I am a versatile and successful social entrepreneur and businesswoman with experience of the private, public and third sectors.

A leader with a long history of helping the vulnerable: As CEO of Big White Wall, a socially responsible business, I led a team which developed an innovative way of providing mental health therapies online. Big White Wall has already helped 3,000 people with poor mental health and it won the 2009 Guardian Award for Innovation in Community Engagement.

A professional who delivered better performance by increasing openness and transparency: As the Finance Director of RecruitMedia, a creative recruitment agency, I helped increase profits by sharing financial information across the company and by encouraging staff to be accountable for their financial performance.

A well rounded person with a strong finance, economics and analytical mindset: In 1989, fresh from a degree in Biochemical Engineering, I started my working life in finance. Over 10 years, I forged a successful career structuring working on large mergers and acquisitions with board level executives. I also completed an MBA at a world-class business school.

A warm and approachable communicator with the ability to relate to others: A background in mental health has given me the skills to listen to others and tenacity, developed in my early career, means that I get things done. I am at ease with social media and the internet and have a keen interest in modern culture.