After studying Economic & Social History at The University of Edinburgh, Sylvia moved into office administration and roles as a Personal Assistant. Over the past dozen years she has worked in an architects’ office and a paediatric hospital, but mostly back on campus at institutes of higher education. Sylvia also spent a couple of years in the offices of the Scottish Volleyball Association despite having no inkling of the game, and has most recently assisted in the offices of the Scottish Elections Review.

In her spare time Sylvia has a second home in the Filmhouse cinema where she particularly enjoys the silent and film noir genres. Sylvia enjoys cycling, swimming and endlessly lifting weights along with sedentary occupations such as knitting, reading and learning to play the mandolin.