| * Occupation: Corporate Affairs Advisor * Employer: Bell Aliant * Birthplace/Home Town: Born and raised on Sober Island, Nova Scotia. But downtown Halifax is certainly my home. * Where else have you lived? This is it – unless you count a short stint in Dartmouth. (I don’t.) * Describe yourself in three words: expressive, impulsive, bold |
* Why FUSION Halifax? What do you hope to accomplish in your role this year?
FUSION and I have a long (and somewhat winding) past. I’ve held various roles within the organization since the day it launched – an amazing year with UDAT, a challenging but incredible year as vice chair and director of communications, and then one more year (after a brief retirement) as director of communications and general advisor to the executive. I cannot take credit for the great work done by my colleagues over the years – I’ve always been in a support role, never in an action one – but I am so proud in role I played in making FUSION what it is today.
This year I will support Natasha – be her sounding board, her ear, her shoulder, and her sober-second-thought
o Drive home the agenda: focus, focus, focus
o Identify our big rocks, and get things done (implement quarterly check-ins against our goals)
o Build stronger relationships (one-on-one) at the action team level
* Tell us something about yourself that we’d be surprised to know:
I learned to play the mandolin in 90 minutes. And I’m marrying the love of my life on December 31, 2011.
* What do you love about the East Coast? What’s the best thing about living in Halifax?
The ocean. Salt air. Having family and friends nearby. Living in a downtown where you don’t need a map and a three subway stops to get from your office to your house.
* If the sky was the limit, what would you change about Halifax?
Tyler MacLeod for mayor.
* What is your favorite restaurant/pub/place to meet?
Morris East. Tom’s. The Drawing Room. My kitchen table.
* What would you tell a new young person moving to Halifax?
The most important this is to build your network – not just to position yourself for job opportunities, but to really become part of the fabric of this city.
Be open-minded: Join a yoga studio, an intramural volleyball team, a running group, a knitting circle, a book club – whatever you like.
Learn to network. It’s not easy, and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Read articles online, ask around, email people and ask if you can pick their brain on xyz. Set up informational interviews. Start a conversation – that’s how you network.
Most importantly - join a FUSION action team. Roll up your sleeves and dig in. I have met some of my closest friends through the work I’ve done with FUSION – and that’s saying something.
* If someone were to ask you, “Who should I know in Halifax?” Who would you recommend they meet?
Rob Batherson, Senior VP Public Relations at Colour