“

I’m born just outside of Toronto, Canada

I’m the child of a Maltese marketing-executive turned teacher and 5th generation Canadian printing-press manager. I’m described as “curious, precocious and brave”. ”

“

I choose my destined life path

There is a tradition (Il-Quċċija) in Maltese culture, where on our first birthday we choose an object to predict our future. I chose a machine gun and rosary beads, perhaps foreshadowing my ideologically revolutionary life path. ”

“

I become a digital native

We get our first family computer in 1990; I was instantly obsessed. I spent my childhood playing DOS games, writing stories in word processors and learning about the world in Encarta 95. By 1997 I’m on the internet – and my curiosity explodes. ”

“

I grow as a leader and creator

By 11 years old I have my first entrepreneurial experience. At 12 I learn to code html and create flash games. At 13 I attend leadership programs and have my first job. At 14 I found my school newspaper and become president of the student council. My curiosity leads me to start asking little questions; about religion, environmentalism, gender dynamics, transhumanism, consumerism, capitalism – centered around philosophy and ethics.”

“

I shift into involuntary independence

At 15 years old, my mother passes on from cancer and due to family circumstances I am on my own. Suddenly it’s up to me to chart the course ahead and I take a shortcut to early adulthood. ”

“

I start to ask bigger questions

As I reorient in life, I seek answers that extend beyond my childhood cultural exposure and challenge common assumptions. This significant loss generates a powerful resilience and a gritty determination to pursue a path to a more expansive worldview. In adolescence, this looks a lot like being a punk activist, while still being a high school student and working two jobs. I also connect with my first mentors.”

“

I intern with Canada‘s biggest communication company

At 17 years old I create a short documentary on vegetarianism and animal cruelty which leads to securing a coveted internship with Rogers Television. I get a crash course in interdisciplinary production skills, co-create with large teams and start hosting on-air.

I learn the value of cultivating self-motivation (initiative) and a critical perspective (insight). I continue volunteering for nearly two years.”

“

I take a gap year to fund university

I secure my first professional role working with a Chinese biotech company and have my first experiences building large-scale digital systems and creating programs to help people ease into the new online landscape. I also have my first professional experiences navigating inequitable gender and power-dynamics in the workplace.”

“

I attend Ryerson University’s
journalism program

I learn how to put current events in context and understand key issues and trends. I gain skills in research, interviewing, critical thinking and entrepreneurism. I develop professional writing and storytelling techniques. I eventually leave the program after getting more active with citizen journalism. I realize my autodidactic nature and new workforce opportunities appear.
”

“

I join my first fast-growth tech startup

As the global financial crisis emerges, I support a pioneering digital financial news platform across a number of roles and we experience 10x growth in 6 months. Surprisingly, the company dissolves overnight, the founders are charged by the SEC, and they go to jail for unethical practices. I learn about the value of working with ethical and purpose-driven people. ”

“

I attend to OCAD University’s
design program

Rebounding from my last workplace experience, I decide to give post-secondary education another go. I’m given accelerated placement into the fourth/final year of the program. Although happy to be learning, I am deeply personally discontent. While attending, I’m encouraged by my professors and peers to reorient towards the workforce – where I could be both less pressured financially and more likely to flourish as a result of my autodidactic nature.
”

“

I move to Sydney, Australia

In one of those big brave moments in life, I make the decision to relocate on the other side of the world – to expand the sphere of possibility in my life. I’m curious about living in a completely different cultural context. I flex my acquired skills in intentionally designing my life and taking calculated risks towards my goals.”

“

I join the corporate world

Working with Concep Global, Funke Labs and Change Labs, I lead creative and strategy teams working with Fortune 100 companies, banks, professional associations and not-for-profits. We advise on early digital engagement strategy, design digital products, and create large-scale corporate social responsibility programs.

I achieve my horizon goals (stable 9-5, good salary, married, thriving side hustle, etc) and yet still feel foundationaly unsatisfied...”

“

I found a design incubator (side hustle)

In parallel to joining the corporate world, I start moonlighting as a Creative Director and Business Advisor for small-business founders. I mentor them on their entrepreneurial journey and lead teams of freelance creatives on specific projects – from brands to apps to physical environments.

In one form or another, I continue collaborating in this way for 7+ years.”

“

I experience burnout for my first time

After years of working at full speed, I recognize a deep need to take time off and reflect on how (and with whom) I best create. I continue an earnest search for my most inspiring “purpose” to inform my creative compass. I’m told by mentors I’m a ‘burning sun’ and that I’ll flourish if I become a focused ‘laser beam.’ With some natural heartache, I eventually recognize the opportunity for growth and positive change.”

“

It’s time to shake things up

I don’t know what to do next, but I trust going out into the world is a worthy path of self-discovery. I begin a year of travel as a digital knowmad, eventually visiting and working across 13 countries. In the process, I learn about diverse ways of life, expansive value systems and seek to better understand the root of my existential tension.

I discover the concept of being polymathic in nature and learn that my multidimensionality is a super power, not a disadvantage. I also read a book called Who Owns the Future which expands my awareness of the current state of technology and a possible futures that will shape humanity. I start to understand the implications of exponential change and Moore’s Law, leading me to a sense of purpose in helping realize the early dreams of the internet – a new commons and emergent collective intelligence.”

“

I cofound my first
media technology company

In an unexpected series of events, I end up working with one of China’s largest film production and experience design firms (Pegasus Media Group) in Bejing. We collaborate on franchises such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (Netflix’s first original film), form a $100 million film fund between China Film Co. + Pegasus Media Group for the US market, and pioneer an eLearning school pilot. I plan to move to Beijing later in the year.”

“

I participate at Burning Man
for my first time

I visit this dusty and profoundly inspiring socio-cultural experiment and witness participatory art that awakens my inner artist. The scope of what I believe is possible expands exponentially, as I have my first transcendent ecstatic experiences. I open both personally and professionally to the psychedelic renaissance.
”

“

I take a side quest to Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Prior to moving to Beijing, I arrive with my team for a 3 month immersion in Bali. Things don’t go according to plan with the project and I choose to stay in Bali instead. #happyaccident ”

“

I become a digital knowmad

Living in Bali I’m surrounded by inspiring people also living as a digital knowmad. I’m inspired to choose a simil path of diving into new cultures, connecting with inspiring people and seeking peak experiences to better understand myself and the nature of life.

It is a time of experimentation and question asking. I’m also seeking to bridge the best way for me to contribute to contribute towards a vision of interdependance between technology and life that was protopic/utopic instead of distopic)”

“

I attend a workshop & buy a coconut

In a simple yet significant moment, I purchase a coconut digitally; this moment becomes the seed of a four year journey into learning everything I possibly can about bitcoin/blockchain and its world changing possibilities.

From this workshop activated my passion for learning about technology, economics and cultural systems, offering profound inspiration in the concepts of biomimicry, natural self-organized systems and new mechanisms of trust.
”

“

I shift focus to the blockchain industry

In what becomes a whirlwind few years, I cofound SteemSmarter, Decrypted, Blockchain Babes, Chestnut and work on ecosystem projects like Everipedia, Telos, EOS42, FreedomProxy, EOS Radio, and Prediqt. I win an international hackathon for Chestnut.

I deep dive to gain a deeper understanding of blockchains value and relationship to the natural world. This helps me develop a more clearly defined moral compass to discern my focus and choose which projects I pursue next.

Along the way, I find passionate purpose-led individuals, organizations and communities on the same path and start to understand how conditions of emergency can be effectively transformed into emergence.

I start to become known as a thought leader and am invited to speak internationally on the topics of “reinventing the web that wasn’t”, blockchain experience design and new models for societal collaboration and governance.
”

“

I discover I’m an artist

While spending time in California, I lean into my nerdy fascination with and passion for transmedia marketing, which leads me to discover a community of talented experience designers and artists. I’m inspired to create and curate projects of my own and learn the power of creating containers for embodying profound and transformative personal/collective state shift. Things get weird – and it’s wonderful.”

“

I unexpectedly relocate back to Canada

As the global pandemic emerges, I return to Canada after 10 years overseas – eventually creating a home base in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

I get very busy overnight, shifting focus from blockchain technology to virtual connection and cultural state-shift; leveraging my experience nurturing remote collaboration, behaviour change and experience design.”

“

I take a year off to integrate and reorient

I take a well deserved moment to reset and reset. After two years of profound change (in the world and my life) I take stock of what is most important to focus on next.

I realize the importance of being every more discerning about what and with whom I choose to create. From a place of optimism and urgency, I’m reminded we live in a pivotal moment of transformation and cultural shift won’t come from a ‘business as usual’ approach.”

“

I join the Design Science Studio

I join an educational incubator for art created by the Buckminster Fuller Institute and habRitual. I do this to respond to a time of radical systems change, as humanity seeks to reharmonize with nature. The Design Science Studio helps me respond to this fragile and transformational moment by articulating the possibility of a healthy world via a planned decade of non-violent, design-led, creativity-expressed revolution.
”

“

What’s next...

I return to the professional life refreshed and focused on contributing to the regenaissance. I return to a semi-nomadic existence and opportunities to collaborate.”