About Me
I grew up in South Africa and Tanzania where I developed my love for nature. I then went on to study Aeronautical Engineering in the Netherlands. During my studies I was always eager to experience more, and so I did internships in both China and South Africa in addition to completing the University's honours program: Personal Leadership and Entrepreneurship. After finishing my studies, I was offered a position as a Young Professional to continue my degree work in the design of a UAV, to teach and to supervise bachelor students at Inholland University of Applied Sciences. Looking for a new challenge and adventure, I decided to pursue my master's degree at Luleå University of Technology in the cold north of Sweden. This was the complete opposite to the warm Africa that I grew up with, but I quickly adapted and embraced the Swedish love for nature, skiing, berry picking and being in the forest.
I decided to start a PhD position in Wood Science and Engineering. Although it was a great learning experience, the industry attracted me more, where I feel I can apply my knowledge directly to making the world a better place. After finishing my Licentiate degree (a Swedish certification that can be seen as half a PhD or a second master's degree), I decided to challenge myself by exploring a new field. I wanted to learn more about programming, so I started a job at Predge where I am learning an enormous amount about data analysis and software development. At Predge I was quickly promoted to being an Agile Team Leader and a Project Manager. This description of my history, might highlight to you that I am very eager to learn and I strongly believe that new experiences: technical and cultural, enriches and helps us understand the challenges that life throws at us.
Currently, I live in the north of Sweden with my husband and our dog Freddy. The three of us love being in the forest, picking berries or scavenging for mushrooms. If you can't beat the cold weather, join it! This is exactly what I did when I started cross-country skiing. To me the best way to relax is to be out on the tracks, among the trees. In summer, I love cycling through the Swedish landscape. While skiing or cycling, I enjoy listening to audiobooks about history, random interesting facts and of course fantasy and adventure. If time allows, I also enjoy playing guitar and a tiny bit of banjo, I bake sourdough bread and brew kombucha. My love for Africa lies deep, and so we love to travel to visit family, see new sights and experience new cultures.
My friends and family might describe me as being quiet, humble, loyal, and caring. Once I am comfortable with the people around me, I embrace these relationships. I am not someone with a lot of friends, but the one's that I have, I cherish and take great care of. Now here is a poem that is very close to my heart:
When I am Among the Trees
by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It's simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”