What’s your idea of happiness and what makes you most uneasy?

Happiness is feeling connected, my kids laughing, and the sense that I’ve done something meaningful. I feel uneasy when I see people being mistreated.  

What do you fear most?

Losing someone I love – I work in grief, but I’m not immune to the fear of it.

Which person, past or present, do you most relate to and admire?

Right now, I’d probably say Brené Brown.  Heart-led, no-nonsense, openly flawed, vulnerable, and fierce. She makes vulnerability a strength, and that speaks to me.

What traits do you most loathe in yourself and others?

Loathe is a strong word.  I don’t loathe easily, but I do struggle with overthinking and impatience (mine) and a lack of kindness or indifference in others.

What’s your most embarrassing moment or regret?

I probably wish I’d had the confidence to back myself sooner in some moments that mattered, especially early in my career.  Sometimes, confidence comes long after the competence.  Also, I once sent a long, heartfelt email to the wrong person, and only realised after they replied with “I think this was meant for someone else. I’m just your plumber.”

What’s your most unappealing habit or indulgence?

Getting distracted mid-task and starting something else.  I have to shut down my emails when I need to work on something that requires my full attention.  That little notification coming up is all it takes for me to click in and get sidelined!

What do you always carry and what vehicle do you drive?

I always wear the same few pieces of jewellery – my wedding and engagement rings, my Grandmums in-memory ring, my wedding earrings, and my Garmin watch to keep me in check!  I drive a Ford S-Max – one of the only cars that could fit 3 small child car seats across the back with seats in the boot for playdates!

Where and when have you been happiest?

Holding each of my children for the first time.

What do you find depressing or overrated?

Depressing may be too strong, but I find it sad that we live in culture where, mostly anyway, the idea that being busy is a badge of honour.  It’s taken me longer than I’d like to admit to understand that self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s essential, especially in emotionally demanding work.  Exhaustion isn’t proof of impact – it’s a signal something needs to change.

How do you unwind or deal with solitude?

Regular training, good coffee, properly switching off when I’m not working (a work in progress!), movement, a good book or podcast (I’d be lost without my Kindle for bedtime switch off reading), and time with people who make me laugh.

What’s your fantasy or biggest journey?

I actually have no idea on this one.  I love travelling though.  It would be magic to take my family to live abroad for a year somewhere beautiful and slow-paced, where life is lived mostly outdoors.  Professionally, to be a part of building something lasting that outlives me – an organisation that keeps growing and caring, long after I’ve stepped away.

What would your motto be?  

There’s always room for kindness.

What’s your favourite smell, word, book, and building?.

Smell: Freshly brewing coffee and just laundered sheets 

Word: Connection 

Book:  Reading is my therapy!  And I don’t discriminate, I love such a diverse array of books.  But the only answer here is the Harry Potter series!  

Building: My home – the building is pretty average, but the people in it are my favourite 😊

What keeps you awake at night? 

Wondering if I remembered to do ‘that thing’. And worrying about people carrying more than they let on.

What’s your life motto or lesson learned?

To quote Walt Whitman (although full disclosure I’m quoting via Ted Lasso!) ‘Be curious, not judgmental.’

Favourite Joke: 

The only joke I can currently think of is this one – ‘Knock, Knock.  Who’s there?  Cowsays.  Cowsays who?  Cows don’t say who they say moo!’ – currently being repeated multiple times a day, followed by fits of giggles from my daughter!