I became a Teaching Associate for the new Centre for Teaching Excellence based at Glasgow University in September 2025. I am currently working in the Teaching Focused Research Core Hub, located in the School of Education (Gilmorehill campus).

I initially graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a Bachelor of Arts in Consumer Management with Fashion and Business in 1998, based in the building that would become Glasgow University’s School of Education. After a career change from Retail and People Management, I graduated in 2013 from Strathclyde University with a PGDE in Home Economics and began my teaching career within Renfrewshire Council. I have remained within Renfrewshire Council throughout my career and have had the opportunity to be a part of large-scale initiatives, as a Project Leader for Employability for eight years and as a representative for Renfrewshire Council as a Practitioner Group member on the West Partnership Senior Phase Profiling and Diploma Collaboration group.  These positions have enabled me to collaborate with stakeholders of varying backgrounds to work towards providing policies and practices that enhance the teaching and learning of the young people within Renfrewshire.

As a member of the West Partnership Senior Phase Profiling and Diploma group, I have had the opportunity to meet with educational academics to support the West Region begin to embed the new Senior Phase curriculum. I have supported the dissemination of Project Based Learning theories into coherent formats and aim to produce materials which can be shared through Research Practice Partnerships throughout the region.

I am a member of the Education Scotland: Curriculum Improvement Cycle Collaboration Group for Health and Wellbeing. This position has enabled me to use research and data to contribute to the new technical framework for the new Health and Wellbeing curriculum and collaborate with practitioners from different subject specialisms and backgrounds to shape and future proof this curriculum.

In 2025 I successfully completed training in Delivering Mentorship, a yearlong Masters accredited programme, in which I gained a Certificate of Achievement for Professional Learning. Alongside this period of study, I volunteered as a Mentor for the West Partnership Improving our Classrooms Programme, supporting practitioner’s conduct long term practitioner enquiry with a focus on high quality teaching and learning and self-evaluation.

In 2023 I took part in the West Partnership’s Improving our classroom programme. This enabled me to engage in high quality professional learning based on research through a year long Practitioner Enquiry. I was able to improve my teaching practice through evidence-based strategies with a focus on improving attainment through high level self-evaluation, use of data to inform targeted class-based interventions and collaborate with other participants to develop learning networks which focused on equity and excellence.

From 2018 until 2025 I was the Project Leader of Employability within my school. This whole school remit allowed me to design and deliver suitable skills and employment pathway programmes by building stakeholder relationships. I chaired and mentored staff members on the Employability Working Group, to achieve whole school improvement priorities. Key contributions to this remit was delivering staff professional development sessions on the importance of Meta Skills within teaching and learning; raising awareness of careers and positive pathways through the creation of a staff working group and collaboration with further and higher education institutions to support learners develop the skills and attributes for post school learning.

My Research Interests in Learning, Teaching, and Professional Practice

My research interests are driven by a commitment to creating meaningful, future‑focused learning experiences that empower both learners and education practitioners. I’m particularly interested in how thoughtful curricular design, collaborative practice, and real‑world engagement can transform education. My current areas of interest include:

Curriculum Design and Development

I am passionate about designing curricula that are flexible, relevant, and responsive to the needs of diverse learners. I am interested to explore how curriculum structures can better integrate authentic learning, interdisciplinary thinking, and the skills needed for an evolving world.

Mentorship

Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional growth. My previous research has examined effective mentoring models, the dynamics of mentor–mentee relationships, and how structured support can enhance confidence, identity formation, and long‑term success.

Employability

I am interested in how educational experiences can more intentionally prepare learners for the workplace. This includes embedding employability skills, strengthening industry connections, and understanding how learners develop professional agency and real-world readiness.

Project‑Based Learning

Project‑based learning (PBL) is a powerful approach for fostering deep understanding and transferable skills. I’m interested in how PBL can be designed, facilitated, and assessed to maximise engagement, creativity, and real‑world problem‑solving.

Practitioner Enquiry

As a strong advocate for reflective practice, I explore practitioner enquiry as a tool for continuous improvement. I am interested to look at how educational practitioners can use enquiry to refine their pedagogy, challenge assumptions, and drive meaningful change in their own contexts.

Collaboration Groups

Collaboration is at the heart of effective learning communities. I am excited to work with collaborative groups — among learners, educational practitioners, or cross‑disciplinary teams — to enhance learning, support innovation, and build shared professional knowledge.