Lesley’s passion for business events started when she joined the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) in 2000 as Director of Sales, with a remit to take the EICC into operational profit through the development of key international and national association & corporate business.
In 2010 Lesley joined Marketing Edinburgh as Head of Business Tourism where her key focus was marketing Edinburgh as a sought-after meetings destination. In July 2017 she joined GainingEdge as a consultant working on the BestCities Global Alliance account – first in a Business Development role and then as Managing Director Jan 2020 – June 2023. During that time the Alliance successfully chartered the choppy pandemic waters, emerging as a stronger and even more collaborative Alliance.
Lesley is a past Chair of ICCA UK and Ireland Chapter and a huge advocate for impact and the beyond tourism benefits generated by business events. When not advocating for impact through business events, Lesley supports and mentors young people looking to develop their careers in the business events 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. She also sits as a Director and Trustee of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
In her spare time, Lesley likes to get away to enjoy the tranquillity of the Scottish countryside. She has just completed a Professional Development Award in Data Science from Edinburgh College and looks forward to utilising her new skills!