No wrong path would describe my journey to doing a job I love. To make a living out of doing something you love is the dream!
I started out with a very broad degree from Glasgow Uni in ‘Applied Plant and Animal Science’.
Passionate about algae but unable to grow it, I became engrossed in how to make dairy cows less stressed – this led me on to work with big pharmaceutical companies to make a vaccine for chickens to stop them getting diarrhoea.
My career progressed from chickens to humans, and I worked on vaccines for malaria. One of my proudest moments was receiving funding from Bill Gates and he attended a talk I gave on the project.
I lived abroad in the Middle East where I worked as a science-tech and I loved bringing my scientific knowledge and technology together into classrooms and showing its potential.
Which leads me to where I am now – bringing the world of work to life with the latest technology and gadgets, going into schools and sharing a passion for STEM. It’s amazing how many digital skills we all have and use every day and how quickly things have changed.
What would you tell your teenage self?
Careers are not linear – it’s a road which has junctions, twist and turns! Break it down in small decisions and chose what is best for you at the time.
What is your superpower?
Enthusiasm fuelled by wonder and asking questions.
What superpower would you like to have?
The power to ‘Make it happen’ and control the elements in my environment, that hold me back from achieving all my ideas!
What attracted you to a career in computing / tech?
I love the opportunity to go out and explain things in a hands-on way-tying together different subjects together in a learning context to make it real and relevant.
What is your favourite past time?
Pottery, I love how you can make something elemental-from the earth- into something functional and the chemistry of glazing to make it look completely different. The 3d printed pots take this to a whole new level!
Do you have a favourite place in the world?
Home – the Highlands – the landscape, the sea – the people….
What is your spirit animal?
I’m a panda -13% of the UK population are Pandas. Motto: Let’s all get along.
Pandas are warm, friendly, loyal, and popular. They like being around people and are very sociable.