What was your dream career when you were younger?

I wanted to be just like Steve Irwin or David Attenborough, looking for exotic creatures in rainforests around the world.

What subjects did you study at school?

I studied English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Computing and Geography.

Who or what has been your biggest inspiration?

My great grandad! He was the person who taught me to count, taught me to read and helped me to discover my love of the natural world.

How have the subjects you studied at school helped you in your career?

Studying STEM subjects definitely helped with my career, and were necessary for me to go on to University. However I would say that English was just as important. I spend a lot of time writing and having this good knowledge of grammar has really helped.

Please briefly describe your STEM journey since leaving school.

I went straight to the University of Glasgow to study Zoology, which I always knew that I wanted to do. In my third year I got to live my dream and travel to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago for three months, spending time in the rainforests looking for exotic frogs and snakes! It was really incredible.

After university I worked for the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) as a Community Fundraiser, then I took a bit of a career break to volunteer for a while as a ranger for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, spending lots of time outside and leading education workshops. Then it was on to Glasgow Science Centre as a science communicator, and then finally in my current role. I don’t think I would like to be anywhere else.

What skills do you utilise most in your career? 

Public speaking, working in a team, writing succinctly and networking!

What advice would you give to any young people considering a STEM career? 

It can be boring, but it can also be incredibly exciting! You don’t have to be a genius to go into STEM (I definitely am not a genius!

There is also nothing wrong with changing your mind if you don’t like something!