CURRENT MISSION

Foster global unity.

ABOUT ME

I get crazy ideas about how I want to make a difference - and then set up projects to do it. If we are going to solve our world's challenges we need global leaders who can think and act globally so I set up and run the Global Enterprise Experience (www.geebiz.org). It has had participants from 115 countries, and recently won a UN award. This trip to Scotland is for the Social Entrepreneurship World Forum which came out of that award.

I want universities to be action learning and fun so set up programmes like Export Bridge, governments to be innovative so set up Te Kaihau Ltd (www.windeaters.co.nz), schools to apply modern learning practice so am on the board of Core Education (www.core-ed.org), transform ideas about ADHD (www.kohutu.co.nz), and get students to create world changing projects.

Life is great. We live in paradise on 20 acres just outside New Zealand's capital city. It is a little stud with a palomino stallion.

As a guest, I am committed to being as helpful as possible - whether that is helping with cleaning, cooking, providing food, tidying or child care. I seek to be economical with water and electricity, replace anything I use or break, and respect your privacy and house rules. I also love the opportunity to converse with you and to learn about your world and your ideas. And, of course, would welcome the opportunity to return the favour, hosting you in my home.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe everybody has extraordinary potential to make a positive difference. As a university teacher and business consultant I see ordinary people grow into achieving extraordinary things.

I love couchsurfing because it is a brilliant initiative to fostering unity in diversity.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We have had about 300 travelers stay in our home, mainly through the wwoof scheme, but also some couchsurfers. We usually have wwoofers staying so rarely have space for couchsurfers, but will always find a way to accommodate those who have been actively hosting others via couchsurfing. It has been a joy to meet so many impressive people from so many cultures. Right now we have a family of five who have migrated to New Zealand staying with us for a few months so we are not easily able to accommodate extras.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have couchsurfed in Thailand, India, Jordan, Israel, Papua New Guinea, Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and Belgium.

Interests

• horses
• education
• agriculture
• travelling
• spirituality
• innovation
• global citizenship
• social entrepreneurship
• adhd
• baha'i faith
• new venture development
• commercialising science
• cross cultural practice
• complementary medicine
• scenar

Music, Movies, and Books

Films - Lord of the Rings, In the Sticks, Whale Rider, The Man from Snowy River, Shakespeare in Love, The World's Fastest Indian, Amazing Grace, The Reluctant Infidel, The Castle, Game of Thrones, David Attenborough films

Books - Guns, Germs and Steel, The Tipping Point, Healing is Voltage, The World Until Yesterday, Harry Potter series, The Story of English, Hidden Words

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I am 60 years old. We bought a quarterhorse stallion that was barely handled and I am slowly breaking him in - or more accurately he is slowly breaking me in.

I was the sole deckhand on Wellington's biggest, oldest and most dilapidated trawler.

Teach, Learn, Share

The things I most often find myself sharing are:

* Visualisation - helping people to be inspired and energised by their dreams of what they want to do with their lives

* Scenar - this is a medical device built for astronauts to heal themselves in space without needing a doctor, hospital or pharmacy. Many Olympics teams use scenars to rapidly increase healing. I have used it most days for the last 14 years both at home and in a medical centre. I carry the scenar with me when I travel.

* Business development - I have worked on 2500 new ventures and love chewing through ideas on how to make ideas happen

What I Can Share with Hosts

I usually buy food and cook a meal for hosts or take them out for dinner.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, China, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand

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