I trained as a chemist and worked in various R&D and product development roles with DuPont, specialising in the formulation and application of light sensitive thin film coatings for lithographic printing plates, before exporting my skills to China, where I commissioned and ran the production and QC functions for a Chinese printing plate manufacturing company.

I have worked in international trade promotion for nearly 20 years, initially with China-Britain Business Council, then with the Department for International Trade, when the Department was known as UK Trade & Investment. Working as an international trade adviser in the Yorkshire & Humber region, I led on the chemicals and related sectors in the region and maintained close links with the sector team in London, and colleagues overseas while working with companies to help maintain and grow exports. In my new role as DIT Trade Specialist for the Chemicals sector, I will be looking to promote and support the UK’s world class chemicals industry on a global stage. 

I have been involved with the cosmetics sector networking groups for many years and am delighted to join the board of CCUK Ltd to help develop the UK's only cosmetics cluster and to build strong links internationally.