Barbara was brought up in Nigeria, and has spent her career in education and educational administration. She has taught English in Japan and Algeria and was National Organiser of the Scottish European Educational Trust, a registered charity, from 2005-2012. She received an Award from Volonteurope in 2012 as Scottish Voluntary Organiser of the Year. 

In late 2013 Barbara and her husband spent 3 months volunteering for EdUKaid in Mikindani, doing teacher assessment, community development and training. She saw first-hand what an important contribution the charity makes to the local community. Since returning from Tanzania Barbara has been volunteering as a mentor to a refugee family from Sudan and as a reading assistant at a primary school in Edinburgh.