About Paquita
We all have many faces and it is often difficult to find the personality of the individual from professional interaction.
Better known in commercial circles for her management of complex IT and organisational change and for drafting and managing clear project proposals and delivery plans, and in the not-for-profit sector for bringing wider participation for improved results and steering a diplomatic course to develop collaboration, we know there are other sides to her interests and activities, so we asked Paquita to tell a bit about herself.
Here are her responses.
How do you describe yourself?
Who am I and why?
A question I sometimes ask myself, as I have had a life full of fascinating adventures.
I suppose I am a catalyst for creative thinking - someone who offers the benefit of many different perspectives learned from my wide geographic background
I am curious. I like people. I see possibilities and help others identify those they see.
Experience has taught me that we all have different perspectives and for each of us, the way forward is clear and unambiguous.Sadly, that clarity may not be shared with the same precision by others critical to our success, so it is our work to bridge that gap.
Where are you based?
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Currently I live in south-west France with spectacular views across a wide agricultural valley to hilltop villages full of character. Previously, in the south of England, I had a garden office between the house and a park where my Chow Chow Balu walked me to clear my head and let me enjoy the abundance of wildlife. Here, a deer stood watching us once. I saw a fox disappear into the undergrowth, and the bird life is prolific Beloved Balu helped to select a new home in France but then became suddenly ill and left this life far too early. More recently, like everyone else, I often work from home, although often work takes me to client sites wherever they may be. |
Where else have you lived and worked?
In the past, I have lived in some magical places: tropical far north Queensland in Australia, in a loft apartment in New Orleans, a Schloss apartment (like a small castle) in Germany, and on a more temporary basis in a cottage in the Dordogne, France, a villa in Bologna, Italy, and on an airfield in the UK.
My camera is a constant companion and the photos I have taken are some of my treasures.
Having also worked in many places (my native Australia, the UK, USA, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, plus The Hague in the Netherlands, Paris - France, & Helsinki - Finland) I realise how much I have learned from each place and the people I met there, many of whom are still good friends though geographically distant.
What are your hallmarks?
With an overdeveloped sense of curiosity and a belief that fun should be part of every day and every project, my projects are successful and memorable.
My clients, peers and colleagues
from many past projects still communicate and share experiences. I count
that as a particular success. My LinkedIn profile has some recommendations I am particularly proud of.
In summary?
So that's me. Professional, fun, curious, and more interested in having a job I love and where I make a difference, than in hhaving a vertical career path.
I live in what has been described as a combination of an art gallery and a library.
The artwork feeds the soul, the library feeds the curiosity
- the fun feeds everything.