Nutritionist
I graduated at the top of my class with a First-Class Honours degree in nutrition (University of Glasgow, 1997).
Researcher
I’ve won a couple of research scholarships. The Wellcome Trust (1996) and the HEBS Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2002) to study for a Masters in Public Health, graduating with Distinction and the Dr Mackinlay (Anderson College) Prize for the highest academic achievement in my year.
I worked in NHS research for 13 years, shaping national policy on diet, alcohol, heart health, physical activity and mental wellbeing.
My world-leading research on alcohol showed that Scots were drinking twice the amount our national surveys suggested, triggering worldwide improvements in survey measurement of alcohol and persuading Scottish Government of the need for the bold new policy measures of the last decade, policy measures adopted in many other countries.
Chef
Award-winning, Le Cordon Bleu-trained, Michelin-star experienced chef
Always passionate about food, I then immersed myself in the culinary arts for five years, learning from the best in the industry.
I moved to London and retrained as a professional chef at Le Cordon Bleu, the world’s top culinary school.
I went on to work at the then 2-Michelin-starred Sketch in Mayfair, learning from an all-French brigade led by renowned French master chef, Pierre Gagnaire.
Eager to soak up as much knowledge as I could, I staged (cheffy term for interned) with William Curley, four-time winner of Britain’s Best Chocolatier, and Damian Allsop, creator of water-based ganache chocolate.
Jetting off to Washington DC, I studied under Maggie Austin, celebrated US cake designer and sugar flower artist.
Returning home to Scotland, I won two national baking awards:
Scotland’s Best Baker from Home 2014
Scottish Baking Award 2014.
