My work as an artist and educator has resulted in my appointments in positions of planning, policy- and decision-making. At the same time, I also work at grassroots level, by contributing to the community and often in areas that overlap with my own art research. These means of public engagement have trained me to be comfortable to deal with people from all walks of life. Photographing the energetic and enthusiastic kids in South London as a volunteer, for instance, has been most fun, uplifting and educational (for me); mingling with high-ranking types has made me familiar with the mechanisms of art and government policies. And elegant ways to speak/eat (or rather, not speak when eating, and not eat too much) (in their presence).