About Kirstie

Having been desperate to be a vet from a young age, I graduated from Glasgow vet school in 1996. After a bumpy first year in practice, I returned to the safety of vet school to undertake a residency and PhD, becoming a Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine. I then spent over 15 years in practice and academia in the UK and overseas.

As a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing I have also completed a PG Certificate in Counselling Skills, Mental Health First Aid Instructor training, a coaching qualification, and have recently undertaken training with AT-Autism and Anna Freud to become  a co-deliverer of their groundbreaking National Autism Trainer Programme.

Discovering I am autistic in my 40s was a pivotal event in my life. Having long had an inherent sense of being flawed, I now understand myself as whole. Different not defective. I am committed to taking actionable steps to increase neurodiversity awareness, mental health advocacy and break down stigma to create inclusive workplaces where difference is embraced and diversity celebrated.