| Date of Birth: |
• 6th May 1966 |
| Family: |
• Three children |
| Education: |
• Anderson High School, Lerwick
• Napier College, Edinburgh - BA (Hons) Business Studies 1989 |
| Experience: |
• Parliamentary Researcher to Jim Wallace
MP 1989-91
• Managed family farm 1990 - 2000
• Press Officer, Scottish Liberal Democrats 1991-2
• Councillor Shetland Islands Council 1994-99
• Member of Scottish Parliament 1999 - |
| Political Career: |
• Shetland Islands Councillor 1994-99
• Member of the Scottish Parliament for Shetland 1999 -
• Transport, the Environment & Europe Spokesperson 1999 - 2000
• Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Business Manager Oct 2000 - Mar 2001
• Deputy Minister for Parliament Nov 2000 - Mar 2001
• Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Spokesperson Oct 2001 - May 2003
• Highlands & Islands Spokesperson Oct 2001 - May 2003
• Convener, Scottish Liberal Democrats 2003 -
• Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Services and Parliamentary
Business May 2003 -June 2005
• Minister for Transport June 2005 - May 2007
• Elected leader of the Scottish
Liberal Democrats on August 26th 2008 |
| Member: |
• Vice-Chair, Shetland Council Roads &
Transport Committee 1994-9
• Chair, Lerwick Harbour Trust 1996-9
• 1999-2000 Member of the Transport and Environment and European Committees
of the Scottish Parliament
• 2001-2003 Member of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee of the
Scottish Parliament and substitute member of the European Committee |
| Other Interests: |
• Up-Helly-Aa
• Golf
• Cinema |
