I previously worked for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland for over 20 years. Amongst other activities at the RZSS, I oversaw the development of an international conservation programme and encouraged a number of collaborations with Scottish universities and other institutions to boost the level of academic research conducted at its living collections. I focused primarily on UK Native Species, Overseas Territories and animal welfare.
I studied for my first degree with the Open University and received an MSc from Napier University in Wildlife Biology and Conservation.
In addition to cycle commuting, I enjoy walking my exuberant dogs and quiet holidays in remote parts of Scotland, Cumbria and Cornwall, as well as trying to come to grips with the demands of triathlons for the over 50s.