She has worked on a number of regional newspapers, specializing in health and education. In October 2011, she took a career break and travelled the world for nine months, completing 30 challenges before she turned 30. She has written on the political situation in Burma/Myanmar, orphanages in China and the changing face of South Africa. During her trip, she developed an interest in social media and the way it can be used to reach different audiences. After returning to the UK, she founded The Grown-up Gap Year to offer advice and support to people who are considering taking a career break or a sabbatical. She has continued to pursue her interest in social media and regularly uses tools such as Twitter and Facebook to tell her stories, as well as to promote the work of a deaf school in China which she supports. She has a BA Hons degree in English Literature from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.