I have been responsible for the whole of Product Development for an established toy company for the last 16 years. Here I covered many roles, starting as a Designer and taking on more responsibilities to become the Product Development Manager.

Covering different roles has enabled me to develop a clear and broad knowledge and an extensive experience of the whole process necessary to bring an idea to mass production with awareness of potential issues at each stage.

I have been in charge of the research and analysis, idea generation, product selection, design & development, communication with manufacturers, quality control and safety aspects. 

I have worked on thousands of ideas and commercialised 600+ products during my career and I have also won numerous awards. I am confident designing with restrictions such as target prices, lower quantities, safety aspects and manufacturing limitations and a great understanding of how to best maximise the resources available.

As a mother of two young children, I have a special insight of what children enjoy playing with and understanding of the way they engage in play and interact with each other and with adults. My first hand experience as a parent has been essential in understanding what other parents/careers are looking for, and what is needed to make toys that will enrich and stimulate children.

As well as collaborating with both small teams and global organisations to innovate and develop new product lines, I bring client’s ideas to life, providing guidance on design principles and feasibility.

I have also been commissioned to produce a series of expert talks for an international e-library on soft skills, innovation, creativity, and the benefits of playfulness for both children and adults.

I have recently initiated a self-funded partnership aimed at developing sensory accessories to support children with separation anxiety and other mental health needs, with a specific focus on inclusivity for neuro-diverse, ADHD, and Autistic children.