Tell us a bit about yourself Suzy
I’m 25 – older in body, younger in spirit, I assure you!
Hailing originally from Northumberland I now live in Gateshead, and I have a three year-old son.
What is your role at The North East Regional Portal? (TNERP)
I work in the corporate and financial section, which essentially means I do all things that most people seem to hate – the difference is I enjoy them!
I’m fortunate to have a varied job that I can really get my teeth into, from finance, accounts, legal issues and risk management to security and IT work.
I’m always up for trying new things and never, ever say no to a challenge!
What does your average day comprise?
I’m awoken by a child with a Noddy fascination, usually a good half hour before the rest of my body is really and truly ready to wake up.
Once we’re both fed, clean and dressed it’s off to work via nursery, where my son gleefully joins his friends.
My days can entail anything from accounts to reading contracts, to maintaining governance registers, to putting my Prince2 training into practise, right through to diary management and making our guests feel welcome in our pretty little premises.
I join the rat race at 5.30 pm trying to drive home, collecting my son every night and cooking for us before we embark on our fun-filled evening of flashcards and renditions of Tony Christie's “Amarillo”.
Why do you enjoy working and living in the North East?
Because I’ve lived and worked elsewhere. I spent just over two years living and working in Essex firstly, then London.
At the time my career was in hospitality so I literally went where the jobs were. I soon discovered that you really don’t get the same welcome anywhere else, or the same courtesy.
You actually get a better reception from people ‘down south’ when they hear the Geordie accent because they warm to it.
I love the mix of rural and urban in the North East, and the passion that the region has – for many things – for sport, for their way of life, and (now I discover) for their work too.
What is your dream or ambition?
My dreams and ambitions are very different things. I dream of being an actress, of being on stage in the West End taking the lead in my first play.
Or of winning a dancing competiton, in front of a worldwide audience. How very frivolous of me!
In terms of ambitions, I think I have a diverse range of experience for someone my age.
So my ambitions continue to be to diversify and grow in terms of what I can do and what I enjoy.
I think I’ve got enough working years ahead of me to make some real differences in the work that I do, to learn more about the business of doing business and, if I ever have a good enough idea, perhaps even start my own business one day.
What is your greatest achievement?
In my professional life, moving down to London when I was 18 to take over as deputy manager in a flagship pub, restaurant and hotel, and then running it alone for four weeks.
The most scary and satisfying experience of my life, and I think what gave me a thirst for a mighty good challenge!
Personally, being a single working mum is certainly more of a challenge than I ever imagined it to be, but simply getting successfully through each and every day is almost an achievement in itself.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?
I am a qualified dance teacher (Ballroom and Latin American), and I’ll get back to that in a few years time – right now I enjoy some Cuban salsa lessons whenever childcare permits.
I love to write – you’ll notice some of my handiwork around this very Portal.
I have a passion for music – artists like Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes, Foo Fighters, and proper 1980’s rock music, poodle perms and all.
And my infamous love of the glamorous world of professional wrestling has led to me now working for MEW, a local promotion holding quarterly shows in the Region – so look out for me in the ring!
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