Zoe was born and raised in Hackney, London on a diet of Dinah Washington and David Attenborough. Her first experience of presenting was at the age of 7 when she appeared on a series of programmes for ILEA (Granada Television) and making home-made wildlife documentaries on urban animals for her parents!
Zoe's first job for Pilot Productions is Globe Trekker Senegal & Cape Verde. Her decade long love affair with Africa has included a GAP year working as a volunteer at the Harare children's home, 3 months travelling overland on a bus through West Africa as crew of a Channel 4 documentary project, two months pioneering research into South African House Music - kwaito - on which Zoe produced 2 radio programmes for Rare FM, and starring in a recent theatrical production "Free For All" about the abolition of slavery… a production that toured through Sierra Leone, a moving experience for Zoe as it is a country where she has strong family ties.
As a musician and performer Zoe has studied at the Royal College of Music, graced the stage of the Young Vic theatre, worked with The Royal Opera House (where she shared a stage with Placido Domingo) and been artist in residence for Opera North education. She has also braved the mud, singing at Glastonbury as part of The Cosmicorus, a 20-piece psychadellic gypsy jazz choir. Her music education clients include: Children's Music Workshop, Big Fish Theatre Company, Birmingham City Council, ENO, Hackney Infants Music Festival, Kirklees Library, Opera North, The Royal Festival Hall and Spitalfield's Festival.
As undergraduate Zoe gained a 1st-class degree in Anthropology at University College London (UCL), and gained a distinction again for her MSc in Human Ecology at the University of Strathclyde. As well as being a writer of poetry, articles and an ever-evolving book, Zoe is an active campaigner for social justice and environmentalism which has seen her heading up many projects as activist, social worker and course leader.
In her spare time she dons her feathers and 6-inch heels and dances samba with the award winning Paraiso Samba School at every carnival she can get to! |