I gained my first degree in Zoology at Edinburgh University and then a D.Phil at the University of Sussex. I took up a lectureship in Forensic Science at Strathclyde University in Glasgow where I worked until February of 2010. During this time I gained my Registration as a Forensic Practitioner in the areas of body fluids, blood pattern analysis and DNA typing.
I took up the Chair in Forensic Science supported by the Ministry of Justice, South Australia, with the role of developing new technologies in the field of DNA typing.
I have published over 190 publications in international peer reviewed journals. In addition I and am co-author of the text 'An Introduction to Forensic Genetics' and editor of book 'Forensic Science in Wildlife Investigations'. I am an Associate Editor of Forensic Science International Genetics and on the editorial board of the journal Investigative Genetics.

In 2020 I was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the forensic sciences: OAM