This is an exciting time for active travel in Scotland, aligning with a growth in action on climate change and greater focus on health and wellbeing, both physical and mental. I'm interested in the role of active travel in bringing people together, creating connection and opportunities, particularly for people and communities who may not typically benefit from active travel initiatives.

Working for an independent charitable trust, with a £50m spend out endowment, I am a key member of the Care Experienced Young People Team. Our mission is to create transformational change for young people in Scotland aged 14-26 who have any experience of the care system. I play a central role in Programme development, including designing and delivering funding initiatives using systems thinking and putting young people at the heart of everything I do. I manage funding awards, getting alongside funded projects and creating trusting relationships which support a genuine learning culture. I influence policy and practice, sharing insights from our funded work and supporting people on the ground to test out new ways of working or to do more of what is working well. I manage staff and play an informal mentoring role with young people who join us on internships.

I was elected on to the SCVO Board in November 2011 - I believe it is vital that the Third Sector in Scotland has a strong national body to represent its interests and to encourage and support collaboration across the sector.I led a Governance Review during 2012/13 which led to SCVO becoming a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. This was an important vote of confidence in the new legal structure introduced by OSCR. It was also successful in engaging a high proportion of SCVO members to consider governance issues, including the make-up of the Board and Policy Committee.

I was invited to join the Board of the newly-formed Cultural Trust in Fife following five years as a Trustee on the Board of the Arts and Theatres Trust Fife.

As Deputy Manager at CVS Fife I was committed to supporting people to take action in their local communities, and passionate about the role of the Third Sector in creating positive social change. Over a seven year period, my role developed and encompassed a number of elements including:* Leading policy and public affairs work to develop the profile and sustainability of the Third Sector * Acting as an ambassador and spokesperson, representing the interests of the Voluntary/Third Sector within Community Planning and a range of multi-agency partnership settings* Providing specialist one-to-one advice and support to a range of Voluntary/Third Sector organisations particularly around governance, constitutional and Charity Law issues* Developing and managing projects, including the design and overall management of the Community Capacity Building Programme funded by the Change Fund (Reshaping Care for Older People) * Strategic planning and financial management; key responsibility for Information & Communications* Funding Management – Chair of Health & Wellbeing Alliance Funding Group supporting a £1.2m programme of investment, and managing Short Breaks Fund for Carers in Fife * Staff line management and team development

Board member from the inception of Arts & Theatres Trust Fife