REGULA NIEHUS has been communications manager at Powertech for the past 12 years. Swiss by birth, she applies ‘Swiss precision' to all the projects she is involved in - and they run like proverbial clockwork.

Regula has the ultimate communicator's gift of being able to make every word count. Known as "a bit of a character" by her colleagues, she nevertheless likes to stay out of the limelight and prefers to pull strings from behind the stage.

Sparks: Where were you educated?
RN: I obtained my education in Switzerland.
Sparks: How long have you been involved in the electrical industry?
RN: I have been in this industry for my entire working life, which is over 30 years.
Sparks: When and where did you start your career?
RN: I started my career in the late ‘70s at ABB in Switzerland, which at that stage was still known as Brown Boveri & Cie AG.

Sparks: What are the greatest changes you have seen over the years?
RN: The greatest change I have seen in my profession is that the understanding and acceptance that communications, as a function, belongs in the C-suite is progressing in leaps and bounds. In the past, the communications function was seen as the ‘dolly-bird-and-balloon-brigade' however, companies have now started taking us seriously. In the past, the CEO always understood why he had to have a CFO. Today CEOs are more willing to accept that a communications expert can make a noticeable difference to their bottom line.
Sparks: What major projects have you worked on and what is your greatest accomplishment?
RN: I have worked on so many projects that it would be impossible to single out a few.

Sparks: Who has been your inspiration or have you had a mentor who has influenced your career?
RN: I have a mentor, based in Switzerland, who is probably the most important person responsible for my success.
Sparks: What, to your mind, is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry at this time?
RN: The single biggest challenge facing industry is the current recession in the building and construction sector.
Sparks: What do you enjoy most about your job?
RN: I get a lot of satisfaction ‘pulling the strings' behind the scenes, assisting in changing perceptions and reputations, and especially the satisfaction of a project that went well.

Sparks: If you could ‘do it all again', would you change anything? If so, what would that be?
RN: In all honesty, I don't have the urge to change anything because life is what you make of it. I'm sure that if I would have to start all over, it would be different, but because it is a different life, not because I would want it to be different!
Sparks: Would you advise a person leaving school to enter the electrical industry? And why?
RN: Your profession should always be in an area that is close to your heart. If you are interested in electrical engineering and any professions within the electrical industry then it will be the right choice.

Sparks: Name three things on your ‘bucket list' (things you want to do before you ‘kick the bucket').
RN: I have to see Petra in Jordan, which is probably the oldest city in the world, otherwise I don't have a bucket list - I take one day at a time and am grateful for every sunrise I see!