Fiona Whelan

Business & Professional Experience

After completing a law degree at Bristol Polytechnic in 1987, I moved to Switzerland to work in the computer services department of DuPont de Nemours. My work mainly involved the provision of end user computing services to DuPont de Nemours staff. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working for a large multi-national company in several of its European sites, and gained a valuable introduction to the commercial world.

In 1993 I left DuPont de Nemours to set up my own business as an independent IT trainer for large firms. I offered courses covering: Introduction to PCs, Electronic Mail, Word Processing, Presentation Graphics, and Spreadsheets.

Public Service

Outside of my academic and working life I have been keen to be involved in whichever local community I have lived in. I volunteered as a representative of the Newcomers and Asylum Seekers Organisation whilst living in the Netherlands. This opened my eyes to a very different side of immigration issues, in particular the needs of the women and children in refugee families. Since I have lived in Cambridgeshire I have become a School Governor and Vice-Chair of my Parish Council in Caldecote. I have also been an active member of several groups for children with special needs, a cause very close to home and something I am passionate about. I strongly believe that every child is entitled to an education which stretches them to attain their wn personal best and that sadly the education system does not always facilitate this access.

Personal

I live in Caldecote, to the west of Cambridge, with my two children. I have recently completed my professional practice examinations in law, and am looking forward to practising law. I have a particular interest in the law as it affects families and children.