I'm the director for Professional Diploma
in Tropical Nursing here at the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
I also do volunteer work,
and I'm a patron for several charities
in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal and the UK.
I've been fortunate to have met many wonderful
and inspirational people throughout my life.
But this quote, from the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu,
founder of Taoism, has always encouraged me.
"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day."
"Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
My parents always inspired me,
encouraging me to try new things
and not to be constrained by gender-based assumptions
that dictate what a girl should or shouldn't do.
I was constantly learning about brave and innovative women
so that, when at the age of 18 I decided to learn to fly
I didn't think it was anything unusual as I knew
about Amelia Earheart and Amy Johnson.
The greatest piece of advice I've received
was from my Buddhist mentor, who said
"A great human revolution in just a single individual"
"will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation."
"And further, will enable a change"
"in the destiny of all humankind."
It's empowering, and removes any feelings
of helplessness that we may be feeling.
I think that the greatest challenge in global health
is getting nurses recognised as
expert as leaders in global health,
especially in decision and policy making.
Eighty to ninety percent of healthcare
is delivered by nurses and midwives
of whom ninety percent are female.
It is my belief that often
doctors are too far removed from the
grass-roots to be able to understand
that you have to build a strong health force
from the bottom up, not just the top down.
It is also imperative that these healthcare workers
have the opportunity to improve their
skills, particularly at postgraduate level of
masters degrees and PhD research.
In 2004 I was really surprised and delighted
to receive a woman of the year award, here in London.
I didn't think I was anything special,
and this gave me a bit of a jolt,
to realise what influence I had
and what I could do from that moment on.
But seeing my students graduate has to be
and continues to be the real highlight.
I train 130 postgraduate experienced nurses each year.
But in the first couple of days of the course
they realise that they need to learn
so much more if they are to be of any use
in tropical and resource poor settings.
By the end, they are changed people,
ready for the challenges of working
in overseas situations.
It is also wonderful to see many go on
to study for masters and PhD,
and to know how much
the Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing
has inspired them to do so.
Whilst working with the International Committee of the Red Cross
as a field nurse in multiple warzones,
I was required to cross the front line of the fighting factions
under the protection of the Red Cross,
to visit hostages,
displaced people,
resupply the medical facilities,
and evacuate the wounded from the conflict zone to a safe hospital.
My experience is that war is a man's game
and arranging ceasefires as a woman was certainly not easy.
I was told on more than one occasion
that I should go home and look after my husband and children.
I just focussed firmly on what was important, what had to be done.
And I've worked in over a dozen warzones
and safely evacuated hundreds of people.
The 21st century is the century for women leaders,
and this conference offers an excellent opportunity
for women to exchange ideas,
to learn, to network,
and to support each other to facilitate
sustainable change in global health.
"Be the change."
Or, "be the change you wish to see"