MES Former Pupils Guild

mitis et fortis

The Committee

President: Claire Cunningham

Claire has been a member of the committee for a number of years and was even on the committee as a pupil representative during her sixth year in 1997. Having experienced the changes within the Guild over the years, Claire is ready to meet the needs of as many members as possible.
With a commercial background in sales and marketing, especially within small and medium-sized businesses, Claire will be planning on using these skills during her tenure as President to ensure that communication between members is maximised.

Immediate Past President: Rachel Sneddon (nee Brown)

Rachel left school in 1995 to study Textiles at Heriot Watt University, Galashiels and on completion of her degree she joined the sports and work wear manufacturer, Russell Europe Ltd. She enjoyed a number of years as part of their quality control management team; however, after the birth of her first son, she felt the time was right for a career change. So, after a few more years spent business planning and gaining experience, Rachel set up her own bridal wear retail business, Rachel Scott Couture, in 2005 which continues to grow successfully. After attending a number of the FP networking groups, Rachel was excited by potential for the FP Guild to progress through such events and by joining the Committee in 2010, hopes to use her experiences of school, running her own business and being a mum of two to assist in this development.

Vice President - Vacancy

If you would be interested in joining the committee with the aim being the role of Vice-President, please contact the Guild for an informal discussion.

Honorary Treasurer - Claire Thompson (nee Maxwell)

Claire previously held the role of Guild Coordinator and since stepping down has joined the committee as Treasurer.

Committee Member - Susan Murray (nee Anderson)

Committee Member - Fiona Lawrence

Committee Member - Laura Willis

Laura left Mary Erskine in 2005 - since joining in 1990 and went on to study Textile, Fashion and business at Heriot Watt in Galashiels. Following on from this she continued to work in luxury fashion retail for almost 10 years - including everything from buying to marketing, personal shopping to management - even being included in Drapers Record's 30 under 30 in 2015. In 2017 she decided to leave retail for hospitality to spend more time with her young daughter Martha. March 2019 is the first time she's stepped foot back on MES soil but hopes that she can become more involved with FP events in the future.

Commitee Member - Rachel Moriarty (nee Roberts)

Rachel has been working in academic publishing since joining Springer Nature in 2009, following completion of an MSc in Publishing. Tens years in, Rachel is an experienced Computer Science Senior Editor who manages a program of 17 traditional journals and was responsible for the successful launch and development of a further five Open Access Journals. Rachel participated in a panel at the 2017 London Book Fair, discussing "Careers in Academic Publishing: Developing and Enhancing Skills and Experience" and was also part of the Springer Nature cohort for the Financial Times 125 Women’s Forum in 2018. Eachel is currently the Chair of the STM Association’s Early Career Publishers Committee and part of their Mentoring and Graduate Publishing Sub-Committees, in addition to holding the Early Career Publisher seat on the STM Board.

Honorary Presidents: R M Morgan, P F J Tobin, J N D Gray, Mrs N S Rolls and Mrs L A Moule.

Committee Members: Mhairi McLeod and Dorothy Webster.

Guild Coordinator: Sam Roger.