I was born in Guyana, South America and at the age of 21 I came to the UK to begin a high profile career within the electronics industry with Ultra Electronics. After being headhunted for Siemens I spent 18 years in various management and customer service roles before moving into the financial services arena in 1993.

My approach to the importance of education and training is reflected in my own professional development as well as supporting the efforts of the younger generation, clearly demonstrated when I also became involved for eight years as Chair of the Board at City College, Manchester, playing an active role as it moved from LEA control to an independently governed organisation.

Another exciting project I have been involved with is Cariocca Enterprises, which was established in 1986 for the Afro-Caribbean communities living in the Manchester area. Now acting as Chair of this organisation, we offer low cost rental units for start up businesses, assistance in developing business programmes and projects for the benefit of all our inner city residents.

Not content with just passing the examinations needed to become a Financial Advisor, I continued to study and was recently one of the first cohorts in the country to pass the Diploma issued by the Personal Finance Society which may be compulsory for all Financial Advisors by April 2011.