ABOUT

I’m Abby, the founder of Continua.

I have over 25 years of experience in the field of international peace and security, with an emphasis on the role good governance plays in preventing violent conflict. 

Earlier in my career, I focused on more traditional security issues while serving as an army officer, a peacekeeper, and a diplomat.

I have designed and led complex projects requiring thoughtful management of diverse stakeholders, including: 

  • Negotiating and managing strategic partnerships with key donors

  • Designing and delivering pilot climate security courses for government officials in different regions

  • Building and leading teams supporting security sector reforms in conflict-affected contexts (in the Balkans, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America)

  • Negotiating new confidence-building measures in the field of arms control

Most of my experience has been in the public sector, working with governments, think tanks and foundations —  institutions which play a key role in transitioning away from outdated, extractive approaches and toward greater systemic health and resilience.

I have often advised senior government leaders (including ministers and chiefs of security services) on sensitive organizational reforms. I know how to listen to leaders, ask the right questions, and get to the heart of complex problems when advising on:

  • Strategy 

  • Policy

  • Decision-making

  • Resource management

Today, my work focuses on the paradigm shifts needed to create lasting peace and security. 

I have seen traditional approaches to reforms fail to produce the intended results, and even the most sophisticated organizations struggling to define their value in a context of accelerating change. 

This is why I increasingly focus on:

  • Tackling underlying issues at the heart of insecurity today, including environmental harm and the effects of trauma on public institutions and the communities they serve

  • Bringing regenerative principles into governance and management, i.e., reflecting the qualities of healthy ecosystems in organizational strategy and decision-making

I’m a diplomat by nature and a skilled facilitator. My ability to navigate uncertainty, synthesize diverse views, and identify common interests is key to my approach.

Want to know more? Check out my CV here