Originally brought up in Tuebrook in Liverpool I was educated at the Bluecoat School where my competitive streak led to playing chess for Merseyside and international U21 Bridge. 

I joined BT in the mid 1990’s originally as a customer service advisor on 150 where I enjoyed the variety that comes from working with the public!  My career then developed through strategic modelling and business planning to my first managerial post in applications ownership.  I became engaged in applications development, platform design and organisational change projects picking up qualifications in PRINCE2 and Six Sigma and my final post was within the Openreach 21CN programme office.

Choosing to leave BT was the biggest leap of faith I have ever taken, but one I feel has turned my life around.  In the last 7 months from the day I pressed the send button on my resignation I have lost three stone and ran my first half marathon at the end of April in 2 hours 8 minutes and will also be back on the stage for the first time in years.

I joined the Civic Trust at the end of November 2007 and I am really excited by the passion and drive of all the people I work with and meet.