Julie has moved to the Island from south west Wales, where she was a general and business reporter covering Pembrokeshire.

Being completely new to the Island and its diverse business community, Julie has been impressed with, and grateful for, the friendly reception she has received so far.

'Everybody has been so welcoming and I have had numerous offers of help, which I am bound to take people up on in the coming months,' she said.

The 38-year-old New Zealander studied physics and education at university in her home country, before entering the teaching profession.

After 10 years at the chalk face in New Zealand, England and Portugal, Julie decided on a career change and returned to the UK to study journalism.

She said: 'Like teaching, journalism involves working with people and a great deal of variety — no two days are ever the same.'

Graduating from Nottingham Trent University with an MA in newspaper journalism, Julie qualified as a senior reporter last year.

The keen traveller, hiker and kayaker is looking forward to exploring more of the Isle of Man by land and sea as well as getting to grips with the business world.