Following the completion of my PhD in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Sydney in 2015, from 2016-19 I took up a position as Junior Research Fellow in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University. Since 2020 I have been employed as a lecturer in the School of Liberal Arts at the University of Wollongong. You can read about the work I am doing there on my research page.
As we began the animal encounter at Symbio, the animal handler asked: “Should we wait until your kids arrive before going in?” We responded, “We don’t have any; this is for us!”
While undeniably a posed shot of my teaching al fresco, we had to talk about something, so I started explaining Bernard Williams’ account of the difference between shame and guilt. I think I’m pointing to sham here.
I have lived, studied, and worked in Sydney (and now Wollongong; I’m grouping them!) for the majority of my life, and my fierce regard for my city has been extended to my adopted homeland. I consider myself hugely fortunate to have secured an academic position in Australia, where I can continue to share my life with my oldest friends and family. My trip to the UK did much to extend my horizons, granting me a greater, deeper appreciation for Australia. I am hugely excited to be working for the School of Liberal Arts, which allows me maximum scope to pursue my joint passions in ancient philosophy and classics – and simultaneously!
Interesting conversational partners may find themselves fortunate enough to enjoy the company of the loves of my life: my wife, Latoya, and my cats, Fish and Chips In addition to the immeasurable support emotional, aesthetic, and material she has offered me, Latoya is most publicly treasured by me for her amazing charity work. She is currently working for Caritas Australia as Manager for Philanthropy and Development.
These are our two adoring cats, Fish and Chips, with this picture perfectly capturing their respective personalities at this point. We adopted Fish in 2013, and despite her irresolute disposition, she’s a tough thing, little thing, having survived no less than two international trips - we could not have gone to the UK (or back) without her, nor survived let alone flourished! The update from customs upon her return encapsulate her perfectly: “Fish ate all her food. She did not want to play.” Nevertheless, she’s a consummate lap cat.
Chips is a new addition, having joined our family at a very young age in 2024 from his first home in Westfield Miranda car park. ‘Unbridled enthusiasm’ would be the most apt description. Enjoying the full flushes of youth, Chips cannot be stopped, slowed only by his constant demand for love and affection. He wants this from Fish more than anything. Fish is not on board, but loves him all the same in her own way.
In addition to my interests in philosophy, I am also a cinephile of some degree, and you can follow my exhaustive (and reductive) rankings of every movie I have ever seen on my IMDB page, and I note particularly my love of genre movies, particularly westerns and musicals. Although this one may be my favourite scene, and this one my favourite film.
My musical interests are predominantly in classic rock and delta blues. The undeniably greatest rock band in history is Led Zeppelin. Maybe the Rolling Stones. But all thanks to Robert Johnson. And although I predominantly read philosophy for work and play these days, I am quite partial to the writing of Cormac McCarthy, J. M. Coetzee, George Orwell, Hermann Hesse, and P. G. Wodehouse, the last of whom my wife and I read aloud before bed most nights.
Regarding hobbies, I am an avid cook, specialising in all things carbs, making my own pasta, pizza, Asian-style buns and dumplings, and bread (as pictured here). I stray from this safe space primarily when allowed to cook outside with my set of prized possessions: a pizza oven, a smoker, and a 150000BTU wok burner! If you ever want to put in an order, just ask, and we’ll eagerly have you over!
As someone who likes a crunchy crust, learning to make my own bread was a necessity in the North-East of England, where stotties are mainly the go.