Lisa was born on 8th April 1972 at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow. Her family moved to Westwood in East Kilbride when she was a few months old. Lisa’s mother worked in Rolls Royce and her step-father was a local Taxi Driver. Lisa spent a lot of time with her grandmother when she was growing up who retired from Centre One.
Lisa went to South Park and East Milton Primary Schools and then onto Duncanrig Secondary School. After her Higher Examinations, she studied Psychology at Strathclyde University. She then went on to undertake a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Glasgow University. Lisa was the first person in her family to go to Unversity.
Lisa worked as a Social Work Assistant with the Network Project in East Kilbride and then as an Assistant Psychologist at Hartwoodhill Hospital in Lanarkshire. As a Trainee Psychologist, she worked in the mental health service at Hairmyres Hospital , at Irvine Central Children’s Hospital and then at Wishaw General Hospital.
Post qualification, Lisa led the Addictions Service in NHS Lanarkshire, then went to work at The State Hospital as the Consultant Lead for the Forensic Addiction Service and Consultant Lead for the Forensic Psychology Service in NHS Argyll & Clyde. During her NHS career, Lisa was a shop steward with Unite the Union for a period of fourteen years.
Prior to election, Lisa worked as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the Community NHS Forensic Mental Health Service and was Director of a local small business Psychological Services Scotland Ltd.
Lisa has served as a member of Parliament representing East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow since 2015. She resides in South Lanarkshire with her husband Mark and two daughters Olivia and Charlotte. Mark is the Veterans Champion for South Lanarkshire Council. Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and looking after the family dog Rossie and watching Darts.