I started my career as a Marine Engineer, however after 10 years, gave it all up and volunteered for a year with homeless and disabled people in Glasgow. I then trained as a Psychiatric Nurse and worked in a number of Glasgow Hospitals before joining SAMH in 1990. Since then I have worked for a number of national voluntary organisations in various management positions. In 2002 I completed a Masters Degree at Glasgow University, with the new Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 as my research topic. In 2005 I was appointed to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland. I am currently the Director of Services and Development for Penumbra, a leading voluntary organisation which provides mental health and well being services across Scotland.

During the little spare time I get, I have two children (16 and 11), and in the good weather! I am often out on my motorbike touring round Scotland, particularly Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Borders. I coach rugby at my local rugby club and still play (slowly). I play the guitar with my friends; we are all equally talentless so it’s safer that way.