A classically trained musician, Narelle's journey began with a double degree in music and teaching, fulfilling her dream of becoming a music teacher. Yet within six months of teaching, her curiosity pulled her toward deeper questions. While teaching full-time, she pursued a Masters exploring performance anxiety in music students, then continued to a Doctor of Education following her supervisor's encouragement. This thirst for understanding human flourishing eventually led her to complete a Master of Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne in 2019.

After five transformative years in music education, Narelle made the difficult decision to pivot toward academia, recognizing the stimulating possibilities for broader impact through research and leadership. Her academic journey has taken her through the University of Melbourne, RMIT, La Trobe University, Swinburne University (where she served as Professor and Associate Dean of Education), and now to Edith Cowan University. Each institution has shaped her understanding of how to create environments where both educators and students can thrive.

Narelle's research weaves together wellbeing science, creative methodologies, and educational innovation. She explores how arts-based inquiry, poetic representation, and digital storytelling can illuminate pathways to wellbeing in educational settings. Her work on teacher self-care has evolved into a comprehensive framework for building wellbeing literacy across educational communities, from early childhood to doctoral supervision. She's particularly passionate about supporting women academics and has co-created initiatives like SheSpeaks, which amplifies women's voices and wellbeing strategies across Western Australia.

Beyond her university roles, Narelle serves as an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University of Wellington and holds leadership positions that allow her to foster creative collaborations. She's been an executive member of Arts Education Australia and works with the Creative Women's Circle, supporting creative women in their entrepreneurial endeavors. As Director of Explore & Create Co, she integrates mindfulness and creative thinking strategies to help clients succeed both personally and professionally.

Narelle has navigated the complexities of academic life with grace and grit, understanding firsthand the importance of building resilience in competitive environments. Her approach to research leadership emphasizes compassion, community, and the courage to think outside conventional boundaries. As a mentor and supervisor, she creates brave spaces where stories can be shared, challenges acknowledged, and possibilities explored. She brings her training in positive psychology, mindfulness, meditation, and trauma-informed pedagogy to every interaction, believing that academic excellence and personal wellbeing are not competing goals but complementary forces.

Whether she's facilitating a "making studio" for scholars, leading international education practicums in Malaysia, or co-designing community wellbeing initiatives, Narelle approaches each project with the same philosophy: fostering environments where people can discover their strengths and act on their ideas. She loves nothing more than sharing green tea while helping others find their 'light bulb' moments, knowing that transformation happens when we combine rigorous research with genuine care for human flourishing.

In her current role at ECU, Narelle continues to push boundaries in how we understand and cultivate wellbeing in educational contexts, proving that research leadership can be both intellectually rigorous and deeply humane.