I am a Partner in Hillhouse Farm, a fourth-generation family farm in the Scottish Borders. After over a decade as an economist and banker with RBS in London, I returned to the Borders in 2017 with my young family, discovering that her business skills had a place in modern farming after all.
At Hillhouse, I partner with my brother Dave, who manages the farming operation, and my parents, Jim and Jo. Together we are transforming the business from traditional sheep farming into regenerative agriculture, building on our father Jim’s 25-year conservation legacy of woodland creation and habitat restoration.
I am also a Partner in Hillhouse Farm Escapes (farm cottages and events) and a co-founder of Wild Hill, a new agritourism venture launching in 2026 that showcases regenerative farming practices through immersive visitor experiences. My background in finance, strategy and communications has helped the family with other rural diversification projects including renewable energy development, the family’s coffee shop (Soutra), and biodiversity opportunities.
While still more likely to be found at my laptop than in a lambing field, I am passionate about demonstrating how diverse skills can contribute to farming’s future – proving there’s more than one way to return to the land.