Derek and me

I'm in the MAG (Mines Advisory Group) office with 'Derek' the deminer in full gear. MAG is a world leader in the clearance of landmines, unexploded ordenance and leftover weapons.

Pam and 'Derek'

Early in my career I worked for World Vision in southern Sudan where some of the ground was filled with landmines. I recall an incident when a convoy of trucks that I had dispatched to Bahr el Ghazal with seeds and tools hit mines. Some convoy members lost their lives and others were badly hurt and lost limbs. That was when I came to understand the devastating nature of this hidden evil.

This week my colleague, Gilles Marion, and I were in Manchester to provide consultancy for MAG. We were privileged to hear a presentation by CEO, Nick Roseveare, on his recent programme visit to DRC which gave us much insight.

What appeals to me most about MAG is the humanitarian aspect of their work. Removing the mines impacts whole communities by restoring safe access to water, shelter, food, and provision of emergency aid and essential life-saving information. People can walk without fear to fetch water from rivers and children can go to school and play in the fields once 'owned' by landmines.

I hope that our consultancy over the next three months will contribute to the impact of MAG worldwide.

Half way to the finishing line

Pamela at Cranfield University

Last week was a significant time for me and my colleagues on the doctoral programme at Cranfield University. We have reached the half way point in our studies which began in Autumn 2010.

We took stock of where we are by answering several questions: what have we learned; what challenges and successes have we experienced and what are our hopes for the next two years.

In that time I have learned to work with a more  structured approach; I have improved my academic rigour and been able to apply some of my research in my work as a consultant. 

The challenge has been to maintain a balance between family, work and studies while relocating from Denmark to the UK to start my consultancy. I thank God for my wonderful supportive husband who recently completed his own studies to gain an MSc from Oxford.

I am still motivated by the topic I am researching about the medical supply chain in developing countries and there has been much interest and support from practice. I began my studies to fulfill a lifelong ambition to research something in depth that would have an impact in people's lives. Now that I am midway through my doctoral studies I hope I will remain focused and motivated to stay the course.