I live in a villa built in the 1880s, so the office has panelled walls and large windows with leadlight top-lights.

I was born in Dunedin, but grew up in rural towns. Firstly, Oamaru, my mum’s home town, then Hanmer Springs, where my father worked at the hospital as a carpenter. Hanmer was fantastic; we lived outdoors, spending lots of time in the forest. When I was eight, we moved to Central Otago, another outdoor paradise for kids. I completed my last year of school in Christchurch and then went to Dunedin for university. I was the first member of the Ericsson family to go to university. Ten years and three degrees later, my mum thought I was never going to leave. With the exception of a couple of years in London, Dunedin has been my home ever since. I have three beautiful children, aged, 12, 17 and 22, who all live at home with me.

Having worked as a general legal practitioner, I was able to consider the wider implications of situations faced by clients, and, having also worked in criminal law for the past four years, I appreciate some of the difficult situations that Police Association members deal with.

I love travelling and have just come back from two weeks in Canada where I visited the most unusual police station I have ever seen. I have always loved Central Otago, the mountains, lakes, sunshine and colours. What more could you ask for?

It combines the best parts of the two jobs I was doing before. That was working with the Law Society, where I supported members individually as well as being actively involved with major issues, such as working towards better work conditions. And, as a criminal lawyer, I was active in working to improve conditions for those working in the criminal courts, addressing such issues as judicial bullying, as well as safety for members. I also enjoyed the one-on-one advocacy that my legal aid work provided.

The increasing seriousness of violence in society. I know that going to work with the expectation of dealing with the aftermath of violence is hard enough, but knowing you are likely to be faced with it and have it directed at you has to be so much worse. As a defence lawyer, I was threatened many times, but I know that it is nothing like what police face.

Not a very exciting story. I fell off a ladder and damaged my right knee and I also have an injury to my left ankle, so skiing hurts. I became a better cafe skier... I really am a crafter. My mum is an artist and, for many years, mum and dad were potters. Having grown up in a creative household, name a craft and I’ve probably tried it. Currently, I do a lot of sewing and quilting. I also love getting out in nature and walking, generally with friends.

Backpacking through Eastern Europe before the Berlin Wall came down, followed closely by travelling through Egypt not long after one of the uprisings. Both, at times, involved men with big guns shouting at us in a language we didn’t understand. Despite that, the place where I have felt most in danger was travelling through the Bible Belt in the United States… talk about too many banjos!

The peninsular, particularly Taiaroa Head. Watching albatrosses fly and seeing all the other wildlife is a real treat. We are also blessed with amazing beaches.

No. Cadbury went downhill when it was taken over by Kraft, so I stopped buying it years ago. We now have a fantastic boutique chocolate factory, Ocho, which makes some amazing products (my favourite is dark peppermint).