About Maggie

Maggie grew up in the sunshine in Zimbabwe and moved to Scotland nearly 14 years ago to study Zoology at Edinburgh University.  She completed a Masters in Environmental Management at Stirling University before returning to Edinburgh for her doctoral studies in environmental ethics at Edinburgh.  Her research has taken her all over Scotland, including the Outer Hebrides, Kintyre, Glen Affric and Abernethy, and, being an introduction herself, she is particularly interested in the conservation ethics relating to introduced species.  She lectures at Napier University in cultural geography, environmental ethics and social justice.

Maggie has been involved in Green Politics for many years, and is Councillor for the Leith Walk Ward in Edinburgh.  Being something of a finance/development geek, she concentrates her energies on the Finance and Resources, Pensions and Economic Development portfolios, but is also the Green voice on the Health, Social Care and Housing Committee.  She has a keen interest in supporting social enterprises, voluntary and community organisations in Edinburgh, and has campaigned for rates relief for not-for-profit groups, coherent procurement policies within the Council, and improved service level agreements between charities and the Council.  She has also safeguarded community involvement in backgreen redevelopment schemes in her ward, and campaigned against the closures of local schools and post offices.

Maggie is also a community activist, being a founder member of the transition town and land reform group PEDAL in Portobello, and she won cross-party support in the Council for the Transition Town movement.  A committed peace campaigner, she sits on the board of the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Resource Centre.  She led the Council’s support of the Scotland’s for Peace anti-Trident rally, and has campaigned against army recruitment in schools.

In her spare time Maggie plays the violin, fiddle and accordion, and enjoys walking and cycling throughout Scotland.  She likes star-gazing, watching the sun set, strolling along the beach, and browsing second hand bookshops.