About - About

A life to date

I trained in civil engineering at the University of Bristol and went on to become a highly successful operator in the engineering and construction industries, at director level, doubling the turnover of a sector-leading business from £250m to £500m in the space of just four years. I am proud to have been named by PriceWaterhouse Coopers as one of the UK’s top five private business women.

In 2009, suffering from physical and psychological exhaustion, I stepped down from the role. Since then, I have established myself as a respected commentator on mental health issues; on industry, industrial relations and business ethics; and on issues relating to Violence Against Women and Girls (which I am now studying as an MA).

Trade Union : Present

Elected member of Unite the Union London and Eastern Regional Political Committee

Delegate to Unite the Union London & Eastern Regional LGBT Committee

Unite the Union Delegate to Camden Trades Council

Clerkenwell & St.Pancras Unite the Union Delegate to St.Pancras & Holborn Constituency Labour Party

LGBT Equalities Rep for Unite Clerkenwell & St.Pancras Branch

Member of Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT)

Steering Group Member of Trade Unions in Post-Conflict Society

Trade Union Congress (TUC) LGBT Network

Trade Union : Past

Trades Union Congress (TUC) Organising Academy Graduate with the Communication Workers Union (CWU)

UCATT Delegate to Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Youth Committee

General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union (GMB) Delegate to Birmingham Trades Council

Equalities in the Workplace joint qualification from University of Leeds and Unite the Union

Trans Equality at Work course with Unite the Union

UCATT Delegate to TUC Young Members Conference

Active member of Brent Trades Union Council / National Union of Teachers Wembley 'Tent City' academy campaign

Honorary Life Membership of University of Bristol Students Union (UBU) awarded for contributions made during time as elected Part-Time Communications Officer

UBU Delegate to Bloody Sunday Commemoration in Derry, Ireland

Gold Award for delivering the following key skills training to fellow UBU members: Communication skills, presentation skills, negotiation, attracting and retaining new members, assertiveness, teamwork, time management, problem solving, report writing, public speaking, motivation, event organising, attracting sponsorship, critical thinking and leadership. Sponsored by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Teach First

Community: Past And Present

Named as one of London's most influential campaigners in the Evening Standard annual list 2014

Highly commended as an influential role model in the European Diversity Awards 2014

Member of Solace Rape Crisis service user advisory board

Member of the Trustee Board and Management Committee of London Hazards Centre

Groundwork Northern Ireland Board Member

Camden LGBT Forum Queer Oratory Laboratory

Module from MSc Organisation and Community Development: Result – 1:1

Peer visitor to NHS Mental Health inpatient treatment facility with Camden Borough Users Group

Volunteer organiser of Camden Council World Mental Health Awareness Day event 2013

Communications Committee member with LGBT Centre of Nice, France

Volunteer worker with the Traveller Movement in Britain

Elected Communications Officer of the Troops Out Movement

Friend of Stonewall & volunteer

Active member and youth delegate of the Wolfe Tone Society

Community outreach volunteer working with children of refugees while their parents accessed legal advice, Bristol

Helpline counsellor with the National Association for the Children of Alcoholics

Active member of Western Gaels Gaelic Football Team (Bristol) and Tara Ladies Gaelic Football Team (London)

Member of charity football team raising money for St Luke’s Hospice, Harrow and Brent

Education: Past And Present

Currently studying an MA in Violence Against Women and Children

Completed Masters Modules in:

Organisational Development for Working in Communities
Trade Union Workplace Organisation
Conflict in the North of Ireland
Quantity Surveying
Law
Professional Practice
Construction Procurement & Management
Measurement, Documentation & Estimating

Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner

I am a member of the Institute of Directors and have completed and passed examination on the following courses from their Chartered Director program:

Role of the Director & the Board
Role of the Company Chairman
Leading Strategic Change
Effective Marketing Strategies
Strategic Business Direction
Certificate Exam Preparation Session
People Mean Business
Certificate in Company Direction Programme

Construction

Honours Degree in Civil Engineering including Structural Engineering from the University of Bristol, Accredited by Institute of Civil Engineers, Institute of Structural Engineers and Royal Academy of Engineering

Named as one of the UK's top five private businesswomen in the Private Business Awards 2011

Graduate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and part way through chartership

Graduate member of the Institute of Structural Engineers

Advanced Environmental Management Systems Auditor

Certificate of Excellence in Computer Aided Design

Construction Tender Presentation Skills

National Grid Technical Training Person

Personal Track Safety

Enka Certified Construction Surveyor

City & Guilds and SCOTVEC New Roads and Street Works Ticket, including Cable Avoidance Tool

British Red Cross Certified First Aid At Work

Construction Skills Certificate Scheme Supervisor Test

CITB City and Guilds Intermediate Construction Award in Specialised Plant and Machinery Operations (Construction)

Construction Plant Competence Scheme

CITB City & Guilds Certificate of Unit Credit A40 Slinger Signaller

National Construction College qualified Slinger Signaller

CITB City & Guilds Safety Awareness

CITB City & Guilds Introduction To The Industry