I am an executive director in the health system in British Columbia in Canada, a role that's in equal parts energizing, rewarding, challenging and on a personal level, transformative.

I was awarded my Fellowship in 2007. At the time I was living and working in Scotland, and had spent time in my role there building partnerships between the health and education sectors for the delivery of some nutritional guidance in new sectors. I applied for the Fellowship based on this work, which was ever-evolving and expanding. Some of the co-ordinators working on the project also applied and were awarded the Fellowship as well, which was a wonderful testament to the work we did.

The Fellowship enabled me to spend time in Canada, sharing experiences and learnings. After the trip ended, I was offered a three-year interchange – an experience that changed my life.

I completed my interchange, and decided to stay in Canada. I've been rewarded with experiences and people who have collaborated with me, challenged me and taken my work in directions I would never have gone before. This Fellowship changed my life and I cannot recommend it enough.