Fiona's 40th

This picture is from my graduation from St Andrews in 1999.

This is possibly from my brother's 5th birthday in 1983.

A friend since birth, Jo and I shared school bus journeys, venture scouts and she is one of the most patient people I know.

This picture is from the first year of secondary school around 1988.

Gem has always been very creatively talented and while she can seem quiet and sensible she has party spirit that means she will be talking to the Kevin Bacon look alike at a party!

An inspiring example of female business leadership but more importantly Cat has a great sense of humour and takes the lead with friendship gatherings which I really appreciate.

This is from New Year's Eve 1999/2000 before we ceilidhed on the streets of Edinburgh.

Probably my closest neighbour for the last 8 years and I can't think of anyone better to constantly explore the new places of Manchester with.

New Year 2015/2016 wondering where everyone was until we realised they were all out watching the fireworks!

Straight talking with a sense of humour Martine is brilliant at saying it how it is and leaving you laughing.

Here we have a family photo esque Christmas gathering - the start of a new tradition arranged by Sean.

A fellow fan of San Francisco living, Johnny has been a friend since a series of dinner parties over 25 years ago!

This is from Christmas celebrations 2014.

Our once regular nights out now only happen every Christmas but Emily's partying ability is such I think that's all I can manage!

This was at the Stamford - our local pub about 1997.

Once awarded the best hugger award at a Lourdes outing Billy is an amazing husband to Jo and 3 of the loveliest children you will meet.

This is a photo from Lourdes which might have been during the hugging competition!

Dad of my gorgeous Godson Henry, Dave has always been there to help me out- starting with lifts to the pub every Friday night when I was 16.

Here's Dave with his trademark teenage curtains hairstyle - this was a pre pub trip gathering in about 1995.

Brilliant at giving no nonsense advice with humour Catherine is mum of my gorgeous Godson Henry and an amazing friend.

This is in Italy around 2008.

My best friend since school days we have now replaced underage nights out (sharing the same Id with my photo stuck unprofessionally over Emma's!) with amazing weekends with Evie and Hamish at Eurodisney.

This is a typical summer party at Emma's house lots of alcohol and Claudia (Emma's at the time baby sister now 23!)

A friend since my first day at Loreto Angela is amazingly organised and accomplished with a massive streak of fun!

This photo is from one of our teenage visits to Anglesey where we all wore our hair in French plaits, drank wine and made fires on the beach...but we did that all very sensibly!

A wonderful husband to Emma and a dad in touch with his feelings enough not to have dry eyes during the Euro Disney evening fireworks frozen sing along.

Chris looking pretty pleased with himself moments after marrying Emma.

Ambrose is the person you want on your team in a pub quiz (the one that knows stuff and has a sense of humour!)

I can't find any pictures with Ambrose so instead here is Linus- Ambrose's son on a trip into the office.

Cristian is a great husband to Angela, multi lingual and dedicated dad to Sebastian and Lydia.

This picture was at Cristian and Angela's wedding in Greece 2007 with the most energetic collection of Greek and ceiliah dancing I've ever experienced (hence the red faces!)

While visiting him in Toronto he once directed my friend and I to walk through the red light district to get home,Tony now gives me much more sensible advice!!

This may have been my 22nd birthday at rainforest cafe - Tony was experimenting with his hair colour :)

My flat mate from St Andrews to London and provider of one of the most unusual flat dinners I ever had - champagne and Guiness cocktails.

The photo is in the middle of nowhere in Tibet where we bumped into each other!

An amazing husband to my best friend and wonderful dad to my gorgeous god daughter Jemima (and her beautiful brother James) and someone I trust enough to occasionally go to for dating advice!

Here we are squashed in a photobooth at Paul and Min's wedding.

Always makes me see the funny side if I'm getting too serious, people always think we are sisters and I'm happy about that because if I had a sister I would want it to be Caz.

This was from London around 2002.

A fellow Mancunian in a sea of Scots and southerners at St Andrews the first time I spoke to Chris he told me I couldn't be his academic daughter (University tradition of choosing mentors/mentees)... worst mistake of his life as we then went on to be flatmates twice (including Chris housing a homeless Celtic fan) and I've never let him forget this. You won't find a more generous and loyal friend than Chris.

This is at my 21st birthday before he fell asleep and we drew on his face!

As well as being a brilliant friend for many years Paul shared his family with me by introducing his cousin Lucy when I studied in Chicago. We are now sort of family as Paul is Godfather to my Goddaughter's twin brother!

Here he is modelling my hairstyle in London summer 1999.

Brian has a brilliant sense of humour, is completely dedicated to giving young people opportunity and he can also be one of the most annoying people I know in an argument (he can argue about most things including socks!)

This was London around 2001. 

Our opposing football views are offset by a shared appreciation of travel and the North and I had the pleasure of being Steve and Laura's neighbour during our time living in Charlton, London.

At Steve's wedding I can't remember the exact date and I'm not going to guess it because he will know the exact date!

Was joint management class rep with me which I remember involving receptions with wine and then in the marketing society with me where we made money which we spent on wine. With that foundation no wonder we both went on to be entrepreneurs!

A rare visit from southern friends to the north 1998.

A university friend who then became a London flatmate Sarah has always had a great sense of fun and friendship and ability to make gorgeous handmade cards.

Spending reading week in Venice 1998.

One of the first people I met at University, Robynne then became a flatmate with a big heart - most famous for charging all her other flatmates money to enter the living room to fundraise for protecting turtles.

This is from our graduation in 1999 (and unlike Caz and I, Robynne knew how to wear her gown correctly!)

Sarah's husband and also a university friend Andrew is someone who I sat though hours of art history lectures with and he was always happy to help with any missed notes (pre internet experiences!)

This photo is at a pub in St Andrews - not much more to say about this typical university evening!

Ian's wife, originally from Boston, now settled in London Laura is incredibly calm with a lovely sense of humour.

This is at my birthday party in a bike shop!

One of the most creative people I know from food to sewing Laura is talented. She is also a brilliant mum and I'm not saying that just because she's letting me borrow her 3 children to go to Eurodisney!!!

This is a picture from our days in Charlton when the millennium dome was brand new and empty!

Nadia shares a passion for living in different places although London is now home Nadia will always ask the questions that leave you thinking (positively!) about life.

This is at our graduation dinner with our lovely friend Jo who can't make it to my birthday as she is about to have a baby.

Min is an incredibly talented business woman one of the most gentle people you will meet and Paul's wife.

This is at a reunion trip to St Andrews that Min (who didn't go to St Andrews) was brave enough to go on- I'm sure it was riveting hearing us point out every coffee shop and pub which had changed!

On paper Mostaque and I are complete opposites but he is the example in my life of how anyone can not only be friends with anyone but be amazing mentors. When I'm confronted about something I pick up the phone to Mostaque!

My 38th birthday party in a bike shop in London.

Vaishali shares my passion for travel and female leadership and she always encourages me to go that extra step out of my comfort zone.

Here we are with big smiles surrounded by biking accessories!

Heather is woman with amazing leadership skills Heather always has time and enthusiasm to suggest a new approach to a challenge.

This picture was taken at the Barbican after a fascinating workshop on music and change with a Slovenian world famous musician- an average weekday activity!

Almost my clone, Antonia and I are similar in lots of ways - we both enjoy life and are enthusiastic about telling people that

This is a picture of Antonia launching a challenge to find solutions for homeless people in the UK during a team management and leadership classroom - I have no idea how we don't have any photos together but this reflects Antonia's leadership!

With a shared passion for football my adventures with Billy led us to the European Union and Houses of Parliament and ultimately Blatter's downfall!

Here he is as a fantastically vocal member of my cheering crowd for my honorary doctorate in Leeds summer 2014.

Married to Katy, Alex is caring, thoughtful and often able to make you laugh enough to see the things you thought were very serious are not!

The Canadian who Berni is about to marry - Mark is a gentle communicator that gives great advice

My Australian friend, living in London about to marry a Canadian is not only an inspiring mum and business women but an amazing listening ear and support to me,

Katy is incredibly open and warm but most bizarrely also a Loreto girl who I found while on a leadership course in London!

One of the first members of my work team Charlie now runs a florist and is a fantastic mum. She has always been incredibly reliable and supportive which makes a big difference when you are sometimes doing stuff which other people think is crazy!

Here we're at a Christmas outing with our first work baby, Charlie's son Seb.

Although Anna can't make the party she has been part of the organising team so is on the website. Anna is always happy, brings yoga into our work environment and always has great ideas about making things happen. 

A photo taken during Anna's intern days before she became a full time world changing leader.

Emma is responsible for the best improvement ever to our office environment! The regular addition of dogs! Rocky and Kai can often be found lounging on the work sofa while Emma is calmly negotiating and leading on world changing projects.

Not the best picture of either Emma or I but we were having too much fun on the beach at Atlantic City at an MPI event to pose properly for selfies!

A genius with technology Katy has created this website! Katy is incredibly supportive, trustworthy and dedicated and I feel lucky to have her techy mind on my team (she now runs a company creating websites!)

This photo is from Christmas celebrations - styling amazing headwear!!

Marta is originally Spanish but now an honorary Mancunian. She is mum to Martin, always keen to learn a new British saying and does a great job with our communications. Marta's son Martin also joins us sometimes and he even had a case study about that printed in an event industry magazine.

Here's a photo with Henry, my Godson who spent the afternoon with us in the office and definitely shared his opinions during our meeting. 

A fellow entrepreneur, John works on biological technology that may stop the rhinos becoming extinct and he is also the best unofficial group tour guide ever!

This was taken on the beach in Hawaii after John had been our tour guide for a day.

Future head of everything to do with promoting Poland around the world Krys' support of me over the last 10 years is a big part of why in 2016 I'm the first British person ever to chair MPI.

This is us in Meetings Week Poland 2016.

One of the most helpful people you could ever meet from the first time we met in Montreal in 2006. You won't meet a more caring person Andrew will always be keeping an eye out to look after you. He loves musicals and seeing the funny side of life challenges and he is who I ask advice from when I know I need to take a sensitive approach to something!

This is at the MPI conference Disney World 2011... Andrew is actually grimacing rather than smiling as he wanted to be watching the fireworks rather than having them in the background!

President of the U.K. MPI Chapter the year before me, we originally met through MPI but I can't really remember not knowing Anthony (or Andrew). He's responsible, always up for an adventure and probably very fed up of me saying one of my proudest life achievements is introducing him to his husband. I couldn't be happier they now live in Manchester! 

This was us at the MPI UK & Ireland Chapter and MPI 2016 European conference in Copenhagen 2016.

President of the U.K. MPI chapter the year after me Samme is now a firm friend, mentor and general great person to have a drink with

This is a picture of fate - in a 4 million to 1 experience Samme and I ended up sitting right next to each other on a flight to Vegas. Some people use that luck to win the lottery I used mine to sit next to Samme for 9 hours just as good as a lottery win!!

The second best tour guide after John (Gerritt would agree with that!) Gerrit brings German efficiency to the laid back Polish and Britishness that Krys and I bring!

Europeans in America trying as hard as we can to blend in with our Starbucks and SF Giants baseball caps!

Amanda represents everything I love about Americans! She is all about anything is possible and let's just get in action to make it happen (which explains why she is attending a party in Manchester when she lives in San Diego).

Sun loving Amanda has got used to the clouds and rain that come with me whenever  I travel this picture was one of my favourite beach days ever swimming and surfing in the rain at the beach in San Diego.

Martina is Gerritt's wife and attendee on some of our best MPI trips Martina is great company.

This is a rather serious picture taken in Kraków Poland with the lady in the middle being a holocaust survivor who had just shared her story with us.

Technically more of a Manchester friend than a work friend Sonya and I volunteer on the Manchester Canal clean up events (which Sonya organises). We had an immediate bond when she said she had last lived in Texas and I love having a thoughtful and inspiring American friend in Manchester.

This photo is where I met Sonya - on a Manchester canal clean up in the freezing cold and pouring rain - I think that's Sonya in the background- we need some normal photos together!

Sonya's husband Andy also lived in Texas, has a great sense of humour and the best long arms for group selfie shots.

This picture is at the end of last years round the world birthday party (in Hawaii otherwise known as Andrew and Anthony's house) and Andy had the honour of doing the end of evening selfie shot!

My first godchild one of the most caring and creative little girls I've ever had the pleasure to know. Tia uses chopsticks brilliantly, likes acting and is a brilliant travel companion.

This picture of us truly reflects the godmother/god daughter shared adoration - it's magical!

My adopted Godson William loves football, isn't keen on rain, speaks some Japanese and has a wonderful sense of humour. He's likely to want to chat the longest on Skype and he will be charming.

This is at Frazer Island 2015. As we ran into the water William said 'this is my best moment in life ever and I'm young so I'm going to have lots of these'.

Always able to tell a story with humour and intrigue Ed is one of the most honest, genuine and friendly people you will ever meet.

This could be a collectors item photo as it seems to show Ed organising us rather than the other way around (at our St Andrews graduation ball).

Beautifully sensitive, Eliza gives some of the most thoughtful and caring advice I've ever experienced.

Eliza and I treating ourselves to a girls day out to celebrate Australia's equivalent of the Grand National.

Potentially joining for a quick Happy Birthday toast is Miranda who will be celebrating her 40th birthday in France and who would have invited Andrew so this is a way we can share him. Miranda has an inspiring lifestyle living in a gorgeous home with holiday properties in France and leading with the creation of content for all MPI conferences - basically educating leaders in the event industry.

Here we are hitting the dance floor at the end of a conference- something we have now been doing for about ten years!!!