I spent my childhood in New Zealand. Unaccompanied by family, I moved to Australia in my late teens. At age 25 I commenced my education in psychology at The University of Queensland. After completi...view moreI spent my childhood in New Zealand. Unaccompanied by family, I moved to Australia in my late teens. At age 25 I commenced my education in psychology at The University of Queensland. After completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Psychology) in 1979, I began my career as a practicing psychologist. Over the following 12 years while working full-time as a psychologist I completed a Master of Applied Psychology (Clinical) and a PhD. I started my first academic appointment at The University of Queensland in 1992. In addition to my academic role, I maintained my clinical practice and took on significant leadership roles within the profession including Chairing the Registration Committee for the Psychologists Board of Queensland.I am currently a professor of clinical psychology at The University of Queensland. My psychology research and clinical practice span almost 40 years. Inspired by the resilience of people facing severe hardship, I have committed my career to investigating processes that foster personal growth in adversity. Through 160 publications, 7000 citations of my work, 80 conference presentations, invited keynotes, research and teaching awards, $3 million plus of grant funding and invited workshops and masterclasses in North America, Europe and Asia, I have become a leader in promoting a ‘living fully with adversity’ approach to life. My memoir, ‘The Trauma Banquet’, is my first piece of commercial writing. In it, I weave my personal and professional experiences and insights on growth in adversity.view less