Paula began working in international relations 20 years ago at the US Fund for UNICEF, where she was Director of Communications. She subsequently joined UNICEF's international headquarters as manager of communications and advocacy for a joint UNICEF/World Health Organization global campaign to end the illegal promotion of infant formula and protect women’s rights to breastfeed.

Paula's next position was as Executive Aide to the Deputy Executive Director responsible for UNICEF’s worldwide programmes and external relations.
In 2000, she was posted to Nairobi, first to create the post of UNICEF Regional Advisor on HIV/AIDS for the 23 countries of east and southern Africa, and then as UNIFEM's Africa-wide Gender and AIDS Advisor. In 2003, Paula conceived of and independently organized the "International Women's AIDS Run" in Kenya, Africa 's first all-women's long-distance road race – now an annual event — designed to raise awareness of the millions of women who care for those sick or orphaned by AIDS. Prior to co-founding AIDS-Free World, she was Senior Advisor in the Office of the UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa through December 2006. Paula holds an MA in Corporate and Political Communication from Fairfield University.

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