Graduating from St Andrews in 1964 with a degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry, I trained as a petroleum engineer with Schlumberger. My early career included field service engineering roles in Paris, Pau, Algeria, Nigeria, and Patagonia, followed by a managerial position at Texaco Europe in Brussels. I managed a factory producing analytical chemicals in Belgium before shifting to marketing at Wynns and then Dow Corning Europe. After consulting for the European Commission, I joined Lion Industries, eventually relocating its headquarters to the UK in 1988, where I remained until selling the company in 2016.

As a retired professional, I now focus on advising local authorities on reducing fossil carbon emissions and combating climate change. I served as a Lichfield City Councillor for over 20 years and a public Governor of Burton hospital for 7 years. I'm a Fellow and Trustee of The Lunar Society, leading its Climate Change Working Group.