While there are many opportunities for mechanical engineering graduates in Alberta, the only thing that has excited me during my last year of university was Engineers Without Borders. Despite my brief history with the organization, I applied for a position in August 2005 and in November, I found out I was going to Zambia for a year!

I was initially partnered with International Development Enterprises in Zambia, but when crucial funding for a project fell through, I was re-partnered with ActionAid International Malawi (AAIM). AAIM has projects in over 40 countries and currently focuses on five thematic areas: gender and women’s rights, governance, food and nutrition security, basic education and HIV/AIDS. The organization strategy has shifted from service delivery (building bridges, schools, etc.) to a rights based approach to empower communities to achieve change themselves. At this year’s national conference, some may remember Robert Chambers referring to ActionAid as a very pro-poor and participatory NGO. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited to be a part of this organization.

I’m currently based in Mwanza, in Southern Malawi, near the Mozambique border. Until my Chichewa (the unofficial national language of Malawi) improves, I will be focusing on working with on governance, gender and HIV/AIDS issues with local community based organizations.

On a more personal front, I’ve lived a nomadic life because of my parents’ sense of adventure. Somewhere along the way, I picked up the traveling bug for which there is no cure!

I was born in Ottawa and spent the first six years of her life in Manotick, Ont. My father was a journalist with Southam News at the time and in 1988, he became the Quebec political correspondent for the new agency and our family moved to Longueuil, Quebec (across the St.Laurence River from Montreal). I was lucky enough to attend grades 1 to 5 at a French elementary school, and am therefore fluent in French. In 1993, Dad became the Sub-Saharan Africa correspondent for the news chain and this time we moved to Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. We had the opportunity to travel all around southern Africa and my sister and I attended the Harare International School. In 1996, our family returned Edmonton where I’ve lived for 9 years, which the exception of a 4 month engineering co-op work term in Germany.

While I’ve always had a passion for Africa, Romeo Dallaire’s movie “Shake Hands with the Devil” served as a catalyst for my volunteer involvement with Engineers Without Borders Canada. Since my father covered the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, Senator Dallaire’s story struck a very personal chord with me and I decided to make a serious commitment to the organization and international development.

My past work experience includes research in periodontal implants, scoliosis, composite materials, as well as, lifeguarding and swim coaching. My Canadian interests include hiking, rock and ice climbing, running, swimming, reading and theater. Much to my chagrin, there are few swimming pools in Africa, but there are lots of mountains and plenty of time to read!

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