Meet The Team

I was employed for over 20 years in a number of operational roles with companies involved in leading edge chemical manufacturing and processing, most recently with FTSE 100 company Johnson Matthey. I joined as part of the team tasked with the design and built a new £25m greenfield manufacturing facility in Swindon to produce Fuel Cell components for this developing technology, before taking on the role of Operations Director leading a team of 120 people with responsibility for manufacturing, supply chain and quality.

I retired from Johnson Matthey in 2016 and am now self-employed running a Bed and Breakfast business with my wife in the popular village of Drumnadrochit in the Highlands of Scotland. I became a GURCA member in 2017 and trustee in 2018.

Between 2008 and 2010 during a planned career break I undertook a 2-year voluntary placement with Voluntary Services Overseas living and working in Kathmandu, Nepal. The placement was with the Government of Nepal in the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare and involved working with colleagues in the Ministry on strategy and policy development, policy implementation, capacity building and awareness raising for the disability sector.

1974-76 - 2 years as a Management Trainee with Marks & Spencer.

1976-2006 Joined Lloyds Bank on their Management Development Programme within the Retail Banking (High Street) Sector. Worked in 10 different branches and an Area Directors Office developing finance related skills in the Personal and Business Sectors whilst gaining related passes in the Chartered Institute of Bankers exams. Having run branches, new customer service and marketing initiatives and developed and taken related training courses, I began a specialisation in Business Banking in the up to £2M turnover range which continued until I left the Bank.

2007-13 Run small ‘Bed and Breakfast’ with my wife, Carol

2007-12 Part-time Lifeguard at Inverness Leisure

2009-16 Part-time Steward at Urquhart Castle, including guided tours. 

Voluntary activities

Chairman, Secretary, Teacher, Coach, Competition Official for Wootton Bassett Swimming Club 1992-2002

Leonard Cheshire Volunteer Kington Langley 2004-6

Glen Urquhart Greenspace Community Company, Director Secretary 2009- 2013

Craigmonie Woodland Association Volunteer 2018 onwards

After A levels and passing my English Oxbridge entry exam, I took the decision not to pursue a degree course and entered the Civil Service in the Legal Aid department.

I studied Contract Law for 2 years whilst here I organised and ran exhibitions for a Bristol Design company. A career jump to the building firm Laings saw me training as a Quantity Surveyor, before a break to have children.

A lifelong passion and concern for animal welfare saw me working alongside RSPCA, Trading and Standards and Police, whilst bringing up my children. This led to the formation of my charity, National Equine Defence Society, where we rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed over 300 equines. Whilst running this and due to chronic tendonitis, I invented a tool to let me continue my work.

Lite-Lift Uk Ltd was formed after winning various awards for the shaft I invented. As Managing Director of Lite-Lift and having successfully supplied these tools to our main customer the MOD, I took the decision to suspend production when the recession saw our main customers having to reduce orders. I hold the patent for my tools and may sell rather than pick up production as I have now retired.

The awards I picked up were:

• Business Smart Micro Project Award 2001
• West Yorkshire Big Fish Award 2002
• Female Inventor of the Year 2003
• Institute of Directors Award 2003

During this time, I sat as a non-executive director on the board of Business Link Yorkshire.

In 2018 my husband and I decided to fulfil an ambition to retire to the Highlands and enjoy this wonderful area.

I grew up on the Isle of Lewis and have spent most of my working life in and around the Highlands of Scotland. I originally trained as a Nurse and have also had stints as a musician and performer in Aberdeen. I'm a Gaelic speaker and passionate about the culture and history of the Highlands - Loch Ness in particular. 

I've been working as a Senior IT Engineer over the last 13 years and recently my wife and I have branched out to created the Loch Ness Living brand, promoting slow and sustainable tourism throughout Scotland. As part of that we lead tours and workshops focussing on traditional craftmaking, natural dyes and nature walks. I'm also involved as a volunteer with the Craigmonie Woodland Association and more recently have signed up to be a member of the crew at RNLI Loch Ness. 

I see the Loch Ness Hub as being a key part of providing a great visitor experience in the area along with showcasing the best of both the South and North sides of the Loch. 

After graduating in 1979 I joined the British Railways graduate management programme, and worked in the industry for over 20 years. I held a number of senior management positions, and spent several years involved with the negotiation and management of high value contracts. When I left the industry to pursue life in the highlands, I was the Commercial Director for the London and North Eastern zone of Railtrack.

Since leaving work, I have been involved in a range of community groups as a volunteer. Currently, I am the coordinator of the Drumnadrochit Community First Responders, a director of the Glen Urquhart Care Project and its subsidiary, Glen Urquhart Care (Developments) and a Trustee of the Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association.