A 2003 graduate, Claire is founder of The Melting Pot, a social enterprise in central Edinburgh which acts as an incubator for progressive initiatives. It's a new kind of work and social space, to inspire and support social pioneers to realise imaginative initiatives for a radically better world.

The Melting Pot - creating the space, supporting the people, promoting the ideas... Go to www.themeltingpotedinburgh.org for more information and our on-line registration document.

Claire also runs Creating Connections, which helps build Sustainable Empowered Communities - through delivery, promotion of, and participation in, a diverse range of life-enhancing activities; operating at local, national and international levels.

Creating Connections provides bespoke services and support to individuals, groups and agencies in the more-than-profit sector. I create connections by bringing together and facilitating individuals, groups and agencies; and by researching, developing, delivering and evaluating ideas across a variety of subject disciplines. http://www.creatingconnections.com

Claire writes: Human ecology is important to me because it points to the interconnectedness of our actions, thoughts, intent and world. We are each one part of a big picture, yet unique and important all the same. Human ecology heightens my awareness of the scary reality of all the 'bad things' going on 'out there' as well as the million creative sparks - the source of human ingenuity and resourcefulness – that are constantly addressing and challenging the status-quo.

I could list a dozen finite 'things I've done or achieved' over the past few years since leaving CHE. More important, and of greater importance to me, has been choosing to move through fears and take risks that are helping me to grow and explore my gifts - in my vocation, my relationships, in myself.

The permission and encouragement to do so from other students and staff; witnessing their own lives-as-role-models; and the myriad of perspectives that 'define' human ecology have been a supporting factor in my own exploration and direction.

Areas of study and interest: non-violent communication, leadership, financial management/control, business development, social enterprise. Also, backgammon, gardening, living in community, creativity in a non-work environment (ha ha!), motorbike touring...