Deputy Head of Finance
Years as a Camper: 1999, 2000, 2001
Years as a Trainee: 2002, 2003
Years on Staff: 2004, 2005
Current Profession and Title/Years in the Role:
Deputy Head of Finance for an NGO based in Lyon, France- 2 years
Can you provide a brief overview of your current job responsibilities?
Global Financial stability of the NGO
Reporting to international donors
Audits & report supervision
Helping / training the finance & project teams
What is your best career advice for members of our Camp community?
Do something that has meaning for you and that is aligned with your beliefs.
What do you believe have been some of your greatest personal and professional accomplishments? Is there a goal toward which you are currently working?
I think one of my greatest accomplishments is having figured out what I want from life. It's not easy, it takes time and it might change, but for now, I'm happy about who I am, what I'm doing and I'm surrounded by good people I love. I think that's a pretty cool accomplishment.
My goal for the moment is preparing my future venture to be a self-employed consultant providing small businesses and NGOs with financial council, trainings to strengthen their capacities and helping them become more resilient.
What is a lesson or skill that you have taken from Camp and used in your personal or professional life?
To be open to others, to value what they have to teach about themselves, their culture, beliefs, habits... Difference is not something to be afraid of, it's something to learn from.
How do the values or skills you learned at Camp show up in your everyday work and/or personal life?
Working in an NGO, I interact on a daily basis with people from various countries/backgrounds/religions... both internally and externally. Being open-minded and tolerant is absolutely mandatory in my line of work.
Is there a person or a situation that had a huge influence on you while you were at Camp? How and why did they/it impact you?
This is a very sad one, but the passing of Matthew Paul West while we were in camp as CILT and CIT affected me greatly: life is short and we need to make the most of it, both for ourselves and for those that left too early. Prior to his passing, Matt and I were great friends and we shared some great memories both in and out of Camp Kanata. Rest in peace Matt, never forgotten and still in my heart.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be bold, be confident.
What three words best describe you?
easy-going, funny, good-hearted
What is your favorite camp memory?
Tough one...
I think if I had to pick one as a camper, it would be getting my gold band (not sure it's still a thing now!)
As a staff member, I think I'd have to go with the last night in camp with the other staff members, hugging, crying, laughing and sharing the great memories of that summer for what seemed like forever.
