Biography
I studied psychology at Reading University. After graduating in 1993, I spent a year as a respite carer before leaving the UK to work, travel and volunteer in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.
On returning home I got a place on a post-graduate journalism course at Harlow College, completing my NCTJ training at a weekly newspaper in Norfolk. I left to work in Cumbria where I soon became a district reporter on a busy daily.
In 2000 I was hired as health reporter at the Edinburgh Evening News, regularly bringing in exclusives on issues including MRSA, waiting lists and bullying allegations. I also produced features, securing a chance to watch a lifesaving transplant and interview the patients and doctors involved.
After three years I became a features writer for the newspaper, collaborating with aid agency Mercy Corps on two series of articles on the humanitarian response to the Asian Boxing Day Tsunami.
I also produced numerous humorous articles including a first person piece on a failed audition for the hit BBC programme, 'How do you solve a problem like Maria?'.
In 2007 I left the Edinburgh Evening News to freelance for publications including the Times Educational Supplement Scotland, The Guardian and The Herald, securing commissions for pieces on subjects including a unique course teaching the public how to survive a terrorist attack.
I joined The Herald as a news reporter in 2008, covering breaking UK news including the economic crash and bringing in exclusives on stories such as the case of missing schoolgirl Moira Anderson. I also fulfilled a long-held dream to visit Antarctica, joining a tourist cruise to write a travel piece for the paper.
The following year I left The Herald and went overseas, travelling independently through South America and Asia. During my trips I obtained commissions for articles on travel, the environment, international aid and human rights from media including ASIAN Geographic, The Guardian, Geographical magazine, The Herald, Scotland on Sunday and Asian travel website, www.CNNGo.com.
A piece I wrote on the plight of Dalit girls in Nepal was longlisted in The Guardian's International Development Journalism Competition 2010. The following year I spoke about my experiences in Nepal on Radio 4's travel programme, Excess Baggage.
On returning home I got a place on a post-graduate journalism course at Harlow College, completing my NCTJ training at a weekly newspaper in Norfolk. I left to work in Cumbria where I soon became a district reporter on a busy daily.
In 2000 I was hired as health reporter at the Edinburgh Evening News, regularly bringing in exclusives on issues including MRSA, waiting lists and bullying allegations. I also produced features, securing a chance to watch a lifesaving transplant and interview the patients and doctors involved.
After three years I became a features writer for the newspaper, collaborating with aid agency Mercy Corps on two series of articles on the humanitarian response to the Asian Boxing Day Tsunami.
I also produced numerous humorous articles including a first person piece on a failed audition for the hit BBC programme, 'How do you solve a problem like Maria?'.
In 2007 I left the Edinburgh Evening News to freelance for publications including the Times Educational Supplement Scotland, The Guardian and The Herald, securing commissions for pieces on subjects including a unique course teaching the public how to survive a terrorist attack.
I joined The Herald as a news reporter in 2008, covering breaking UK news including the economic crash and bringing in exclusives on stories such as the case of missing schoolgirl Moira Anderson. I also fulfilled a long-held dream to visit Antarctica, joining a tourist cruise to write a travel piece for the paper.
The following year I left The Herald and went overseas, travelling independently through South America and Asia. During my trips I obtained commissions for articles on travel, the environment, international aid and human rights from media including ASIAN Geographic, The Guardian, Geographical magazine, The Herald, Scotland on Sunday and Asian travel website, www.CNNGo.com.
A piece I wrote on the plight of Dalit girls in Nepal was longlisted in The Guardian's International Development Journalism Competition 2010. The following year I spoke about my experiences in Nepal on Radio 4's travel programme, Excess Baggage.