What attracted you to become a Trustee at the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association?
I dedicated my career to ensuring that students are at the heart of decision-making and have the best possible experience. I believe that a sign of a strong university is a strong students' association, and vice versa. Having helped create HISA and work closely with them ever since, the organisation, its values and its aims remain very important to me. I care deeply about its success and want to help ensure this, to the benefit of every UHI student.
Briefly tell us about your education
I am a proud Highlander, with family roots in the Islands, who went to school in Tain but then had no option but to leave the region to study, in my case at Edinburgh University where I studied Business. It took me twenty years before I could return with my own family and by then I had picked up a couple of Masters degrees; one in Industrial Relations and another in Lifelong Learning. At UHI, I added a Doctorate in Education, another postgraduate certificate in Mindfulness, as well as An Cùrsa Inntrigidh at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI.
What is your fondest memory of being a student?
If I'm honest, my first degree was more about the cultivation of friendships that last to today, rather than study. It was during my first Masters that a lightbulb went on, along with the realisation that academic learning could be enormously fulfilling and fun if you were passionate about the subject content.
What inspires and/or motivates you?
The delusional hope that one day Ross County will play in Europe.
What do you hope to bring to the Trustee Board
HISA already has a very strong Trustee Board, committed to the wellbeing and development of the organisation. It is an honour to join them, and I will bring hard work, positivity and hopefully some relevant experience and insight to our collective work.