I am an Associate Partner with Hume Brophy and work primarily in the financial services division. I started my career as a fixed income trader and then a salesman with banks in France, Germany and the Middle East. Over the last 25 years, I worked in asset management, in the beginning as an account manager with Dresdner Bank for central bank mandates.

I have 30 years’ experience in the European Commission, most recently as the Director for Renewables, Energy Efficiency and Innovation at DG Energy. I bring significant experience and vision of the EU’s energy policies, deep understanding of the dynamics of regulation, and insight into the Commission’s senior level decision-making.

I was a UK Liberal Democrat MEP for five years and an influential member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, working on CAP reform, the EU budget and trade policy. Previously, I served as Chief Whip and Deputy Finance Minister in the Scottish Parliament (1999-2007). I also ran a large family farming enterprise and was NFU Scotland President (1997/99).

I was Chief of Staff and later Special Adviser to two Directors-General of the World Trade Organisation. Previously, I was a lead trade negotiator for Hong Kong and head of its representation to the WTO. After that, I went on to serve as Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development. With my in-depth knowledge of WTO agreements and processes, I advise clients on international trade policy issues.