She's worked for NASA and the US Air Force in a career that's spanned four continents, but Tammy Ven Dange says running the RSPCA's ACT branch has been her toughest and most rewarding challenge.
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After four years as chief executive, Ms Ven Dange will leave the animal welfare organisation on June 30.
She endured a difficult start to life in the top job, making the tough decision to cut 17 staff within months of arriving.
"We were doing everything animal-related, and I had to move pretty quickly because we were going broke," Ms Ven Dange said.
"It was not a fun way to start, but I think everyone understood and we started putting our focus back onto cruelty prevention, bringing in more money and being smarter about how we used it."
With a host of management roles among those cut, Ms Ven Dange said she worked about 80 hours a week at first, also taking on the duties of the chief financial officer and head of marketing for a period.
By the time she departs at the end of the financial year, she will have overseen four years of financial surplus, a 90 per cent rehoming rate across all species for the first time, and an increase of community support and interest in animal welfare in the ACT.
The organisation has also successfully lobbied for a ban on greyhound racing in the ACT that will take effect on April 30, and the strengthening of the territory's Animal Welfare Act.
But Ms Ven Dange refuses to take credit for these achievements, instead praising her staff for their passion and dedication.
"I was in the Peace Corp in Africa, and they say that's the hardest job you'll ever love, but for me it was this job," Ms Ven Dange said.
"It takes a community to prevent cruelty to animals and I'm literally the talking head.
"My love for this organisation has never diminished and I've never been around a group of people who are so passionate about what we do, so I know we're in a good place.
"People think I'm crazy to leave now, but the biggest challenge for us as executives is to recognise we have a shelf life and to know when we're getting stale before anyone else, and I just feel it's time for a change."
Ms Ven Dange plans to take a few months off and travel to the US to visit her family before deciding on her next move.
She hasn't ruled out staying in the ACT, having arrived 12 years ago when her then-husband took up a role in the US Embassy.
"I very rarely have a job waiting for me when I leave one, and four years is about my maximum because I like the fixer-uppers," she said.
"Now is the time to let someone with fresh energy and ideas come and be the steward.
"I think whoever takes on this job will be very tired by the end of it, but also very rewarded. They'll also get to meet a lot of cute animals."
The RSPCA ACT will advertise the chief executive role on its website within the next fortnight.
