BIO
Creative, multi-talented, conscientious - my work experience, passions & skills are extremely diverse, based on a core of four years during my twenties as a studio manager & event organiser. As a yoga teacher & massage therapist I studied Food as Medicine and Nutrition; birthing my passion for cooking & creating good healthy cuisine. Through the practice of yoga & shiatsu I developed the patience, intuition and ability to handle all situations in a calm, professional manner.
A natural communicator & highly efficient organiser, I take initiative; am proactive and have excellent people & negotiation skills. With a great deal of common sense, life skills, energy and enthusiasm, I have a strong work ethic and am very capable of learning new roles quickly and adapting. Resourceful at all times with a positive ‘can do’ attitude and an excellent sense of humour. I enjoy self-expression through music and rhythm as a former dancer. In November 2016 I ran a choir in my local area in France as a community project, bringing many people together to sing and be inspired by the power of music and harmony.
Qualifications
GCSEs May 1992
Art & Design; Geography & English Language B
Maths; English Literature; Combined Science, French, Religious Studies C
BTEC NATIONAL DIPLOMA 1994 Business & Finance
Marketing & Media; European Law; Spanish;
Business Administration; Personnel Policies; Procedures & Finance
11 Distinctions 8 Merits & 4 Passes
BA Primary School Teaching Year 1
Radio Broadcasting Certificate
Ki Yoga Teacher Training Certificate & Shiatsu Therapy 2005 (3 years)
Modules: Chinese Meridian Therapy; Food as Medicine (Macrobiotics); Guiding Principles of Ki Yoga I & II; Philosophy of Yoga; Anatomy & Physiology I & II
Intensive Shiatsu Massage course completed Grade 1
Shiatsu Stage Two - Shiatsu II & Anatomy and Physiology II re-studied
Certificate In Workshop Skills: Music
Thai Yoga Fusion Massage
First Aid Certificate 2014 valid 3 years
Food Hygiene & Safety Certificate June 2018
Community Musicianship Year One 2012
Ballet from age 4-8 yrs
Contemporary Jazz Dance 8-16 yrs & Gymnastics
SCHOOL EDUCATION
1987-1990 St Hilda’s School For Girls, Bushy, Herts, London
1990-1992 Heathfield School For Girls, Pinner, Middx, London
1992-1994 Weald College, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, London
1994-1995 St Mary’s University, Twickenham, Middx. London
2000-2001 Max Rowley Media Academy, Sydney, Australia
2004-2005 Zen Renaissance Shiatsu & Yoga School, Sydney, Australia
2007-2009 European Shiatsu School, Brighton, UK
2010-2011 Trackways Year Course, Lewes, Sussex
2012-2013 Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London
Self-Employment & Work Experience
2016-2018
SPRING – SUMMER FREELANCE CHEF – Private clients in France (references available) Repeat clients for three years in Auvillar, Tarn Valley; Collioure, South of France & this year a new assignment in Vence, Cote D'Azur.
WINTER
Chalet Chef for Summit Chalets, Meribel Les Allues – ongoing private chef for guests on booked catered holidays in various chalets (references from guests on request)
Breakfast, Afternoon tea & 3 course dinner
Governante for Prestige Services, France – Chalet Governante /Host and full breakfast services for clients in un-catered serviced chalets 2016 – 2018
FREELANCE CHEF WORK – private clients France
August 2016 / 17 &2018 Sara George, SG Legal, London on location in Auvillar (referee)
May 2017 / 2018 Agnes Carbrey, Art Director James Madison University USA to France, Collioure (referee)
Summer 2016 – Chef for 5 weeks catering Lunch and Dinner 3 course up to 18 guests, vegetarian & meat dishes, Swiss Clients, Annecy (reference available)
Sept 2015 – work experience in 3*French Restaurant kitchen with French Chef learning traditional French cuisine, desserts, knife skills, hygiene & kitchen practices
July 2015 – Chalet Cook for Alp Cycles Touring company 16 persons breakfast, afternoon tea & dinner. 4 course meal & canapes – Marmotte Race & Tour De France
June 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 – yearly Retreat Cook at Sunnah Rose Yoga Retreat, Alfriston, Sussex – 16 persons Breakfast, Lunch & 2 course dinner (Vegetarian menu)
Spring 2014 – Bushcraft Outdoors Instructor for Wild Nature – leader of Lewes New School Year 6 Contract in Vert Woods
Dec 2014-April 2015 Winter Season contract – housekeeper, nanny & cook for entire family & nanny - Clare & Theo Camfferman, Meribel, France (REFERENCE on request)
May 2014-Nov 2014– self-employed housekeeper / nanny / cook – Forest Row, East Sussex
Feb 2012- April 2014 Part time Nanny to Baby Girl, Hackney, London – sole charge – cooking for child and on occasion parents, Helena & Dan Hawthorn (REFEREE on request) / light housekeeping duties & all childrens’ meals
Choir Leader (weekly) & Dance Facilitator (monthly) during 2012-2014
Event Host & PR front of house woman for Cuban Friday night live music at Ronnie Scotts Bar, Soho, London (weekly)
Catering - Raw Chocolate maker for Sussex Events & venue – Zu Studios (for all events, monthly basis) Over 8 Years
2011 winter– Worked and travelled in India – teaching yoga, massage, holding dance workshops, hosting events
2009-10 – Nanny to Boy 5 & Girl 18 months & PA / Housekeeper & Cook for naturopath Tanya and Tom Lodge, Sussex
Studied a Survival Course / worked on teenage camps assisting Leaders and running the camp kitchen COOKING
Head Cook 2012 – The teacher training Art of Mentoring South East gathering
Head Cook 2011 - Eagles Wing Vision Quest gathering, Derby, UK – 16 persons breakfast, lunch and 2 course dinner (sole charge of kitchen & shopping etc)
2008 – PA for small business in Notting Hill (So Gorgeous) & Nanny to three children G 5 (Nell), G 9 (Poppy) and B 11 (Archie). Cooking for entire family – Harry & Lucy Enfield. London
Organised & set up workshops/website for The Art Farm, France via internet & phone
2007 - Assisted in a small business in the health & superfood industry – Raw Gaia beauty products. In store PR demonstrations; promotional work, marketing and production
Trained as a Raw Chocolatier for Organic Shamanic in Brighton, carried out all aspects of running a small business
2006 to 2011 - Nanny for G 9mths (Lara) and B 3 (Ned), Maida Vale, Caroline Spencer Freud (REFEREE) – This family I have worked for and supported on a part time basis for almost 8 years and very much felt a part of the family. We are all still in touch to this day.
2006 to 2007 - Live-in Housekeeper and child-minder for home educated family of 3 boys, 3, 6 and 9, Brighton. Prepared lessons and prepared ALL nutritional raw food meals for children.
March to October 2006 - Departed Australia after 6 years residency I travelled though Turkey, Greece, Spain, UK & Morocco - Carried out shiatsu massage and taught Yoga to pay my way through Europe. Life changing & deeply enriching experience.
Employment in Australia
2004 – 2006 Yoga Teacher – Natures Energy, Glebe, Sydney & Bondi Beach
Head Waitress – Nam Restaurant, Bondi Beach, Sydney
Childrens Entertainer - Good Fairys of the East, Bondi Junction, Sydney
2004 to 2005 - Studiotwenty4, The Rocks, Sydney: (photo studio space)
Studio Manager: Set up and establish new company for Richard Bailey (owner) – Promote, market, run & manage all aspects of a new photo studio. Re-establish my own clientel; transfer database; admin and bookings. Organise and host Studiotwenty4 launch party for Sydney Fashion industry. Responsible for general production of photo shoots & all maintenance of the studio space. Oversee and organise events for Loreal, MAC, Sydney Fashion Week amongst other large corporations, private functions and dinner parties. Provided lunch catering for shoots as requested.
2001 to 2004 - Lazerlight Studios, Surry Hills: Photo Studio Manager: Production & bookings management. All Book-keeping and Invoicing. Sales & Marketing. PR, customer relations & Event Organisation. Catering, cleaning & housekeeping. Organising, managing & hosting parties, weddings, film shoots & band promos. A full time position, highly responsible, I ran the business alone for half a year and closed the company down when the owner sold the property to move north. I dealt with the selling of all equipment and liaised with solicitors, lawyers and accountants in final settlement. This position was the most exciting, challenging and rewarding job of my life to date using all of my skills, intelligence, multitasking ablities, physical strength, communication and organisational skills. Worked alongside a qualified chef (the owner) to prepare and cook lunches for groups up to 20 persons on photo shoots.
June 2000 - June 2001 Iguana Bar Café Restaurant, Sydney, Australia: Head Waitress of busy late night restaurant full time – customer service / table service / managing till & bar
Employment in the UK 1994-2000
Part time Corporate Hospitality - waitress, hostess, bar work, silver service
PA (production assistant) to directors of TVE, Production Company, Bournemouth, UK
Marketing secretary Elf Oil UK, Wembley Park;
PA to Director, Royal Mail Leeds, UK;
Marketing Secretary, Coca Cola Schwepps Ltd, Uxbridge, UK
NB; Travel all through Europe in 1994 and lived in Greece for 6 months 1996
INTERESTS
Singing. Dancing. Food as Medicine. French Language. Piano. Yoga. Permaculture. Swimming, Skiing. Walking
REFERENCES
Catering – Sunnah Rose Transformational School of Yoga, London
Bettina Mant, Summit Chalets, Meribel France
AGNES CARBREY, Director, James Madison University, USA
2014-2015 : Clare Camfferman, Meribel Les Allues – clarecamfferman@gmail. com
2012-2014 : Helena Hawthorn, 28 Fassett Square, London E8 1DQ - helenahawthorn@gmail. com
Past Employer for long time: Lady Caroline Spencer, Notting Hill, London
Peter Own-Jones, Vicar of Firle, Beddingham and Glynde & Landlord, Lewes, Sussex
