I currently work as the Chief Executive Coordinator for Historic Environment Scotland. I work closely with the Chief Executive and our executive leadership team on corporate governance matters. I lead on the production of briefings for both the Scottish Government and Chief Executive and efficiently triage incoming business. Additionally, I coordinate responses to external business items, including ad-hoc enquiries from the Scottish Government. My favourite part of the role is preparing briefings, in a way, it’s a lot like writing an essay for university – gathering information on a particular topic, dissecting it and writing a coherent narrative for a particular audience. However, the job can be challenging as it’s particularly fast paced, with deadlines sometimes even for the very same day! Approaching both these aspects of my role has been shaped by my degree. My ability to work to a deadline, juggling multiple priorities like seminar readings and essays, as well as researching for my dissertation - these have all prepared me for a fast-pace atmosphere digesting and reconfiguring complex information for multiple audiences. 

I took Gender History back in 2019–2020, with most of it happening during the first COVID lockdown. During my year abroad of my undergraduate, I took a course in the History of Gender and Sexuality, and it opened my eyes to new ways of doing history and I was so sad when the course was over, I began trying to find a way to study more, which was when I came across the Glasgow programme – it’s really one of a kind! I felt the classic ‘imposter syndrome’ at first. Having done my undergraduate in Philosophy, I thought everyone would be miles ahead and I would struggle with adapting to a new type of study. However,  I found that my academic background gave me a good grounding in historical theory and historiography—there was more crossover than I realised. My advice to students looking to undertake this course of study is don’t be afraid if you don’t come from a history background, there’s lots of intersections between history and other areas of academic study that can give you a real advantage. 

My dissertation title was ‘It's a medical matter, it isn't a personal choice’: Analysing the relationship between British medical professionals and their trans patients from 1960-1980. I looked at medical journals and autobiographical works from trans folk, to try and understand the experience of those seeking gender affirming care and how British medicine viewed trans folk. The main challenge that came with writing the dissertation was that it was the height of lockdown, archives were closed and contact with my supervisor was limited to zoom calls and emails. This forced me to get a bit more creative when finding sources. I spent long hours on online archives, with so many tabs open my computer would loudly complain – I think this is something every student understands. However, without this I wouldn’t have come across the most incredible sources, including the full recording of the first International Symposium on Gender Identity in 1967. It taught me more about the way we ‘do’ history, especially history of marginalised groups. I still talk about my research to this day and it’s still a topic close to my heart, especially in the current climate.

First published: 24 August 2025

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