I have spent most of my career involved with research and policy, latterly in health and social care. From 1985 to 1993 I worked at the Social Work Research Centre at Stirling University, established to evaluate social work effectiveness. In 1993 I moved to Glasgow University as Director of the Nuffield Centre for Community Care Studies.

After three decades of doing research, I was tempted south in October 2005 by the opportunity to lead research in practice for adults, a partnership agency funded by local authorities.  This allowed me to try and ensure that the evidence from research was actually implemented in practice.

In October 2009 I was able to return to Scotland to pursue a similar passion as Director of IRISS.