I have 35 years of experience in architecture and was head of marketing at Pringle Brandon (now Perkins+Will) for six years until 2001. Since 2005, I have run my own writing and training business, specialising in architecture, engineering and construction. In 2013, I moved from London to Glasgow, but I continue to work with clients in London as well as in Scotland.

I currently volunteer as a mentor with Strathclyde University’s Intergenerational Mentoring Network. In the past, I have volunteered as a campaigns ambassador for Cancer Research UK, as a bereavement counsellor, as a writer for a women’s project in Kolkata, India and as an aromatherapist in a London hospice.

I have an interdisciplinary MA from Birkbeck College, University of London and a certificate in creative writing from City University. Writing is my passion, and I am a founding member of a successful group of fiction writers.

Key strengths

In-depth knowledge of architecture and associated fields. Other trainers and writers may claim to have this, but they often just mean that they have several clients in the field. My expertise is real. I know a lot and I’m also aware of what I don’t know. I’m not afraid to ask questions and I know what questions to ask.

Storytelling. As well as working as a copywriter, I write fiction. I’ve completed an 80,000-word novel (and have found an agent) and am working on a second. I also write short fiction, flash fiction and poetry. I understand what makes a story. My texts are never a jumble of interesting facts. They are focused, engaging and relevant with a clear point of view and a deliberately chosen voice.

Writing. I believe in the power of good writing to engage, convince, entertain and move readers. As a creative writer, I’m used to crafting every sentence. I understand how punctuation, word choices and syntax contribute to pace, tone and meaning. That sense of craftsmanship informs my business writing too.

Communicating with tact and sensitivity. I love working one-to-one with people – understanding their needs and issues and helping them find ways to be their best. Many of my paid and voluntary roles have required me to communicate with tact and sensitivity.