10 Things About Me (that shape how I show up in the boardroom)

In the work I do with boards and executives, I’m usually brought in at pivotal moments: when financial or regulatory pressure is mounting and when strategy must shift. But I’m shaped by far more than frameworks, models and metrics. So I thought I’d share 10 things that shape how I think, lead and advise.

𝟭. 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 - 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝘁.

Straight out of uni, I helped prepare a board presentation for a listed global company. I got to attend the meeting, and when I watched directors ask bold, pointed questions with clarity, I was hooked. That moment sparked my passion for high-stakes transformation.

𝟮. 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟯 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

From Brazil to Europe to Australia, I’ve worked across 18 sectors and multiple economic contexts. That breadth helps me spot patterns - and blind spots - others often miss.

𝟯. 𝗜 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝟲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆.

It’s not just about words, but understanding how people think, decide and lead. That cultural insight is core to how I navigate complexity.

𝟰. 𝗠𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆.

I don’t believe in governance for its own sake. I believe in governance that enables better, braver decisions.

𝟱. 𝗜 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁 - 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

10 years ago, I took on a project in a country I’d never been to. Now it’s home - with a very Aussie husband and toddler, and a practice helping purpose-driven organisations thrive.

𝟲. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗺.

It’s not something I often talk about, but it changed me deeply. I don’t show up to tick a box. I show up to make a difference.

𝟳. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.

I’m an economist and strategist by training, but I’ve always worked in the real world, making strategy - and plans - executable.

𝟴. 𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀.

It’s not about knowing everything. It’s about asking the right questions early, spotting signals, and acting before value erodes.

𝟵. 𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲.

Sun Tzu said: “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” I help boards get that balance right.

𝟭𝟬. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲.

I aim to serve on boards in health, pharma or energy - sectors where regulatory change, financial pressure and public impact converge. I bring independent thinking, transformation experience and a commitment to long-term value.