Growing up in South Africa, I was always building—whether it was failed water skis or projects with my dad, I loved creating human-centered solutions. At 13, my family moved to Ottawa, where I got my first taste of independence as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and community volunteer.
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I’ve always been fascinated by technology and the worlds we can create with it, which led me to study Software Engineering at the University of Guelph. There, I worked with Professor Stacey Scott, discovering Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and machine learning for animal detection. That experience fueled my passion for AI-driven human connection, leading me to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science, where I research emotion detection on social media and how AI can help us better understand online expression.
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From tinkering as a kid to developing intelligent systems today, my goal remains the same: building technology that enhances human experiences.