My Career Story

I worked clinically as a dietitian, specialising in paediatrics for over ten years, mainly in Oxford. I became the Chief Dietitian of a large dietetic department at the age of 29 years, a steep learning curve for my first management role. 

I had always wanted to undertake research and undertook a full-time PhD in the prevention of childhood obesity at Oxford Brookes University from 1999-2002.  

After a couple of years cycling between Oxford’s hospitals and Oxford Brookes University, I moved to Australia to work on research studies in childhood obesity treatment at the University of Newcastle, NSW and the University of Queensland in Brisbane. I loved Australia and have good friends there. 

On returning to the UK, I moved to Cambridge (it seemed appropriate after Oxford!) to a post with the Medical Research Council (MRC).  

It was a significant decision to move to industry in 2008, where I was the Head of Medical Affairs for Danone Early Life Nutrition for four years. I then moved to The Netherlands for a couple of years to a Global role with Danone. The widespread fluency in English was much appreciated as my learning of Dutch did not go so well. 

After years of moving around, I wanted to move back to Oxford, which I call my adult home, and I started a nutrition consultancy business and was Lead Dietitian for an adult weight management service. This was a significant career v life decision.  

I returned to corporate life with a nutrition role in PepsiCo followed by two roles in Reckitt. Reckitt (many of the products under your sink are made by Reckitt if you are not familiar with the company), supported me during significant life events. After a career in nutrition, I ended my corporate career with a three-year post in Durex. This was unexpected but a great example of transferable skills.