Beth Payne has been an amateur photographer for over 40 years. In the past ten years, photography has been much more than a hobby; it is a way to maintain her resilience and prepare for the unexpected. Photography can help you thrive during the COVID-19 global health pandemic. By using photography to build your resilience, you will be more adaptive, innovative, and capable even under stress and adversity.

Beth served as the U.S. Consul in Baghdad, Iraq from 2003-2004. In 2006, she was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the trauma she experienced in Iraq. Photography was central to her recovery. 

Since then, Beth immersed herself in trauma and resilience research, looking for ways to prepare U.S. diplomats assigned to high threat environments. She helped create the State Department's resilience training programs, and in 2016 established the Department's Center of Excellence in Foreign Affairs Resilience.

Beth will introduce participants to basic resilience principles and explain how to recognize when your resilience is low. She'll describe how photography helps foster the five resilience factors, introducing you to several resilience skills and tools. You’ll discover new aspects of photography that will help you thrive in adversity!

Presenter: Beth Payne

Beth Payne is a retired U.S. diplomat and a resilience expert who helps people succeed and avoid burnout despite chronic stress and adversity. In 2016, she created the U.S. Department of State's Center of Excellence in Foreign Affairs Resilience, where she designed resilience tools and resources for foreign affairs professionals across the U.S. government. 

Ms. Payne served as a Foreign Service officer from 1993 until 2016 with assignments at the U.S. Embassies in Senegal, Rwanda, Israel, and Kuwait and as the U.S. Consul General in Kolkata, India. In 2003, she opened the Office of the U.S. Consul in Baghdad, Iraq, where she received the State Department's award for heroism. 

In addition to providing resilience training services, Ms. Payne hosts a weekly blog that offers practical tips on how to build and maintain individual and team resilience and how to be a Resilience Leader. Check out her blog at payneresilience.com/blog.