I am a mother of five. I have worked in the public health sector as a physiotherapist both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom and I have spent 10 years working as a medical research coordinator for multinational pharmaceutical firms. I worked as a publicity officer for the New Zealand Portrait Gallery before being elected to Parliament in the last general election last July.

My main focus since entering Parliament has been in the area of health, I have a particular interest in mental health.

I have been involved with ACT New Zealand since 1996 and in 1999 I was placed 10 on the party list when 9 ACT MPs went to Parliament. I stood for the Wellington City Council in 2001 and narrowly missed being elected. I was first attracted to ACT New Zealand by the principles of freedom, choice and personal responsibility and that less government is good government. Taking responsibility for yourself gives you a better life. I also believe that the rules of our country should apply to everybody.