Briefly, started out in New England, sent to boarding school in Canada at age 13, and now in Asia completed a three-year term as a directorate officer in Hong Kong. Along the way, I have picked up smatterings of French and Russian, and toyed with Gondunghua & Thai; played piano for 7 years, the dom'ra in a Balalaika orchestra for 11 years; won the art prize in Grade 12 and went on to do a couple of years in art at uni; pursued my hobby of architectural design and gardening to complement my work in information and organizational system analysis, and leadership in the private, public and no-profit sectors. Later I acheived an MA in Leadership & Training and I am now considering whether a doctorate is in my future. Married my boss at one point (only once in a career!) and we had many good years together, parting company after 12 years. Currently with my partner of 11 years. Generally good relationships all round have meant a solid, loving family for our daughter who is now 20 and has started uni after taking a GAP year in Ireland and a year to work (and save up for ALL 4 YEARS!) before starting uni.

It is another period of change, now, and I find that I want to write, travel, and give back. That needs to be balanced with an income sufficient to live in Hong Kong--pricey! So, being a resourceful type, I have spent the last 6 months meeting with "thought leaders" from Sydney, Melbourne, Vancouver, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Stockholm and Paris..Brussels in November. The outcome has been a welcome to an invitation only World Bank event, collaboration with a Swedish firm toward introducing a great "Management Update", good habit building service, and a network of inventive minds and some wonderfully warm hearts. After spending the last month or so in Bangkok, I find myself drawn even more to a buddhist philosopy, but tend to think of myself as a "west coast new age" kind of guy from British Columbia.

Ups and downs include two "technical" kidnappings--both by family members--an extensive war of attrition waged by one parent against another, juxtaposition of living on the periphery of great and old wealth, while being friends with those in poverty, and discovering the reality of betrayal and poverty myself due to certain circumstances. I first learned about the "isms" in Grade Four and the lessons have stuck and shaped me and my perspectives in life.

Dani has beat me to my intended blogging and podcasting...but that, a book about knowledge resource development (marrying people, information and organizational systems) and an biography of my mother/self or fictionalized version of the same is all in the cards. Life is too short...time flies, and TS too compelling.

Private Reply to John James O'Brien (new win)