From my first day at Hope Capital to stepping into my new role as Director of Underwriting, Compliance, and Stakeholder Relations, it’s been a decade of growth, learning, and opportunity.

Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside brilliant colleagues, navigating challenges, and contributing to initiatives that shape both the business and the industry. Being recognised once again on the Bridging & Commercial Power List for 2026 is a humbling reminder of the journey so far.

This milestone isn’t just about personal recognition, it reflects the collaboration, mentorship, and support that have made every step possible.

Reflecting on my Journey

I started my professional journey at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, where I spent fourteen years building a strong foundation in the finance industry. During that time, I developed valuable experience in underwriting, credit assessment, client relationships and people management, while learning the importance of precision, teamwork and doing things the right way.

Eventually, after more than a decade in a large corporate environment, I reached a crossroads. While I had built a solid career, I knew it was time to prioritise my personal and family life and think carefully about what I wanted from the next stage of my career.

Joining Hope Capital

That next chapter began in 2014 when I joined Hope Capital as an Underwriting Assistant to provide maternity cover.

I remember those early days very clearly. The energy in the office, the supportive atmosphere and the shared ambition among the team made an immediate impression on me. It felt very different from the large institution I had known before.

Although the role began as part time maternity cover, it quickly became clear that Hope Capital was somewhere I wanted to stay. From day one, I felt valued as an individual rather than just another number.

By 2015, I had become a permanent full time member of the team, and it felt like the most natural decision I could have made.

Growing with the Business

Since then, I’ve seen both the business and the underwriting team grow significantly, experienced two highly successful rebrands firsthand, been part of the move to our current offices, and witnessed plans for another relocation soon. Along the way, we’ve also continued to celebrate milestones such as International Women’s Day, recognising and supporting the incredible talent across our team.

In 2018, I stepped into the role of Head of Underwriting shortly after being shortlisted for Underwriter of the Year at the Bridging and Commercial Awards, which was an incredibly proud moment for me.

As the business has grown, my team has evolved alongside it. Today, the underwriting team is the largest in the company, having grown by 44% since I first started managing it.

We now support a significantly higher volume of brokers, borrowers and complex transactions than ever before with our loan book increasing 61% in 2025.

With that growth has come a strong focus on improving efficiency and strengthening the processes that support our work. This has included introducing instant and desktop valuations to streamline deal progression, launching no upfront legal undertaking in Scotland as well as expanding our panel of stakeholders to ensure we have the right expertise and tools available to support a wider range of projects.

Supporting the Next Generation

One of the most rewarding parts of my role has been supporting the development of the underwriting team.

As the team has grown, we’ve focused on creating opportunities for people to progress within the business. Over the past few years, we’ve seen several colleagues move into more senior roles, with both Senior Underwriter and Underwriter positions filled internally.

Seeing team members build their experience, take on greater responsibility and progress in their careers has been incredibly rewarding, and it has also helped strengthen the team as the business continues to grow.

A New Role

More recently, I’ve been fortunate enough to step into the role of Director of Underwriting, Compliance and Stakeholder Relations.

This position allows me to step back slightly from the day-to-day operations and focus more broadly on supporting the strategy of the business, strengthening relationships with our partners and supporting compliance as we continue to grow.

Industry Recognition

Being named once again on the Bridging & Commercial Power List for 2026, after first appearing in 2023, was a real honour. For me, it reflects the collective effort of an incredibly dedicated team and the strong partnerships we’ve built across the industry.

I’m excited to see what my team and I can achieve next