I’m a Sustainable Tourism Management undergraduate studying at Falmouth University in Cornwall, graduating in August 2024. I possess three years of industry experience working at an acclaimed red star hotel in Ipswich and, at present, supervising at a local wine bar. I am a highly driven and dependable individual, energised by working in dynamic and social environments, fortifying my love for the hospitality sector.

Hailing from Suffolk, I grew up in a blended family of seven. Being part of a large family, I have always had an unwavering support network that has been indispensable in fostering my resilience and highly driven nature to excel in my career endeavours and academic pursuits. In consequence, authenticity and encouragement are qualities I feel are invaluable in establishing supportive relationships that foster continual mutual growth. I pride myself on my capacity to motivate others to greater personal achievements and my commitment to helping and supporting my peers. These attributes have permitted me to take on leadership roles in both an academic and professional setting; having acted as the student representative for my course as well as taking on a supervisory role in my current place of employment.

I attended sixth form at Suffolk One College, studying A Levels in Fine Art and Design, Photography and Business Studies, proudly attaining A*s in all three subjects. I am an avid philomath, dedicated to my self-development and achieving highly, which is reflected in my grades. Further, specialising in artistic fields of study helped to cultivate my ingenuity, allowing me to come up with new and creative approaches to problems, whilst devoting particular attention to detail. I continue to employ my creative flair in my current endeavours at university, in modules including marketing and digital media, and creative innovation in experience management. I believe creativity to be a valuable asset within the hospitality and tourism sector and will continue to draw on my artistic background in my future career ventures.

Following sixth form, I began working full-time at The Salthouse Harbour Hotel as a food and beverage waitress. During my time at The Salthouse I developed a budding interest for wine, learning from my colleagues how to confidently describe style and quality to customers and the basic principles of food and wine pairing. After moving to Falmouth, I sought to pursue this passion further and applied to work for Kernowine, a specialist bar and retailer. Since starting in October 2022, I have gained a broadened and enriched understanding of the wine sector from industry professionals — from principal grape varieties to winemaking processes. This enthusiasm for the topic has transcended beyond a professional setting, steering the direction for various university projects, including providing inspiration for a blog platform devoted to exploring sustainability within the wine sector. In the near future, I hope to enrol on the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines course to further build on my current knowledge.  

After I graduate in August, I would like to enrich my wine knowledge further, by visiting vineyards and wineries in principal wine regions across Europe — including Tuscany, Alentejo and Champagne. Travelling will not only deepen my wine expertise but also afford me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and immerse myself in the rich culture of the destinations I visit.