12 years the wiser – reflections from our departing Chief Scientist

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Maya Angelou

Just over a decade ago, I crossed an ocean and landed in Norway. Never would I have imagined that crossing to be more that its literal meaning of moving from Canada to Norway.

My first stop involved looking for minerals. But my curiosity was quickly captured by a dynamic organization that was reaching for ambitious goals and connecting change makers the world over. I will soon be moving back to Canada to pursue a new adventure. This leaves me with the luxury of looking back on the past decade as the end of one leg on my personal journey.

I realise now that the crossing back then was not only over a body of water. I crossed intellectual divides that pushed me towards new disciplines and ways of thinking. I crossed sensory divides that brought me to emotional edges that enriched my knowledge and experiences. I crossed geographic divides that gave me the fortune of seeing and being in places I could not have imaged traveling to before.

All of this richness has left its mark and profoundly changed who I am and how I live in relation to this world we all share. This piece is not enough to express all the gratitude I carry for this unimposing place, this small seaside community on the south coast of Norway. However, with this narrative, I wish to convey a glimpse of what it has been like to be a part of the GRID-Arendal family.

One does not settle in a place for more than 10 years and choose to depart with ease. One does not take the connections and friendships made for granted. One does not progress from the impacts made, and the change enabled by being part of such a dynamic and vibrant organization, without taking a moment.

‘GRIDers’ past and present have shaped who I am. The people that are GRID-Arendal all have, and continue to, change me, to challenge me and to push my boundaries and awareness towards a rich diversity of horizons. I profoundly admire the passion, dedication, skills and experience demonstrated by everyone and how all that comes together into the distinct phenomenon known as GRID-Arendal – a humbling experience when all is said and done.

My time at GRID-Arendal started with a need to “update” the map of the world. As a young marine geoscientist, I joined GRID-Arendal in August 2006 as part of the Continental Shelf Programme. When you focus day in and day out on the task at hand, you sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture of what is being achieved. The Continental Shelf journey allowed me to interact with incredible people from countries around the world, working diligently to redraw the maps of their maritime spaces. And they succeeded! Knowing I played a small part in that is both humbling and inspiring. For me, the inspiration that resulted from noticing that actions did could bring about change, led me to deep dive into new topics only my being at GRID-Arendal allowed me to discover.

As I transitioned into a senior management role, I anchored myself in exploring how change can be best enabled and achieved and how transformative social processes can be applied to help groups reach their highest creative and innovative potential. Above all, GRID-Arendal afforded me the space to deepen my understanding of alternative economic thinking and how societies can choose pathways that lead to socially just and ecologically sustainable realities that increase the well-being of people and planet.

It has been an honour, a privilege and a deeply fulfilling experience to have served GRID-Arendal over the past decade. I was fortunate to be in an organization that allows us such freedom to shape our professional roles and sense where our collective energy can be of most value. GRID-Arendal is a rare type of organization connected to an influential benefactor, Norway, and the key global environmental voice, UN Environment. Both recognize our creativity, drive and ingenuity with GRID-Arendal also striving to ensure a healthy work-life balance. I cherish what we have created together. 

To my GRID-Arendal colleagues: you are all incredible people and incredible achievers. Leaving such a rich group of friends is, quite frankly, one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made. I am comforted by the fact that your on-going successes will ensure that your mark on the world will continue to be felt and expanded.