I grew up in Aberdeen and graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a 1st class BSc in Mathematics. After a short time in the pensions industry, my desire for a career change led me to complete a MA (Distinction) in Sports Development at Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education.

Following this period of study, I enjoyed working for 3½ years with the Youth Sport Development Project in Dundee. This project sought to develop sport in four Social Inclusion Partnership areas of Dundee as well as utilise sport as a tool for social inclusion.

I joined the Institute of Youth Sport at Loughborough University in 2003. I primarily worked on the large-scale national evaluation of the New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund. I was also involved in other research work on the Cricket Foundation’s Chance to shine programme and on sports organisations in Zambia that utilise sport as a context to deliver education on HIV and AIDS. As part of this research, I visited Zambia in the summers of 2006 and 2007.

While at Loughborough, I studied part time for a PhD that examined partnership working across PE, school and community sport in local authorities. I also developed other research interests including the sustainability of sports development programmes.

Away from work, I enjoy almost all sports but I am primarily involved in hockey decreasingly as a player but also as a coach of both junior and senior players.