We recently connected with Paul Nash and have shared our conversation below.

Paul , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

Nobody is an expert in everything. Identifying your own weaknesses is actually a strength if you set aside time to learn and work with those who compliment your abilities with strengths of their own. The only weakness is failing to acknowledge that you are not always the best at everything and that others can contribute to your success as you can theirs. I have been mentored and supported by some really strong mentors and bosses who have enabled me to build my skills and interest areas. In turn I have been able to support the team grow to their own strengths and create a supportive and productive, inclusive work environment that really does achieve.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a chartered psychologist from the UK specializing in attitudes, stigma and prejudice. I have applied my field to focus on the intersectional stigma and discrimination experienced by minority group older adults and the resulting health inequality, especially for those living with HIV. Although initially appearing niche, this enables me to work with a wide range of people and apply to many other allied areas. I got into the field through an interest in human cognition but wanting to apply it in real world setting. Ageing and ageism at that time was somewhat under studied and the more I looked into the field, the more I realized that this would be my calling. Since working with older adults and in the field of gerontology, I have further responded to identified need and built my expertise to address need and enabling me to contribute meaningfully outside of academia.
Being within the field of academia I am able to add a research evidence base to challenges within society. I am able to provide support to the community as well as community partners to add an academic voice to proposals, policy and implementation plans to further empower marginalised groups.
I am proud to work with community partners within the field of HIV and ageing. I am proud to serve as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV. I am proud to provide a voice for older people living with HIV, helping shine a light on the challenges associated with ageing with the virus and helping find solutions. I am also proud that by working with older adults directly and translating the research into meaningful dissemination events, we can empower them to advocate for themselves and understand more about systems at play as well as facilitating their involvement, giving them a place at the table,

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

The ability to listen. Although it is important to pass on your understanding, knowledge and research, it is also important to listen to others, especially those with lived experience. Your own biases and preconceptions will colour your understanding and it is important to stay grounded with the realism of those who are living what you are researching.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

i certainly would. Unlike any other form of prejudice, ageism will impact us all as we progress through the lifecourse. This makes it the perfect focus for advocacy across social categories. Regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, sex, gender etc we will all age but the way we experience ageing will differ based on our intersecting social identities. Researching this and helping inform policy and practice will help not just older people living that reality now but for generations and hopefully continue to inspire the active involvement of older adults in research for a long time to come