My early career started in retail for both regional and global brands and led me into site development and the building industry. Since 1994, I have run two successful contracting companies.

As a mature student, studying part time as I worked, I achieved first class degrees at both BSc and MSc levels. I began to study for a PhD in Small and Medium Sized Enterprise and Social Responsibility at the University of Nottingham. Unfortunately, a second bout of cancer forced me to put my research on hold. My lifelong interest in politics became more focused five years ago, when I started campaigning for improved cancer outcomes. As a thirty one mother of two, I was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer and I was treated again in my mid 40's for breast cancer. My personal experience of the services and support available to patients, led to my involvement with Breakthrough, the Breast Cancer charity. In my time as a healthcare campaigner, I spoke in Parliament on cancer outcomes and undertook national awareness campaigns.