Born and raised in rural West Yorkshire my career has been extensive and somewhat international. After my first job as a legal secretary here in Yorkshire, I moved to London to live the city life and worked as a secretary at the Dorchester Hotel which was my first introduction into the hospitality industry.

Following this I had the opportunity of working with the Conservative party and was based in the House of Commons when I was offered the chance to travel to New York to do 'temp' work with Brook Street Bureau. Who could resist? New York was an amazing experience and still remains one of my favourite cities in the world. Once the green card was safely in my hand I travelled to Texas and took a position as PA and PR to the general manager at the Hyatt Regency Fort Worth, Hyatt being the leading hospitality provider in the US in the 1980s, this was an amazing experience for me. After six years in the Dallas/Fort Worth area I transferred to San Antonio and worked for InterContinental Hotels and a private exclusive resort called Tapatio Springs Hotel and Country Club in the Texas Hill Country.

I took a leave of absence and explored opportunities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi which I had visited several times and where I felt my next permanent move should be. My love for the Middle East is still in place, and my admiration for their hospitality service and ex-pat lifestyle has remained very much intact. However, I was persuaded to return to Texas and join Hilton Hotels and had the most amazing position at the College Station Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre where I spent four years on a career 'high'.

And then Marriott came along ... my role at the Leeds Marriott was an unbelievable opportunity. The hotel had not even opened and here I was, working for an American company here in Yorkshire. The training, the camaraderie and the work ethic at Marriott is second-to-none, my dearest friends are from those days...it lasted for almost eight years and I held three different positions in Yorkshire and in London. We travelled to many European destinations, the US, Australia and the Gulf...for business and for fun.

In 2001 I joined De Vere and worked on a more local level (as Director of Sales at De Vere Oulton Hall) with the corporate and conference sector. There I met Angela Seager who was a client and became a friend - she and I have come a long way. I am delighted to be here in Yorkshire, promoting travel into the UK and working with Exclusivity. Working with Angela over the last three years has been varied - from being a tour guide in London to welcoming Yorkshire folks to the ' Leeds in Milan' week, it hasn't been dull for a second.