Tim joined the Liberal party in 1976, helping set up the student branch at St Andrews University. A close contemporary of Alex Salmond (they were both Vice presidents of the Student’s representative council in 1977/78) he graduated in Pure Maths & Theoretical Physics in 1980

He then went to work in Edinburgh in 1980 eventually qualifying as a CA with Coopers & Lybrand in 1984, During that time he was heavily involved with the Edinburgh Young Liberals campaigning mainly in the Edinburgh West constituency.

Tim then worked in the Financial Services Industry firstly for Waverley Asset Management as chief accountant, then for the WM company as a Client Relations Manager from 1985 to 1989 and then British Linen Bank as a Marketing Manager in 1989.

During this time he fought Hamilton for the Scottish Liberal Party in 1987

Tim started as a lecturer at Napier University in 1990, lecturing in Accounting, Finance, Tax, and Investment Management. During this time he fought East Lothian for the Lib Dem Alliance in 1992

As his academic career developed Tim travelled extensively, teaching in Poland, Australia, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and mainland China. Eventually he became Head of Accounting and Finance at Napier from 1998 to 2002.

Tim retired early in 2006 and in early 2007 he was selected to fight the Inverleith ward in the city of Edinburgh, under the new multi member proportional electoral system. He was elected as councillor in May 2007, and joined the Lib Dem/SNP coalition that now runs Edinburgh.

He is currently Convener of the Pensions & Trusts committee responsible for £3billion of investments and is also Vice Convener of Economic Development.

St Aloysuis College Glasgow 1969-1975 (6 Highers, 3 A Levels)

BSc (Pure Mathematics and Theoretical Physics) St Andrews University – 1980

Qualified as a CA with Coopers & Lybrand 1984

Worked in the Financial Services Industry for the WM company as a Client Relations Manager and British Linen Bank as a Marketing Manager from 1984 to 1989.

Started as a lecturer at Napier University 1990.

Head of Accounting and Finance at Napier 1998 – 2002

Councillor for Inverleith Ward in Edinburgh 2007-present
Vice Convener of Economic Development Committee 2007-present
Vice Convener of Regulatory Committee 2007-2009
Convener of Pensions & Trusts Committee 2007-present

Parliamentary candidate - Hamilton 1987; East Lothian 1992

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales – 1983

Associate of the UK Society of Investment Professionals (Investment Analyst) – 1988