I am an independent consultant based in Edinburgh, Scotland, specialising community-led heritage project delivery, community engagement and cultural education. I work with organisations and communities to develop projects and discussions that engage creatively with complex histories and critical social issues.

My academic background is in contemporary Scottish social and cultural history. Themes of community and heritage were at the heart of my PhD research, which used participatory visual methodologies to explore local residents’ experiences of mass tourism around the North Coast 500 touring route. "Community" and "heritage" were also important elements of my earlier work, including an oral history of the fishing industry in the East Neuk of Fife and a study of community action in a working-class area of Glasgow during the 1970s. Each of these projects involved the use of close partnership with communities, archival and oral sources and participatory research methods to understand the past and make it accessible. 

Since completing my PhD in 2022, my work has evolved in more present-centred and socially-engaged directions through freelance work across the heritage, community and rural development sectors. I am passionate about using my skills as a communicator, thinker and researcher to help generate constructive dialogue and practical solutions around critical issues facing local communities.

After five years living in Caithness and Sutherland while I worked on my PhD, I now live in Leith. In my free time I follow the ups and downs of Hibernian Football Club and can often be found out walking Scotland’s hills, glens and coastlines. I serve as a volunteer trustee for the Scottish Community Heritage Alliance, a registered charity that seeks to provide support, advocacy and networking for Scotland’s grassroots heritage organisations. I also sit on the board of the Leith St. Andrew's Trust where I assist with efforts to keep the recently-closed church building as a vital community space.