Meet the Informed Women Experts

We work  with our experts to ensure the information is presented accurately and professionally on informedwomen.    All expert contributions are voluntary. 

Karol Swanson

Karol is an Associate Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).  Over the past 8 years she's worked with community groups and planning departments throughout Scotland. She's also a trained community mediator and a Planning Consultant for Real® facilitator. She runs her own consultancy which promotes effective engagement between planners, developers and the community through consultation, training and mediation.  Karol answers IW users' planning questions.

 Lorna Shields

Lorna Shields has worked in Financial Services in Edinburgh since 2000.  She joined CTFS in October 2006 as a Financial Adviser and holds the Diploma in Financial Planning and the Certificate in Mortgage Advice.

 

Lou Johnston

Lou is the owner of Tonic Health and a practicing Naturopathic.  Tonic Health is known as one of the leading health practices in Edinburgh.
  
 

Fiona Davis

Fiona is a conveyancing lawyer with a leading legal firm in Edinburgh with over 20 years experience in buying and selling homes.
 
 

Jennifer Cheynes

In 1976 Jennifer Cheynes opened her first salon Cheynes in Edinburgh now she has 170 well trained and highly motivated staff in six different salons.   With a client list that includes celebrities and public figures from Kirsty Hume and Paula Abdul to Cherie Blair, it's little wonder Cheynes is Edinburgh's favourite hairdresser. 
 

Laura Russell

Laura Russell runs Satisfashion a personal styling and shopping service based in Edinburgh.  She is a Personal stylist and offers a unique styling service, with her indepth knowledge how to help you make the best of what you already have.

Fiona Sutherland

Fiona Sutherland runs BeautyatGlam. She graduated from university with a bachelor of science degree in complementary therapies.  She worked as a beauty therapist in a hair salon and now runs beauty clinic.  
 

Bryony Cullen

Bryony trained as a cook at Napier University where she undertook a HND in Hotel, Catering and Tourist Management.  Bryony has been working as a professional cook for over 10 years, she has mostly worked on private yachts and has cooked dinner for some seriously famous people...

Kerr Petrie

Kerr Petrie is a recently retired builder with over 40 years of experience in building and DIY.  There is no job he cannot undertake. He'll  talk you through all the ins and out of maintaining your home. 


Angus Crabbie

Angus runs The Carbon Collective, a company specialising in helping businesses and individuals to address the issues of climate change. TCC have another well-known brand 'The Big Tree Co.'. Angus' background is commercial - his last 'employed' position being with Edinburgh Rugby at Murrayfield.  His commercial acumen forms a key part of his approach when helping corporate customers Go Green.  He now has three main loves - wife Fiona, daughter Lucy and rugby - though Fiona tells us they're not necessarily in that order!! 

Mike Hoffman and Phionna Cowan

Mike and Phionna run Drum Brae solutions Ltd, who can help you with every aspect of computers, from sourcing the best computer at the best price, setting it up and networking it to maintaining it and installing software.
  

Steve Roberts

Steve of stelogic design designs and builds websites and he is an absolute computer guru. He will help you simplify computers and help you enjoy using them

 Colin Hope

Colin runs Safe and Secure 24  who supply install and maintain monitored home burglar and security alarms.  They provide audio support to your home in the event of your alarm being activated. Colin is an electrician to trade and has been specialising in wireless alarms for two years