Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up and and your career journey to date?
I was born in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae and lived there for one year. The rest of my childhood was spent between Glasgow, Hampshire, and Aberdeenshire which mucked up my accent, so no-one ever knows where I’m from!
I studied Political Science and Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow and did my junior honours year abroad at the renowned School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Washington DC. Originally, I wanted to be a political journalist, however, I quickly realised that I was better suited to a career in law. I received my LLB and Diploma in Legal Practice from Strathclyde and have practised law for 26 years now. Initially I worked in private practice for 10 years and was an Associate Partner, when I met my husband who was based in Leiden, The Netherlands. I moved to there in 2005 with our 8-week-old son and worked in the research and innovation office (LURIS) at the University of Leiden Medical Centre. This introduced me to intellectual property and the higher education environment. We returned to Glasgow in 2008 and I worked in RKES for 10 years as a Solicitor/Contracts Manager. In 2018, I moved into governance and worked as the Company Secretary/Secretary to the Board of Governors at Royal Conservatoire. This was a real insight into senior management and the workings of an institution, however, I missed the world of R & D and contracts. In 2021 I moved to Thermo Fisher Scientific as Associate Corporate Counsel/Team Leader in the newly established legal Contracts Centre of Excellence. I oversaw the rapid expansion of the team and the standardisation of various commercial contracts utilising the new contracts life-cycle management software (Malbek).
What is your role at the University of Strathclyde and what are your main responsibilities?
I have just started my new role as Industry Engagement and Commercialisation Manager so it’s too early to say what my main responsibilities will be, however, I hope to draw on extensive work experience gained to date.
Why should University staff, students and alumni work with the team at Strathclyde Inspire?
Strathclyde Inspire was established after I left Strathclyde. I have the benefit of external perspective and Inspire makes such a clear, positive statement with regard to Strathclyde’s entrepreneurial vision. The fact that staff students and alumni can work with Inspire’s accomplished and dedicated team is brilliant.
What is your greatest accomplishment in life?
My greatest accomplishment in life must be my two happy (most of the time) and well adjusted (most of the time) children (all of the time).
If you could visit one place in the world next week, where would you go and why?
Tambopata National Reserve in Peru to see macaws and parrots, free and wild, feeding on the clay lick. Failing that cycling the Yorkshire Wolds would be equally thrilling in a very different way!
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
Circa 1895 to the art studio of Margaret and Frances Macdonald to watch them work collaboratively on their watercolour illustrations for the Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems by William Morris.