I have been a member of PCS since I joined the civil service in 1999. I was raised by trade unionists. My mother was a rep in EIS for many years before she retired, and my father had been a shop steward when he worked as a screen printer. Thanks to this upbringing, I have always held the belief that you should join and play an active part in your trade union.

I have been a rep and a member of Left Unity for 21 years, having initially played a part in an advocate-type role. I started as a Union Learning Rep, then Branch Equality Officer, before being elected as the first female Chair of the DWP Glasgow Branch in 2015, proudly holding this position until stepping down in 2022.

I was elected to the DWP GEC in 2019. I was co-opted to Group Journal Editor role in 2020 and elected to this role in 2021, before being elected as Group Assistant Secretary in 2022.

I have sat on the PCS Scotland Committee at various periods over a number of years, elected as Vice Chair in 2019, and as Chair in 2022. I was actively involved in setting up the Scottish Executive Committee, and I am Co-Convenor of this committee.

I have been involved in a variety of Equality Committees throughout my time as a rep, and currently represent PCS on the STUC Women’s Committee as one of the Vice Chairs. I believe our members are the lifeblood of our union, and that we should be representative of all of our members.

I was elected to the NEC in 2021, and sat on this committee for 3 years. During my time on the NEC I sat on a number of committees, including the Devolved Administration Committee, National Editorial Board, and the National Women’s Forum. I currently represent the SEC on the National Women’s Forum.

Following a year of the opposition alliance holding a majority on the NEC and blocking any meaningful campaigning work being done, a Democracy Alliance majority return to the NEC in last year’s elections was a welcome result. Significant progress has been made in terms of campaigning work and negotiations with the Cabinet Office, however we need to return a full Democracy Alliance NEC in this election to ensure this work can continue without any obstacles or blockers put in our way by the opposition.

I am extremely proud of the work that the previous NEC had done in taking the government to court, and challenging their Rwanda policy, a policy that was found to be illegal and has subsequently been scrapped. Our Safe Passage policy is fundamental in this fight, and we will continue the fight for the rights of refugees fleeing persecution.

I have been involved with Stand Up To Racism since 2019 on behalf of PCS Scotland Committee, and have spoken on behalf of PCS at their Glasgow rallies on UN Anti Racism Day, as well as speaking at fringe meetings at STUC Congress and addressing local campaigns. I have spoken at many public events on the Rwanda scheme, and had asylum seekers approach me to express their gratitude for the work the NEC had been doing to challenge this.

I have spoken on behalf of our union at vigils for Sheku Bayoh, bringing messages of love, support and solidarity to his family in their quest for justice. I am proud of the work PCS has done alongside SUTR to challenge racism in the workplace and in the wider society.

I am also very involved in SUTR’s Women Against The Far Right Scotland campaign, having helped to found this, launching the campaign at a public demo in Glasgow. WAFRS refuse to allow the far right to take our lived experience and weaponise this against marginalised communities. We need to challenge far right rhetoric, and do all we can to stop a far right government getting into power in order to protect employment rights.

Our members need and deserve the strong leadership Democracy Alliance can and has provided, and if elected I will work alongside this NEC to build on the work and campaign for our members on all issues.