Mary was born and spent her very early years in London, before her family moved to Scotland. 

After she graduated from Glasgow University, she moved to live in Chiswick. She joined Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) as a management consultant, specialising in the banking and financial services sectors. 

She has since set up her own consulting firm, and works in the City of London with large multinationals, helping them change and transform their businesses, and developing their leaders. 

Mary has also served as Policy Advisor to The Queen and the Royal Family in The Queen’s Private Office at Buckingham Palace. Her role included working with business leaders to develop advice about the strategic direction for the Royal Family and the Monarchy. 

Mary is a school governor. She runs conferences in schools and universities to promote learning about and from business, and to encourage the aspirations and ambition of all students. 

She has been an Ambassador for ActionAid, a charity working with the poor around the world, and works with Leaders Quest to exchange learning between global business and political leaders. 

Mary enjoys sport, music, art, reading and, most importantly, spending time with friends and family. 

Mary has been a member of the Conservative Party since 1992.

She was the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate in the 1997 General Election, standing against Charles Kennedy in Ross, Skye & Inverness West. 

She has worked with several leading Shadow Cabinet Ministers, including Liam Fox MP, David Willetts MP, Theresa May MP, Caroline Spelman MP and Lord Strathclyde, in policy areas including education, health and the constitution. 

She is also Chairman of the Conservative Candidates Association.