I am the Reform UK candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran constituency.

Full statement

I was born in Glasgow to a paediatric surgeon and a mathematics teacher. I studied at the High School of Glasgow and became an accountant and a working economist, with three master’s degrees in: International Commercial Law (LLM – University of Salford)); European Business (Euro MBA – University of Maastricht)); and Digital Transformation (MBA – University of Barcelona). I am married with 3 children.

For the last 30 years, I have worked as an international economic development consultant and policy adviser for the European Union, World Bank, IMF, British Government Foreign and Commonwealth Office and others with assignments in more than 50 countries throughout the Middle East (Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen), Russia, Africa and Eastern Europe.

Notable assignments include:

Shipbuilding: Project leader for the privatisation of the Western Shipbuilding and Repair Yard JSC, Klaipeda, Lithuania; Project leader for restructuring of: Egyptian Ship Building and Repair Company, Alexandria; Bijela Shipyard, Montenegro and Karachi Shipyard, Pakistan.

Trade and Investment: Lead Adviser to the Ministry of Trade and Industry Kosovo (4 years), negotiating 4 free trade agreements and advising on trade and investment strategy.

Establishment of the Investment Promotion Agency and well as SME Development. Chief Accountant to the British Government Kosovo Rehabilitation Programme, with responsibility for the allocation of £180 million in 9 months to restore power supplies, hospitals, sanitary services and some 500 small projects.

On returning to my home in Scotland, I feel the need to be politically active as a force for change. I am known within the North Ayrshire area and live in Largs.