Lesley’s passion for business events began in 2000 when she joined the Edinburgh International Conference Centre as Director of Sales, tasked with driving operational profit through national and international business development. In 2010, she became Head of Business Tourism at Marketing Edinburgh, promoting the city as a top-tier meetings destination.
In 2017, Lesley joined GainingEdge, working on the BestCities Global Alliance account, first in Business Development and later as Managing Director (2020–2023). She played a pivotal role in guiding the Alliance through the pandemic, helping it emerge stronger and even more collaborative.
A former Chair of the ICCA UK and Ireland Chapter, Lesley is a committed advocate for the broader impacts of business events. She mentors young people looking to develop their careers in the business events industry and advocates for greater gender balance across leadership roles within the industry.
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Lesley has delivered on several national projects including a series of workshops for VisitBritain’s Business Events Programme (2018-2020) and collaborated with others on the development of Convention Bureaus and Ambassador Programmes.
Lesley serves as a Director and Trustee of the Royal Yacht Britannia and is Chair of Women in Tourism, Scotland. Outside of work, she enjoys escaping to the tranquillity of the Scottish countryside.