People usually arrive here because they’re deciding if I’m the right fit for their workshop, session or project. The comments below come from writers, professionals and community learners who wanted practical help using AI well — or simply needed someone to make technology clearer, calmer and more useful.
One-to-One Support
Sometimes you don’t need a workshop. You need someone who can step in, untangle a problem and help you move forward with confidence.
Roger G. McDonald — published writer and poet (December 2025)
“Half an hour with Annie not only retrieved Chat’s exhaustive database, but taught me how to access, organise and deploy it as a useful tool in future. While she was at it, she helped me simplify my desktop and rationalise a bulging and unruly applications dock.”
“I might be an ancient Luddite, but with Annie Smit at my side, I have an entrée to sector-leading expertise and a teaching resource to boot.”
Roger’s full story is below — it’s worth reading.
Workshops
Lauren Croucher (February 2026)
“Annie’s Introduction to AI for Everyone workshop was a delight. She made complex ideas feel accessible, used practical examples throughout and welcomed questions. The take-home booklet means I can keep practising at my own pace. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a grounded, informative start to their AI journey.”
Louise and John Barselaar (March 2026)
“We have been hearing a lot about AI — both good and bad — but one thing is for sure: it is here to stay. So we decided it was about time we found out a bit more. Annie’s beginner-friendly workshop provided very practical examples of how AI can be used in everyday life.
We were amazed at how easy it is to do things such as: create a picture and then animate it; write an engaging story from a few random elements; and decipher handwritten notes and turn them into a formatted piece of work. Annie explained everything clearly and informatively, and we now feel much more comfortable about dipping our toes in the AI water.
We still find some of the implications of AI rather scary — but we can also see how we can apply it to simplify a lot of things in our lives. Digitising that mountain of recipe clippings is definitely on the to-do list.
If you are just starting out on your AI journey, Annie’s workshop is highly recommended.”
Writing and Communication
Krisha Hunt — Psychosocial Risk Management Consultant (2022)
“Annie is great to work with and a highly professional report writer. She focuses on understanding client needs and is exceptionally open to learning the often-nuanced demands of different projects. She crafts meaningful outputs, simplifying complex ideas into clear, practical takeaways. Annie is timely, flexible, easy to communicate with and, importantly, a warm and friendly person.”
Carly Jayet — Business Psychologist, Executive Manager Government
“Annie is an exceptional provider. Her accuracy, efficiency, professionalism and core expertise are second to none. I would highly recommend Annie to any provider looking for a reliable, highly efficient and detailed editor with friendly and professional customer service. Guaranteed exceptional results.”
Roger’s story — in his own words
“I’m in my early 70s but still active as a professional writer, both for myself and for others. Even though I came to technology in the 1980s, my first consideration has always been for the creative component of any message. The means of communicating the message—the technology—were always secondary.
Rather like the internal combustion engine, I can easily grasp the principles behind IT and AI, though I have no understanding of how they work in practice. In other words, I have no difficulty driving a car, but don’t ask me to look under the bonnet.
Now that AI has exploded into almost every aspect of human life, I feel increasingly detached from IT and AI, even though I recognise their power and extraordinary functionality.
Like so many people, I have recently dabbled with AI—at first out of a writer’s curiosity, and lately as a potential tool in my continuing literary career. My experiments have left me jaw-droppingly astounded at the breadth, depth and pace of its capabilities. But they have also left me teetering on the brink of confusion and frustration.
I challenged ChatGPT to research Australian and international publishers. I was hoping to compile a database of contacts to whom I could submit one of my book manuscripts. Chat’s instant response was—sensibly—to ask for more detail. As I enlarged the brief, it responded with suggestions and options. It then asked for a little time to assemble the data. And there my troubles began. I waited… and waited. Was this another dud? Or, more likely, was I an aged, blind ferret trudging through an uninhabited rabbit warren?
There was only one way to go: AI legend, Annie Smit.
Half an hour with Annie not only retrieved Chat’s exhaustive database, but taught me how to access, organise and deploy it as a useful tool in future. I might be an ancient Luddite, but with Annie Smit at my side, I have an entrée to sector-leading expertise and a teaching resource to boot. So do millions of others in my age group and situation.“
Not sure if I’m the right fit? Get in touch — most things begin with a single question.
Ascension Coastal 