I have always been passionate about education and making a positive difference to people's lives. I became a teacher in 1986 and after working in five different secondary schools, I spent the last 15 years of my career as Headteacher of Uckfield College. Until I retired in 2023, I was also Chair of ACRES (adult education in East Sussex) and Chair of East Sussex Schools' Forum, in which I gained a lot of experience about all matters involved in Primary and Secondary education, including school improvement, school formula funding and school alliances. 

Physical and mental wellbeing are vital, alongside knowledge, skills, understanding and character growth. To help, I set up Uckfield Parkrun in 2019 and created a new Resilience Award in 2022 that is free to all schools and children aged 7-13. I love running, gardening and DIY.

After making a career change in 2018 to follow my passion in horticulture, I am a self employed gardener who moved to the area in 2021.  I previously worked in a primary school in Tunbridge Wells for over a decade, firstly as a classroom Teaching Assistant and then as the School Secretary gaining a detailed insight from both sides of the working life of a school.   My early career was in the financial world of stockbroking in the City and then for a local IFA when I left to have my son in 2002.  I am a regular member of St Augustine’s Church in Flimwell and was invited to join the Governing body as a Foundation Governor in 2022.