What inspired you to work in careers and employability? 

It started with a conversation. After dropping out of music college, unsure of my path, a Nursery Head Teacher encouraged me to apply to university. That advice changed my life. I studied Community Education at Dundee and never looked back. My work always centres on empowering young people, especially those from complex backgrounds, with the tools and confidence for their next steps. 

Your career journey? 

I began in community outreach, then spent a decade in harm reduction and sexual health. From there, I moved into employability, working with young people not in education, training, or employment. Now at Fife College, I develop and deliver employability sessions, alongside my work at Adoption UK supporting young people who've been in the care system. I design workshops, build confidence, and prepare students for interviews and applications. I've also led awareness campaigns that changed college policy. 

What challenges have you overcome? 

Like many in the public and voluntary sector, I've faced funding cuts, resource challenges, and legal restrictions. The most personal challenge was returning to work after a family bereavement, just as the pandemic hit. It tested my resilience and ability to reconnect remotely. But I kept going, because I knew the work mattered and I had something to offer. 

What motivates you? 

My personal journey through the care system fuels my work. I've always wanted to be the adult I needed when I was younger. That drive to show up, support, and empower young people from care backgrounds keeps me going. One of my proudest achievements was helping campaign for Fife College to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic. That was huge, giving students with a similar history institutional backing and visible recognition. 

What’s your work philosophy? 

Be creative, approachable, and build support that meets people where they are. I always remind myself that people work at different speeds, so my role is to empower, not take over. I also love initiatives like ‘Dress for Success,’ providing students with interview clothes and coaching. It’s about dignity, confidence, and visibility—showing them they belong in those spaces. 

What does a typical day look like? 

Every day is different! I might be designing a workshop, supporting a student who’s job-hunting, working 1:1 with someone in crisis, or attending a careers event. At Adoption UK, I focus on advocacy and direct support for young people navigating education and employment while living with the challenges of adoption or care. Whatever the task, it comes down to listening, encouraging, and providing the right resources at the right time. 

Who inspired your journey? 

Anne Parry, an Assistant Head Teacher, believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She encouraged me to go back to university, which changed the trajectory of my life. I try to carry that same belief into my work with others. 

Favourite career theory? 

I connect deeply with Krumboltz’s Social Learning Theory. It speaks to the role of experience, learning, and adaptation in career development. Careers aren’t chosen once - they’re shaped over time by what we live through. 

What’s next for you?