Gillian qualified with a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from Glasgow University and became a Chartered Accountant with PWC in Glasgow.

Following her work as an International Internal Auditor for Thorn EMI she joined Polaroid, ultimately serving as group Finance Director from 2007 to 2013 for the Polaroid Eyewear division.

From May 2013  to November 2020 she was the joint Finance Director for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) the group which owns and operates 11 airports around Scotland and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) which owns 26 ports and harbours and 37 ferries. Both organisations are owned by Scottish Ministers.

Gillian then worked for AGS Airports Ltd (AGS) for four years until April 2025 as Chief Financial Officer. AGS owns and operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton Airports and has a turnover of circa £220m.  The highlights of this role were the building back of the business following COVID which included a refinance of circa £700m of third party debt and the successful sale of the business for £1.53 billion in January 2025.

On 1^st May 2025, she was appointed as a Non- Executive Director and member of the Transport Scotland Audit & Risk Committee.

She was appointed as a Non - Executive Director and Trustee for the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) on 5^th December 2025, having been a Lay member on their Finance committee since 2023.

She is soon to be appointed as a Non- Executive Director and Trustee on the board of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) as the representative for Scotland.

She was a member of the Children Panel in Scotland for four years to 2020.