Prior to becoming Elected Mayor of North Tyneside in June 2009, I also served as Elected Mayor from 2003 to 2005.  I’ve been an elected member of North Tyneside Council from 1991 and I’ve lived in North Tyneside for the past 25 years. 

My professional background is within the health service for which I served for over 30 years. I’m a qualified state enrolled nurse, state registered nurse, and I’ve got two BSC (Honours) degrees in Health Studies and Community Health and a post graduate certificate in Child Protection. 

Over my career I’ve worked in a hospital setting and in primary care working as a Health Visitor in many areas across North Tyneside, this has enabled me to assess the needs of the residents of the borough.  

As Elected Mayor I’ve stabilised the Council’s Budget in the face of considerable financial pressures, maintaining frontline services.  I’ve lead on a range of initiatives to regenerate North Tyneside including the development of plans to regenerate Whitley Bay’s Spanish City including the historic dome.  On top of this I’ve overseen the establishment of the Riverside Business Forum which I chair, in order to drive forward the development of the North Bank of the Tyne to make it one of the top locations in the UK for off-shore wind manufacturing. 

Furthermore, I’ve established the North Tyneside Business Forum to establish a stronger dialogue with the business community. 

I truly believe that North Tyneside is a wonderful place with much to offer.

As Elected Mayor I've been elected to the following bodies by North Tyneside Council:

Association of North East Councils 

Association of North East Council Leaders and Elected Mayors Board 

City Region Executive Board 

Local Government Association 

Newcastle Airport Local Authority Holding Company – Director 

North East Regional Employers Organisation 

North East Regional Employers – Executive Committee 

North Tyneside Strategic Partnership – Executive 

Northumbria Police Authority 

Tyne and Wear Development Company Ltd (Directors of Company) 

Tyne and Wear Development Company Ltd (Members of Company) 

Tyne and Wear Development Company Ltd (Executive Committee) 

Tyne and Wear Economic Development Joint Committee 

Tyne and Wear Leadership Group