Interests

My main professional interests are vocational and technical education, specifically delivered by colleges in Scotland.

How I got to where I am now

I started my career as a computer programmer in the semi-conductor industry. Supporting staff at one company through the introduction of new computer systems, I developed an interest in learning and training that led to me to apply for a lecturing job at the University of Paisley to teach computer networks.

Here, my interests extended to learning with technology and I was an early pioneer in the creation of online courses and development on e-learning platforms. In this role I trained hundreds of staff in colleges and universities across Scotland on emerging technologies.

I developed this interest further when I joined the Scottish Council for Educational Technology, where I led a directorate covering educational software developments for schools and colleges, as well as training for teaching and support staff in schools and colleges.

Working for Learning and Teaching Scotland (now Education Scotland) I developed an interest in the broad policy drivers underpinning education and lifelong learning in Scotland. I took this interest forward when I joined the Scottish Government as a policy analyst in 2003.

In my 10 years in government — including a two-year stint with the UK Government — most of the roles I had were related to vocational education and training, employment and economic recovery. Throughout this period, and indeed in previous jobs before I joined government, I worked closely with the college sector and was delighted to take up a role as vice principal at Ayrshire College in 2013.

I joined West Lothian College as principal in August 2018 and worked with staff, students and stakeholders on achieving our vision of developing a highly skilled, enterprising and resilient workforce. I retired in November 2025 after over seven years in the most fulfilling role I have ever had.