Current role: Senior Manager Advancement
Current organisation: UQ Queensland Brain Institute
Last role at PwC: Accountant - Insolvency Services Division (UK) & Business Recovery and Insolvency Management (AU), Coopers & Lybrand
Time at PwC: 1990 - 1993
What’s the one career achievement you’re most proud of?
Completing my Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in 2015 at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute. My PhD took 7 years part time, so it took a considerable amount of dedication and perseverance. The research was difficult, and I went down many rabbit holes and dead ends. Even though you have a supervisor, and you are surrounded by other researchers as a part of a lab, I still found the PhD to be a solitary pursuit. I prefer to work as part of a team, so I found that a little difficult. I was also juggling raising two young children with my husband (also a PwC Alumnus) and a PhD, which is never easy.
What’s been your biggest career challenge and how have you overcome it?
Changing careers from accounting to science was relatively easy as I just returned to university and started a new degree when my two children were young. Unfortunately, after completing several subjects, I had a stroke that impacted my left field of vision and the learning and memory centres of my brain. As I hadn’t experienced any of the more common effects of stroke such as paralysis or speech problems, there really wasn’t any therapy I could access. I decided to return to university to finish my Bachelor of Science to drive my cognitive recovery, as memory problems were causing me the most difficulty, and studying was a good way to address that.
Before the stroke I was interested in scientific approaches to improving delivery of vaccines in developing countries, but obviously my interests switched to improving lives for people who have had strokes. I approached the then director of QBI, Professor Perry Bartlett, who not only took me on as a student at QBI, but invited me to join his lab, where I undertook two undergraduate subjects, honours, then the PhD and a post-doctoral research role.
After several years as a post-doc it was clear to me that I wasn’t going to be able to sustain a high-level research position, but I still desperately wanted to be involved in science. I respect the work that we do at QBI immensely and one of my firmly-held beliefs is that we need fundamental discovery research to truly improve lives of people impacted by brain disorders (whether it is a neurodevelopmental issue like Schizophrenia, or a neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s, or a mental health issue like anxiety or depression).
Given the state of research funding in Australia, I felt that if I couldn’t be in the lab, I could help by communicating the importance of our work with the public and by raising much-needed philanthropic funds, so I joined the QBI Advancement team. Leaving the lab was difficult for me as it was something that I really wanted to do, but the challenge was finding a career that would still make me happy and productive.
My current role allows me to use my scientific qualifications, but also provides the opportunity for me to have an impact by supporting our researchers and their incredible work.
What’s the most valuable lesson you learnt during your career at PwC and how has that helped you get to where you are today?
Building strong relationships with your peers makes for a much more productive and enjoyable working experience. The friendships I made as a graduate are still some of my strongest relationships.
We went through some of our most formative years together doing the Professional Year, but the support we gave each other has extended well beyond those first few years. Life throws many challenges in your path and having good friends and a strong support network makes all the difference.
What was your dream job ‘growing up’ and why?
I was always very interested in science and being a researcher and discovering new things was always a strong drawcard. My science interests were general as I was growing up – how do birds navigate over entire oceans and not get lost, how do black holes not devour the entire Universe (or will they one day and that’s how the Universe ends), is there such a thing as the Multiverse, what is time, what exactly is a quark… the questions are endless.
If jobs in science were more secure and paid better, I would have considered undertaking my Bachelor of Science straight out of school. However, I was pragmatic as a teenager and was more concerned with getting a graduate job, having a solid career path, and earning money, so I chose to do a BCom instead.
If you could have an hour lunch with anyone - dead or alive - who would it be and why?
Sir Terry Pratchett. He was a brilliant and prolific author who died from posterior cortical atrophy (a neurodegenerative disorder). His work doesn’t appeal to everyone. On the surface he was a fantasy novelist, but he was really a philosopher.
He held up a mirror to current society to explore many of our ugly realities but framed it in a fantasy world to cushion the blows. He faced his diagnosis with grace and a desire to help others by sharing his experiences publicly, and he was a generous philanthropist.
I’ve read most of his books and whilst they were complete in themselves, there were a few broader story arcs that he hadn’t quite finished. He’d place a few gems along the way that you knew he planned to come back to, but he died before he could.
I’d love to know what he intended.
How is your organisation making a difference in the community?
Nearly 20 years ago, the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) was established at The University of Queensland. The Founding Director, Professor Perry Bartlett, who was my Group Leader, had a vision of creating a leading neuroscience institute focused on two of the greatest challenges of modern science: understanding how the brain functions and preventing and treating disorders of the brain.
Since then, QBI has charted a course of brave and cutting-edge research to create new knowledge about the brain, its wonders, and afflictions. These innovations have resulted in new treatments, progressive scientific outcomes, and incredible insights into how the brain functions in health and disease.
This knowledge has been essential for improving treatment and developing potential cures for debilitating conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease, Motor Neuron Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, schizophrenia, stroke, anxiety and depression, and concussion, amongst others. Clinical trials, led by the QBI are now under way in Brisbane for the treatment of Motor Neuron Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Anorexia.
Today, QBI is home to over 400 of the best and brightest minds in neuroscience globally, all working to shine a light on how we can maximise the power of this incredible organ, the brain, to improve the lives of people globally.
How has your previous experience as an accountant helped your current work in scientific research?
The boring answer is that accurate record keeping and a logical, considered approach are essential traits whether you are a scientist, a fundraiser, or an accountant. All of these roles rely on seeing the big picture and being creative.
Practically speaking, partnering with PwC and being able to call on my old PwC contacts and friends has been of enormous benefit. Garry Waugh, retired PwC Partner who I went through PY with, has joined the QBI Discovery Board and is instrumental to the success of our Discovery Research Endowment Fund.
Championed by Chris Rogan and Kris Isles, PwC Brisbane has hosted several roundtable events for us, introducing us to a much broader audience than we have on our own. Margaret Doherty and Lise Treacy (nee McGuiness) two of my graduate cohort at PwC, organised a major fundraising lunch to raise money for QBI research. All of these associations are practically and emotionally rewarding. I enjoy being reminded of my time at PwC as they were some fun years.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to aspiring leaders?
Wisdom can come from many places. Anyone with a background different to yours will be able to teach you something, even if it isn’t immediately obvious. Travel and see the world, experience as many different cultures as you can, and be prepared to learn from others.
At some point in your life something unforeseen may happen (or already has). You can be a victim and let it dominate your life, or you can accept the challenge and make it work in your favour.
The only person responsible for your happiness is yourself. Other people may contribute, but the person ultimately in control of how you enjoy life is yourself.
How can members of the PwC Australia Alumni Network get involved?
Everyone has been impacted by a neurological condition on some level and who isn’t interested in the brain and its mysteries?
Come and visit us at QBI and speak with the scientists first-hand – it’s always fascinating and I’m happy to show anyone around the labs. Join the QBI community – sign up for our newsletters, attend our events, or join one of our peer-to-peer events and finally, consider donating to QBI – be part of the solution to helping solve some of the greatest health challenges facing our community.
