andrea is the founder of Learning from Life, partner, mum of two, and multiple award and scholarship recipient with more than 25 years’ experience working across universities, aged care, local government, and community organisations in Canada, England, and Australia.
Growing up in Hamilton, Canada, and later living England, Vancouver, and now Hurstbridge (Melbourne) Australia, Andrea’s curiosity, love of learning, and listening to others led her to complete and graduate with distinction from an Honours BA at McMaster University (Canada) and an MA at the University of Leeds (England), and to undertake PhD studies at Flinders University (Australia). She has also travelled extensively throughout Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia, the United States, and Australia.
Across her career, Andrea has worked at Flinders University, La Trobe University, McMaster University, the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation, Nillumbik Shire Council, Melbourne Legacy, and Jewish Care, as well as in management roles in residential aged care.
Her work has been published in the Gerontological Society of America, the Leeds Centre for Disability Studies Disability Archive, the Life Writing Series for the McMaster Centre for Gerontological Studies, among other outlets.
She has presented at the Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology, and at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Annual Scientific and Educational Conference. She has also helped organise, facilitate, present, and chair conferences, competitions, forums, panels, and information sessions across England, Canada, and Australia.
Alongside her professional leadership roles, Andrea has contributed to her community through positions such as Media Information Desk Attendant at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics; School Council President at Diamond Valley College; President Vancouver Masters Synchro Club; President Diamond Valley Toy Library; and Committee Member for the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability.
Andrea has been featured in Australian and Canadian media including Daily Mail Australia, The Hamilton Spectator, The Hamilton Mountain News, CHCH TV, C-MORE Radio, 900 CHML Radio, and Y95 Radio.
A former competitive synchronised swimming athlete, coach, and judge, Andrea brings the focus, discipline, teamwork, and resilience of high-performance sport to her work with people and organisations.
Known for sharing what she has learned from her personal, academic, and professional experiences, Andrea creates non-judgemental spaces where people feel safe to reflect, share their stories, and learn from one another.
Throughout all of this, Andrea has also navigated the often-debilitating experiences of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and functional neurological disorder. These lived experiences deeply inform her ability to share, connect, and Learn from Life.
