Her early career was spent as a weather forecaster with the UK Met Office and BBC Scotland (1993 - 2009). During this time, she became Chair of the Institute of Physics in Scotland, a Trustee at Glasgow Science Centre and a leading contributor within Scotland’s education sector on the science and the impacts of climate change.
More recently, her career has focused on Non-Executive roles within the environment sector. She is currently Chair of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority and a Board member at NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency. She has also been appointed to the Board of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. Her passion for science engagement is maintained as Deputy Chair of science centre Dynamic Earth and she continues to be involved in science education advisory roles within the public sector.
Heather received an OBE for services to physics in 2006 and has been awarded honorary degrees from Paisley University, The University of Glasgow and The Open University.
She relaxes by mountain biking and hillwalking and ranks hiking the iconic West Highland Way with her daughter as one of life’s best experiences.